How should we describe Asperger's Syndrome?

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This is really an issue that's been bothering me, because how you introduce it could vastly effect how people perceive you. I've noticed that the wrong explanation can really botch up people's first impression of the disorder. I'll go ahead and give it a shot myself, but I would love for you guys to come up with something yourself.

Mozart and Einstein didn't exactly have the social skills of a politician. That and the focus they're known for are essentially the defining features of Asperger's Syndrome. The actual intellectual accomplishment obviously depends on how well they use that focus, but it does provide advantages and detriments of a unique order.

I wouldn't mention the name of it at all. But in describing it, only mention the good things. Avoid talking about the problems that it's directly causing you or that you know occurs. Instead, merely give them a direct, easy to grasp reason (or no reason at all) for your choice of action ("It's too [loud, smokey, etc] in there - You go have fun, I'll catch up with you later"). They might get curious and then later, start suspecting you are different in a specific way. By that time, they'll already be your friend, so it won't seem like a problem for them to continue being friends with you.

For those who wonder about AS, I find it easiest to say this:

AS is a type of autism that primarily affects the part of the brain that processes emotion. As a result, most everyone with AS processes emotion differently than normal people. This is why they are seen as "socially awkward." It is because they perceive things and respond differently than what normal people expect."

AS is a high level of autism at which your brain is wired differently from a NT person. People with AS find it difficult to interact with people because it's hard for us to recognize social cues. We are also emotionally impaired which also makes it difficult for aspies to empathize & understand other peoples feelings.

Also what is the condition called when we have a hard time hearing when it's different background noises? Like we may hear somebody say something but not understand what they said. I forgot what it is called

How would I describe it? I would describe Asperger's as a condition that gives you a skill or a special ability in a certain area but what it gives with one hand it takes away with another. You can have the skills or ability but it doesn't matter except if you are really lucky and happen to be around people who are supportive and will exert a positive influence on you, not a negative one.

AS is a form of autism with symptoms such as poor social interaction, strict routines, repetitive behaviors, narrow interests, emotional problems, sensory issues, and overall perceiving the world not as others do. AS is a spectrum and therefore can be mild or severe, and effect different people differently.

Auditory processing disorder.

Aspies have brain wiring that's a little different. For me, there's a bottleneck in the sensory/social processing area, but extra wiring in the 'things' part of the brain, which also includes some written language elements. The sensory/social information is processed where the extra capacity is, in the 'things' area, which creates little time-lags, and some results that can be a little weird.

It requires a lot of effort for me to deal with complex social situations, so I make a lot of mistakes interpreting facial expressions, following conversations, and making 'small-talk'. One-on-one is a lot easier, but it's better if there's a plan or a purpose, rather than just 'hanging out'. I need time by myself to re-charge. I'm happy just being with a friend and not saying or doing anything.

Emotions are a little different, too. They aren't automatic reflexes. I care about people, but my emotions are more cognitive than empathic, so sometimes it seems like I just don't care. It's like speaking a second language in a different culture.

It's like being on the Wrong Planet <grin>.

I always love the reference to Einstein. Its like saying being overweight is not a problem because Luciano Pavarotti was overweight. Pavarotti was an opera star despite (not because of) being overweight and Einstein was a genus despite having (not because he had) AS! According to Gillberg's criteria, Aspergers is characterized by social impairment (extreme egocentricism), narrow and often bizarre isolated interests, compulsive needs for routines or focus on interests which hinder the individual or those around the individual, some speech oddities, non-verbal communication problems and motor clumsiness. As the definition evolves, the egocentricism and bizarro interests with a compulsive need to inflect them on others will probably head the list.

Wow. answersfinally, all i've seen you post so far is negative. Why are you even here? Pissed off at some relative who has AS? Damn. Plus, i think more people go by the DSM criteria than the Gillberg. And i think "egocentrism" is probably a misleading word to use.. It's not inaccurate in itself.. because, of course someone who doesn't understand what other people are thinking is going to be somewhat self-centered in a way, but that can also make it sound more narcissistic and like aspies don't care about others and are obsessed with themselves. Plus, it seems to me that many aspies care about others A WHOLE LOT.. Not picking up on how someone else feels or what to do about it isn't the same as not caring about anybody but yourself.

My nickname is Joe90 because I am skinny, but most people think I'm a boy. I'm actually a girl, my real name is Josie, although sometimes I let my cousin who has Dyspraxia share my forum thing aswell.
Anyway, I have two things I'd like to say who I can't tell anybody in person. Nobody knows who I look like or where I live here, so I feel more safe to tell you. Most of you live in America probably anyway - I live in Britain.
Here goes:
Laugh if you must, because even I'm laughing right now as I'm writing this: I have a fear of death (most people do), but this fear comes under what will happen to all my possessions when I die? And this includes. . .my teddy. (Please laugh, get it out of you before you read on). I had this teddy for my first Christmas, and it's always going to remain a special part of my life. It sits in a corner of my bed now where I know it is safe. But when I die (I probably will die alone), what will happen to it? Will it just be left to sit and rot? Will people left behind (if any!) jut chuck it away in the bin without a care? I'd rather someone else have it, and be passed down from generation to generation, but obviously it'd get chucked away by some heartless trollop at some point.

Second thing is a strange habit I do when I'm in bed on my own. I lay on my tummy, with both my arms underneath, and my hands between my legs. (I do this with clothes on!! !) And my hands sort of ''tickle'' between my legs, and using my muscles in the tops of my legs I make my bum go up and down to allow me to tickle down there easier. And after a certain amount of time of doing this, I suddenly feel a - sort of - orgasm feeling, then I stop after that. I know this is private but I am too embarrassed to tell anyone else and none of you know me here. I've been doing this since the age of 3 and I'm 20 now and still love doing it. It makes me sweating hot after but it's just a habit. Does anyone else do this habit or anything similar?
I panic because I feel I'm the only person in the whole world who does this. Literally - there are billions and trillions of people in this world, and am I one out of billions and trillions? Once I know somebody else does something similar, my mind will rest. Thanks for taking time to read this discusting thing

I'm the same way, out of my collection of stuff I have one Teddy bear that I absolutely cannot do without. I've had it her since I was 4 and I got it for Christmas as well, it's not in the best condition right now but i've had it for 22 years now and I don't really care. I can't sleep without it and have taken it with me everytime I go on a trip away from home, it's even gone overseas quite a few times now. I don't plan on throwing it away or passing it down to my kids if ever I have any. I'll just buy them their own, this one stays with me. Before I die i plan to put it in my will that I be buried with it, I don't care if that sounds funny or not but I'm still gonna do it. If it's not with me imma come back and haunt someone...I don't believe in ghosts but my family does so that threat works for me

In regards to the original post, if someone were to ask me how I would describe AS I would probably say it in a single sentence: Its a form of autism that doesn't affect my intelligence but instead I experience tremendous difficulty in social situations. Now that might not be true for all aspies but that's how AS effects me the most

Autism

I have trouble with finding a substitute for all of the following:

autism (or AS) is a disorder / pervasive developmental disorder / disease / condition / syndrome / etc

I'd say AS is a different way of thinking, a different brain setup. It means we tend to be better at whatever our interest is, but worse at social interaction. Add any other spesifics that are necessary, but try to keep it balanced, or they tend to think AS is something very bad / good, and refuse to see the other side.

Write it in your will. But yeah, unless you're buried with it, chances are it'd get thrown away after a few generations.

It's not disgusting Sounds like masturbating, which pretty much everyone does.