You Can't Be an Aspie If.....

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1. I have special interests, but they're not anything useful. I have no special skills or talents, unless memorizing the entire Pokedex counts.
2. I don't lack empathy - in fact, I seem to have more empathy than many neurotypicals. I just don't always know how to show it.
3. I tend to have shutdowns instead of meltdowns, and can often hold off a meltdown until I can get away from people.
4. I can recognize most facial expressions, though I have some trouble with small changes.
5. Same as with facial expressions - usually I can tell, but I don't always catch it if it's subtle.
6. I'm more of a systemiser than an empathiser, according to online tests, but I don't score that highly on either.
7. I'm not really sure what that means.
8. I'm flexible, but not hypermobile. My left thumb is double-jointed, but that's it.
9. I have never walked on tiptoes any more than the average person - only when the ground is very hot/cold and I'm barefoot, or if I'm trying to avoid stepping on something like broken glass or dog droppings.
10. I understand most idioms, but may not get ones that I haven't heard before.
11. I actually do have this one. Usually my voice is too quiet, and there's definitely something "odd" about it, but I'm not sure exactly what.
Also, I'm terrible at math (I probably have dyscalculia) and am not good with technology (don't really know how to do anything more than play games and browse the Internet on a computer, know nothing about how it works).

And yet I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome when I was in fourth grade, before I'd ever even heard the word "Asperger's" or "autism." There are some things that are part of the diagnostic criteria, of course, but a lot of things mentioned are only things that are more common among people with Asperger's, not that are absolutely necessary to actually have it.

Totally. In fairness to Hans in was the 30' and 40's and there was still work to do. But comapred to Kanner aspergers was really progressive. Don't forget at this autism ws only though to affect educated middle class white familes.

To be considered an Aspie, you must:

1. Possess a special skill/talent; not really, but I have an above average ability at replicating melodies
2. Lack empathy, in the same way a robot lacks empathy; I do feel empathy. I just don't always know to express it. I also don't know if I feel it average or below average, but I'm definitely not one of those super-empaths.
3. Have meltdowns immediately after having a sensory overload; No, unless something else pushes me over the edge. Otherwise, I just shut down
4. Be unable to recognise the facial expressions of other people; I can recognise obvious expressions, but not really sublter ones
5. Be unable to recognise if a person is sad/angry/happy, just by the tone of their voice; I can do this but have some difficulty at times
6. Be a systemiser; I'm highly disorganised
7. Be interested in categories of things - linked to the idea of systemisation; No
8. Be hypermobile; I am hypermobile, but don't know if that's AS related
9. Have walked on tiptoes, as a child; nope, my hypermobile ankles usually end up giving out
10. Have no understanding of idioms; I do understand idioms once I look up the meaning
11. Have 'odd' voices; I've always wondered what was wrong with my voice when I heard it on recordings

"Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts"
"Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities,"

You got to have them starting very early in life. For Aspergers-Autism, you need to have average to above average intelligence and no language delay prior to age 3.

Those checklists are just how these core traits COMMONLY present. They will present if at all based on personality. As said these checklists are based on the presentation in boys. If you are female or an adult you are less likely to have these common presentations of the core traits.

Your vanity is more important than the happiness of your children.

I'm thinking what it all comes down to is,
" You Can't Be an Aspie If....."
...
"... You don't match my stereotype of an Aspie."

Oh, I have a good one! You can't be an Aspie if you like children/babies .

I like children and babies....

But, then again, I am not truly an Aspie LOL

In all seriousness, I believe the proportion of Aspies who like children and babies are about the same as "neurotypical" people.

I know- it just seems like a lot of people on this forum don't like children. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I have yet to find an Aspie here who can put up with children (except for you- but you say you're more like a half aspie LOL!) I wish I could change the title of this thread .

I'm actually a classical autistic LOL.

I have many Aspies characteristics---but I talked late, so I can't be an Aspie.

I just call it whatever lol ! If a classic autist refers to themself as an aspie or an "aspie" refers to themselves as autistic, then I don't care because the DSM-5 has scrapped all these terms anyway.

I play it safe. I refer to myself as a Spectrumite usually

And Asperger's is not "dead" yet; it's still in the ICD-10, which is sometimes used in the United States. They might take it away in the ICD-11, though.

My opinion: "Asperger's Syndrome" is a legit condition.

I like it being all one condition- I know you don't lol l!

I think it helps people feel more "included." Just because you were diagnosed with autism or Asperger's doesn't mean that the other disorder (autism or Asperger's) is a completely different condition. It just seems the same to me. Especially HFA and Asperger's- sure, one has a speech delay and one doesn't, but does that mean we need two separate labels?

I also really like the DSM-5 criteria (I think it is the best for diagnosing autistic people with autism and non-autistic people without autism). The inclusion of sensory issues was my favorite change.

I believe in inclusion, too.

You misinterpreted me

Remember when I said I WASN'T an Aspie?

I believe Asperger's Syndrome is a type of autism. So is Classical Autism. So is Regressive Autism. They're all autism.

One is not "better" than the other.

It's like Spina Bifida. There are many forms of it. Symptoms vary greatly. But they are all Spina Bifida.

Asperger's is autism. It's not separate from it.

I knew I would make you "fired up" by posting that . That's just my opinion.

Of course it's all one condition- I meant the term autism spectrum disorder being used instead of all the other names lol! No form of autism is "better" than the other either, I agree. They're all autism!