Which symptoms do you not exhibit

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A couple of symptoms I do not exhibit: I've never done the rocking/flapping and repetitive motions. I also don't talk at length about special interests. I find it hard to articulate anything into words and don't say much at all.

BTW, the thing about "math" is that it means everything from ability to do arithmetic algorithms to abstractions without numbers. When anyone says they're not good at math - please indicate whether you have difficulty with performing algorithmic computations (multiplication, long division, fractions etc) because of executive function disorder, or you have trouble with abstract thinking. This is an important distinction.

I rarely experience sensory overload, and I don't experience meltdowns the way others on this board describe them. Although when I was younger, I had fits that my parents would probably describe as meltdowns, though I don't remember how I felt when those happened.

I don't take too many things literally nowadays, but I got a lot of education about about what sarcasm was when I was younger. I used to talk extensively about my special interests but stopped after being mocked for it. BTW, I am professionally diagnosed.

These are the ones I don't seem to have:
Cognitive Characteristics?of Asperger’s Syndrome:
Generalized confusion during periods of stress - (it's not completely absent but these days probably not severe enough to really impair my performance.)
Preference for visually oriented instruction and training - (I'm not sure)
Difficulty in generalizing - (not sure)
Difficulty in imagining others’ thoughts in a similar or identical event or circumstance that are different from one’s own (”Theory of Mind” issues) - (not sure)
Difficulty in assessing cause and effect relationships (behaviors and consequences) - (not sure)
Relaxation techniques and developing recreational “release” interest may require formal instruction (never tried)
Rage, tantrum, shutdown, self-isolating reactions appearing “out of nowhere” (No rage or tantrums)
Psychometric testing shows great deviance between verbal and performance results (don't understand)

Social Characteristics?of Asperger’s Syndrome:
“Immature” manners (not sure)
Failure to distinguish between private and public personal care habits: i.e., brushing, public attention to skin problems, nose picking, teeth picking, ear canal cleaning, clothing arrangement (I know when I'm being watched!)
Bluntness in emotional expression (not sure)
“Flat affect” (not very much so these days)
Unmodulated reaction in being manipulated, patronized, or “handled” by others (don't understand)
Low to no apparent sense of humor; bizarre sense of humor (often stemming from a “private” internal thread of humor being inserted in public conversation without preparation or warming others up to the reason for the “punchline”) (I've made progress here but it's still a tendency)
Difficulty with adopting a social mask to obscure real feelings, moods, reactions (Not sure - I've been told I hide my troubles well, but people sometimes say "what's wrong?" when I thought I was doing that)
Using social masks inappropriately (you are “xv” while everyone else is ????) (don't understand)
Abrupt and strong expression of likes and dislikes (no I've learned to hold it back
Known for single-mindedness (I'm definitely single-minded but I don't beleive it's widely known)
Flash temper (No I'm VERY stable with my temper)
Tantrums (never)
Preference for bland or bare environments in living arrangements (I hate clutter but I generate it, so I don't know)
Often perceived as “being in their own world” (you'd have to ask around)

Work Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome:
Many of the manifestations found in the categories above can immediately translate into work behaviors or preferences. Here are some additional ones:
Deliberate withholding of peak performance due to belief that one’s best efforts may remain unrecognized, unrewarded, or appropriated by others (possibly, though in my workplace it would seem the logical thing to do)
Intense pride in expertise or performance, often perceived by others as “flouting behavior” (no I keep my light under a bushel)
Sarcasm, negativism, criticism (I don't criticise much any more, though I want to)
Great concern about order and appearance of personal work area (not great, but it's there)
Difficulty with unstructured time (I'm improving here)
Excessive questions (quite the reverse)
Low sensitivity to risks in the environment to self and/or others (no I'm highly aware of risks)
Difficulty with writing and reports (no)
Very low level of assertiveness (I'd say moderately low, I have my moments)
Strong desire to coach or mentor newcomers (not sure)
Often viewed as vulnerable or less able to resist harassment and badgering by others (don't think so)

Physical Manifestations of Asperger’s Syndrome:
Self-injurious or disfiguring behaviors (no way!)
Nail-biting (I used to, but I stopped when I was a child)
Low apparent sexual interest (no)
Depression (not AFAIK)
Flat or monotone vocal expression; limited range of inflection (there's a tendency but I think it's not too bad)
Elevated voice volume during periods of stress and frustration (no I go quiet)
Unusual and rigidly adhered to eating behaviors (the jury's still out on this)
Bad or unusual personal hygiene (fairly normal cf my social circle) [/quote]

Thanks for a good list, Todesking. I recognised most of those traits as me. And it's was nice to have a list that doesn't include memorising car number plates.

Symptoms that I don't have:

- Difficulty on understanding body language*
- Difficulty in understanding metaphors
- Talking to much (I talk almost nothing; however both are possible symptoms of AS)
- hyperfocus in one very narrow issuet without being interested in related issues (my interests tends to "grow" to related areas, like an interest in birds of prey developing in an interest in animals)

*I think that I don't have this problem; however, if I am bad in understanding body language, much probably I will not know that I am bad...

for me; the only thing i really dont exibit is meltdowns.
i also have learned to hybridise/fix:
-eye contact
-social anxiety
-litteral meaning
- most other social issues.

i'm not sure if these should be mentiond under 'not having' or under 'fixed'; although the meltdowns are also mainly 'fixed', due to the fat that i can feel them coming and have developed methods to supress them untill i can let off steam safely...

I am capable of reciprical coversations.

Reading the don'ts in some peoples lists depresses me.

Anywho, I:

Only have a monotone when under stress

Am poor at math, in the fact that I need a calculator to do addition, subtraction, division, etc.

Have a very limited long term memory; less detailed, more of a summary.

I don't have social anxiety because I barely notice people anymore.

I hate monotone voices as well.


I don't think I'm overly-literal so much now....

But I remember a terrible row with my mom one hectic school morning when I was about ten after she told me to go hit the power button on the coffee pot.

If that simple direction makes sense to you, you don't have the problem I'm describing.


I'm good in math, including computational and abstract reasoning, though not nearly as proficient as I would say I am in language (I was DXed hyperlexic by 3). But from what I can gather from others, I don't learn and/or reason mathematically in ways that other people do- in fact, I generally have no clue what they're talking about in terms of processes. I've always had to learn to do it my own way.

The whole thing about needing routines....I mean there where a few instances of stress related to that when I was a child but I am pretty disorganized so if anything a set routine frusterates and overwhelms me.

I don't have monotone voice, only when I'm nervous or shy

I don't really read books or go to libraries very often (I wouldn't count that as an Aspie trait anyway, since many NTs go to the library regularly too)

I don't have difficulty with recognising tone of voice, facial expression, body expression, moods, ect

I can empathise and sympathise to a normal extent

I enjoy small talk

I find it natural to express my feelings/display emotions - no difficulties at all, and never have had any difficulty with this

I'm not a literal thinker

I don't stim in the typical Autistic way (like flapping hands, rocking backwards and forwards, ect)

I'm not clever at anything in particular (my IQ is roughly around 75)

I find it easy to lie, not only that - I find it natural and easy to get others to believe me, since I'm excellent on making it look like I'm serious (by the way nothing I said on here is a lie. I don't lie all the time anyway - only when I need to).

I don't use ''big words'', like other Aspies seem to use on these threads (not sure if that's an Aspie trait or not anyway)

I am not sensitive to bright lights, tastes and smells, and being touched doesn't worry me

I don't have difficulty with sleeping, eating, going to the toilet, and washing

I'm good at working out other people's intentions and moods, ect

I am good at gossip, also I listen to others without interrupting or anything like that


I can't think of any more, but I have probably missed the most obvious one out . But before anyone says, ''are you actually an Aspie?'' the answer is yes I am! There are plenty of Aspie traits I DO have too, which make my life very hard. The Aspie traits I do have are (might aswell write these down):-

I am hypersensitive to noise/can't tolerate loud noises

I get anxious and stressed out very easily (but my anxiety disorder is a little more extreme than any typical Aspie, so I might say that the anxiety disorder might be something separate, overlapping the AS)

I don't like unplanned events at the last minute

I find it hard to cope with changes of my routine (due to confusion)

I have outbursts (mostly because I have a lot of anger in me)

I find it hard to socialise, as in joining in group conversations, and making friends

I have terrible mood swings (not sure if this is an Aspie trait or not, since lots of people experience mood swings. But the difference might be I have mood swings at the wrong times, and find it hard to put on a front that's opposite to how I'm feeling inside. Typical Aspie trait or not?)

I have obsessions what I can't keep my mind off of

I get really jealous of other family members a lot, and find I want to control other people (not sure if this is an Aspie trait or not, or if it's just in me whoever I am)

I have difficulty with doing tasks like housework

I have that thing what sounds to other people like you're lazy, but in truthfully it's not intentional laziness at all, it's just partly forgetfulness, partly anxiety, and partly lack of will power and/or confidence

I don't go clubbing

Cognitive Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome:
Insensitivity to the non-verbal cues of others (stance, posture, facial expressions)
Literal interpretation of instructions (failure to read between the lines)
Interpreting words and phrases literally (problem with colloquialisms, cliches, neologism, turns of phrase, common humorous expressions)
Dependence on step-by-step learning procedures (disorientation occurs when a step is assumed, deleted, or otherwise overlooked in instruction)
Compelling need to finish one task completely before starting another
? Psychometric testing shows great deviance between verbal and performance results ? ( i don't understand this subsection )
Stilted, pedantic conversational style (”The Professor”)

Social Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome:
Scrupulous honesty, often expressed in an apparently disarming or inappropriate manner or setting
Low to medium level of paranoia
Low to no apparent sense of humor; bizarre sense of humor (often stemming from a “private” internal thread of humor being inserted in public conversation without preparation or warming others up to the reason for the “punchline”)
? Using social masks inappropriately (you are “xv” while everyone else is ????) ? (what does that mean?)
Rigid adherence to rules and social conventions where flexibility is desirable
“Serious” all the time
Difficulty in forming friendships and intimate relationships; difficulty in distinguishing between acquaintance and friendship
Preference for bland or bare environments in living arrangements
Difficulty judging others’ personal space

Work Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome:
Great concern about order and appearance of personal work area
Intense pride in expertise or performance, often perceived by others as “flouting behavior”
Excessive questions
Difficulty with writing and reports
Reluctance to accept positions of authority or supervision
Strong desire to coach or mentor newcomers
Often viewed as vulnerable or less able to resist harassment and badgering by others
Punctual and conscientious

Physical Manifestations of Asperger’s Syndrome:
Difficulty in judging distances, height, depth
Difficulty in recognizing others’ faces (prosopagnosia)
Self-injurious or disfiguring behaviors
Low apparent sexual interest
Flat or monotone vocal expression; limited range of inflection
Elevated voice volume during periods of stress and frustration
Bad or unusual personal hygiene

Photographic memory
Above normal hearing
Acute sense of taste and smell
Synthesia (sp)
Black and white thinking
No emotions
No interest in fiction
No interest in pretend play as a kid
Inability to do small talk
Getting upset or uncomfy when favorite seat is taken in public
Rigid thinking
Talking out loud to self
Inflexibility
Inability to have a normal conversation

I used to be rigid as a kid, I used to be inflexible, I used to be a black and white thinker, I used to get upset when my favorite seat get taken. I have talked out loud to myself in the past and used to get in trouble for it because I say mean things to myself about others and get in trouble for it. But sometimes was unaware I actually said it so I thought they were mind readers and doing false accusations against me. I can still be inflexible but isn't everyone? Plus I have gotten so much good at dealing with change and not minding it.

I understand sacasm, and body language (this I had to learn, not innate)
I am phenomally bad at math
I dont take things litterly (at least now, but when I was a kid, I did very much so)
I have a vivid imagination which is the only reason I was diagnosed to PDD rather than HFA as a kid.