Adult outcomes in the population

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So what have you achieved in your adult life?

Age: 18-24, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Very Good	5%	[ 9 ]
Age: 18-24, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Good	6%	[ 12 ]
Age: 18-24, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Fair	13%	[ 24 ]
Age: 18-24, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Restricted	8%	[ 14 ]
Age: 25+, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Very Good	11%	[ 20 ]
Age: 25+, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Good	19%	[ 36 ]
Age: 25+, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Fair	15%	[ 28 ]
Age: 25+, Group: D/U ASD, Outcome: Restricted	15%	[ 28 ]
Age: 18-24, Group: NT, Outcome: Very Good	1%	[ 1 ]
Age: 18-24, Group: NT, Outcome: Good	0%	[ 0 ]
Age: 18-24, Group: NT, Outcome: Fair	0%	[ 0 ]
Age: 18-24, Group: NT, Outcome: Restricted	1%	[ 1 ]
Age: 25+, Group: NT, Outcome: Very Good	1%	[ 1 ]
Age: 25+, Group: NT, Outcome: Good	2%	[ 4 ]
Age: 25+, Group: NT, Outcome: Fair	4%	[ 8 ]

Total votes : 186

chssmstrjk
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16 Dec 2012, 9:23 pm

According to the polls, at this very moment, it seems that 11/26 (42.3%) of young adults with ASDs and 16/39(41%) of full adults(adults who are at least 25 years of age) who voted in this poll had a Good outcome or better. That seems to be offering some optimism in terms of outcomes for non-adults with ASDs. It definitely shows that a fair proportion of people who were diagnosed with an ASD as children can achieve at least 2 of the following 3 things as young adults (pending upon the severity of their ASD and the intervention/treatment they receive): (i) good career path (ii) meaningful interpersonal relationships (iii) independent living.

Rascal77s
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16 Dec 2012, 9:30 pm

chssmstrjk wrote:

Yes but at the same time if you are NT your prospects in life aren't looking to good. Phew, after looking at this poll aren't you glad that you're not NT?!

ChangelingGirl
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16 Dec 2012, 9:44 pm

I a not toally sure how to score my outcoe, as I have at one point achieved all three of the things you list, but failed miserably at two of them. So I'm considering myself having not achieved these for the sake of this poll, since I do not currently live independently or attend college/hold a job. The one outcome measure I did achieve is being in a romantic relationship.

[1] Most recent official IQ score 154
[2] Most recent Autism Spectrum Quotient Test score 45
[3] Highest level of education achieved Some college
[4] Degree achieved and in what field (only applies to those who attended community college or above after high school and graduated) N/A
[5] How long did it take you to achieve your highest degree? N/A
[6] If employed, are you employed up to your potential? (i.e. the job you currently have requires the highest degree you hold). N/A
[7] If living independently, at what age did you move out and start living on your own? I don't live independently anymore, but moved out at 21.
[8] If you never have been in a romantic relationship, are you interested in getting into one? N/A
[9] If you have ever been in a romantic relationship, how old were you when you first got into one? 21
[10] Outcome
Fair
[11] Age Group 25+
[12] Diagnosis Group ASD

ChangelingGirl
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16 Dec 2012, 9:50 pm

chssmstrjk wrote:

I feel there is another possibility, which is that most lower-functionign autistics will not come to WP. WP has a reputation for being an Aspie supremacist community, which may or may not be true (I haven't been on often enough to judge that), so those with a less favorable outcome may be less likely to come here.

Tyri0n
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16 Dec 2012, 11:08 pm

Rascal77s wrote:

chssmstrjk wrote:

Yes but at the same time if you are NT your prospects in life aren't looking to good. Phew, after looking at this poll aren't you glad that you're not NT?!

I wonder if the NT's on this site are skewed towards other mental issues, given that WP has a forum or them. Anyway, the sample size of NT's is too small.

Tyri0n
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16 Dec 2012, 11:15 pm

chssmstrjk wrote:

Quote:

[6] If employed, are you employed up to your potential? (i.e. the job you currently have requires the highest degree you hold).

Probably not. But I can survive. I don't make as much money as others in my field, but again that's not something I'm too concerned about as long as I have a job, period. Feel blessed about this. Also self-employed up to my potential, but that is not my 'primary job'.

That's understandable that you are happy to just have a job (given the current state of America's economy);

After looking at the posts that people have been making on this thread, it is nice to see that all of the 4 people who have stated 'Autism/Autistic Disorder' as their diagnosis group are/were in higher education and either still in it or have at least a Bachelor's in a field. It really goes against (in a good way) the mdjunction.com study I mentioned in an earlier post. The study states that none of the people in the autistic disorder group were in or had completed higher education. It goes to show you that being diagnosed with autism/autistic disorder does not stop you from attending higher education (and potentially completing it).

Some of us have PDD-NOS because we do not have narrow enough interests or repetitive movements or had speech delays as a child that no longer affect us but are essentially, for most other purposes, aspies. The things that get you disqualified form an Aspergers diagnosis and put in the PDD-NOS category are varied and sometimes trivial.

It is odd that this site does not separate between PDD-NOS and Autism, which is why coming to such conclusions is dubious.

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17 Dec 2012, 12:57 am

chssmstrjk wrote:

[1] Outcome =Very Good
Have achieved the following 3 things: [A] Living independently (e.g. not living with your parents/parent and not dependent on anyone for financial support)
[B] In higher education/currently employed
[C] Having at least 2 friends/steady romantic relationship.
[2] Outcome = Good
Have achieved 2 of the 3 things (A,B,C) under Very Good outcome
- For those of you who choose this poll option, mention which two of the 3 things mentioned (A,B,C) you have achieved (as well as the age group and diagnosis group you fit into).
[3] Outcome = Fair
Have achieved 1 of the 3 things (A,B,C) under Very Good outcome
- For those of you who choose this poll option, mention which one of the 3 things mentioned (A,B,C) you have achieved (as well as the age group and diagnosis group you fit into).
[4] Outcome = Restricted
Have achieved none of the 3 things under Very Good outcome.

[2] Outcome, Completed higher education degree, have more then 2 friends and a romantic relationship

[1] Most recent official IQ score: 115-120
[2] Most recent Autism Spectrum Quotient Test score: 33
[3] Highest level of education achieved: Bachelors, applying for Masters
[4] Degree achieved and in what field (only applies to those who attended community college or above after high school and graduated): Biosciences
[5] How long did it take you to achieve your highest degree?: 4 years
[9] If you have ever been in a romantic relationship, how old were you when you first got into one?: First got into one at 19, but my most recent one, been dating for 2 months
[10] Outcome: 2=good so far but hoping to get to 3 within the next 5 yrs
[11] Age Group: 18-24
[12] Diagnosis Group: Aspergers

Last edited by Ai_Ling on 17 Dec 2012, 12:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

Sweetleaf
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17 Dec 2012, 12:57 am

dyingofpoetry wrote:

If while seeing a therapist you are also seeing a psychiatrist, your therapist should have your information in notes and can forward it to the doctor. An interview with your psychiatrist (who really should be knowledgeable in ASDs) can lead to a provisional diagnosis if he/she agrees that you meet the criteria. Some people stop at the provisional diagnosis, which allows them self-knowledge, but may not make them eligible for services. If you receive the provisional diagnosis, then you can chose to be tested by a qualified psychologist who also really should be knowledgeable in ASDs), but in most cases the opinion of the therapist alone does not qualify as a diagnosis.

I wasn't seeing a psychiatrist when the therapist said I had it...And it hasn't exactly really came up with any psychiatrists I have talked to since then. Even when I was in a psych ward recently the psychiatrist there confirmed that I had Depression, PTSD and Generalized anxiety or whatever but didn't really indicate anything about the potential AS...so yeah I am not sure. Probably leans towards undiagnosed, but that is mostly because i don't exactly know how to pursue an official diagnoses its harder than I would think it seems.

There is a psychiatirst I go to sometimes now, so I could talk to them about it.

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chssmstrjk
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17 Dec 2012, 9:27 am

Tyri0n wrote:

Rascal77s wrote:

chssmstrjk wrote:

Yes but at the same time if you are NT your prospects in life aren't looking to good. Phew, after looking at this poll aren't you glad that you're not NT?!

I wonder if the NT's on this site are skewed towards other mental issues, given that WP has a forum or them. Anyway, the sample size of NT's is too small.

That is true. The sample size of the NTs who voted in this poll is too small. I mean 68 people with ASDs participated in the poll whereas just 9 of those who claim to be NT voted. So we cannot really make any conclusions about whether or not the proportion of those with ASDs who had a good outcome or better is different from that of NTs who had a good outcome or better just yet.

animalcrackers
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17 Dec 2012, 1:14 pm

chssmstrjk wrote:

If you have at least a group of friends and/or a girlfriend who appreciate you for who you are, enjoy doing things with you, and know you to such an extent that your social impairments (if any) are not that severe or obvious to people, it shows that you are in good social/emotional health.

I'm sorry if I've misunderstood you here, but the part I put in bold makes it sound like you think that nobody wants to be friends with a person who has obvious social impairments -- which (thankfully) is simply not the case in reality. It's hard to find people who are okay with the social differences and willing to be understanding/forgiving of those social impairments that can lead to hurt feelings, but such people do exist.

I'm pointing this out because the social impairments don't just belong to the person with autism...if you know what I mean?

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17 Dec 2012, 1:49 pm

I have fair outcome, autism, 25+. These outcome standards are high. Maybe I will have good outcome soon, if I get into grad school. I will be living independently and in higher education then. Maybe I will make some friends with nerds/geeks/dorks too. Then I will have very good outcome. I don't have time to answer the other questions now. I have to work on my statement of purpose for grad school.

OddDuckNash99
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17 Dec 2012, 2:36 pm

I'm 25 and "good." I've achieved higher education/employment and friendships, but I do not live independently.

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aghogday
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17 Dec 2012, 6:34 pm

Interesting results, but specific to a small subgroup of individuals within the spectrum comprised mostly of online individuals who self-report as either suspected, self diagnosed, or officially diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, some of who report unusually high measures of IQ, as compared to studies of individuals diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in the general population that reflect close to what is identified on average for the rest of the general population. If one looks through the registration pages of the site, less than 10% of those associating themselves with the spectrum, identify as diagnosed with a spectrum disorder other than Asperger's.

While limited in methodology the most recent CDC prevalence study identifies 9% of that nationwide demographic studied as diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, 47% diagnosed with PDDNOS, and 44% diagnosed with Autistic Disorder. 38 percent were identified with intellectual disability, 24% reported with border line intellectual disability, and 38% with average to above average standard measures of intelligence at 85+.

The study below, from 2011, more generally described by the Simon's Foundation's Autism Research Institute, than the full study linked in that article, describes the results of a 20 year longitudinal study including 113 individuals on the spectrum more reflective of the CDC demographic, that paints a much different picture, with 96% of those individuals receiving a disability pension by age 22. The full study indicates that 11% of the individuals met the criteria for Asperger's syndrome and where included in with the group diagnosed with Autistic Disorder in the results of the study.

One positive note was that the crime rate among those studied on the spectrum was little more than 50% of the general population; a good link to provide to others to argue against any stereotype that people on the spectrum are more likely to commit crimes than the general population.

http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/ ... -as-adults

Quote:

Myhre’s team investigated marital status, mortality and criminal records, and disability pension awards for 113 individuals who would meet contemporary criteria for autism. Of that number, 39 fall into the PDD-NOS category. More than half the participants — including 23 of the 39 with PDD-NOS — have an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 70 or less.

All were treated in the children’s unit at the National Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Oslo, Norway, between 1968 and 1988. The researchers tracked these participants using government-issued identification numbers.

They found that by age 22, 96 percent of the group had been awarded a disability pension from the government. Nearly all were unmarried — 99 percent of those with autistic disorder, compared with 92 percent of those with PDD-NOS. The crime rate for the group as a whole was little more than half that of the general population, although more individuals with PDD-NOS than autism had been convicted of a crime.

The study’s comparatively bleak findings are a surprise, say experts.

chssmstrjk
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17 Dec 2012, 7:38 pm

aghogday wrote:

Quote:

Yeah, apparently, most of the people who decided to post answers to the questions I had reported IQs that were above average (thus far). But one cannot really tell the IQs of those who voted in the poll for this thread and did not post. For all we know, they could be people on the autism spectrum with just average intelligence (or below that) or people who have an autism spectrum disorder other than Asperger's. Although you state that 90% of the people who are registered on WrongPlanet claim to have Asperger's, only slightly more than half of the people who have made posts on this thread. answering the questions I have posted, have Asperger's. So at least that suggests a good mix of people with Asperger's and people with other forms of ASDs.

AlmaBrown
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17 Dec 2012, 7:51 pm

[1] Most recent official IQ score:
Yeah... Idk. 135-145 probably. I've never been tested.

[2] Most recent Autism Spectrum Quotient Test score
39

[3] Highest level of education achieved
High school.

[4] Degree achieved and in what field (only applies to those who attended community college or above after high school and graduated)

[5] How long did it take you to achieve your highest degree?

[6] If employed, are you employed up to your potential? (i.e. the job you currently have requires the highest degree you hold).
I'm working for minimum wage but I'm a student.

[7] If living independently, at what age did you move out and start living on your own?

[8] If you never have been in a romantic relationship, are you interested in getting into one?
Yes. I have no idea who would be able to stand me, though.

[9] If you have ever been in a romantic relationship, how old were you when you first got into one?
no

[10] Outcome
Fair

[11] Age Group
18-24

[12] Diagnosis Group
d/ud I'm undiagnosed but fairly certain I have Aspergers or HFA

aghogday
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17 Dec 2012, 8:22 pm

chssmstrjk wrote:

aghogday wrote:

Interesting results, but specific to a small subgroup of individuals within the spectrum comprised mostly of online individuals who self-report as either suspected, self diagnosed, or officially diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, some of who report unusually high measures of IQ, as compared to studies of individuals diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in the general population that reflect close to what is identified on average for the rest of the general population. If one looks through the registration pages of the site, less than 10% of those associating themselves with the spectrum, identify as diagnosed with a spectrum disorder other than Asperger's.

While limited in methodology the most recent CDC prevalence study identifies 9% of that nationwide demographic studied as diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, 47% diagnosed with PDDNOS, and 44% diagnosed with Autistic Disorder. 38 percent were identified with intellectual disability, 24% reported with border line intellectual disability, and 38% with average to above average standard measures of intelligence at 85+.

The study below, from 2011, more generally described by the Simon's Foundation's Autism Research Institute, than the full study linked in that article, describes the results of a 20 year longitudinal study including 113 individuals on the spectrum more reflective of the CDC demographic, that paints a much different picture, with 96% of those individuals receiving a disability pension by age 22. The full study indicates that 11% of the individuals met the criteria for Asperger's syndrome and were included in with the group diagnosed with Autistic Disorder in the results of the study.

One positive note was that the crime rate among those studied on the spectrum was little more than 50% of the general population; a good link to provide to others to argue against any stereotype that people on the spectrum are more likely to commit crimes than the general population.

http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/ ... -as-adults

Quote:

I counted 8 individuals out of the discussion comments specifying in their comment or indicating in their profiles "other autism spectrum disorder". Did I miss anyone?

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