Suspected Aspergers, seeking others opinions.

Post Reply New Topic

Ok, so I suspect that I have Aspergers Syndrome but I want some secondary confirmation and to know if it is worth getting a formal diagnosis at my stage.

I pulled some Kindergarten records that I'm going to share.

4 years old -
Speech is articulate and very well understood
speaks in sentences; can pose a question
needs to pay close attention to instruction and new concepts (easily confused)
count and recognize numbers to 100
needs to be reminded of the reason for a task
is beginning to seek assistance when a question arises
can create structures using blocks, marble run and Lego
can explain how the structure were built and how they work
will play alone or exhibit parallel play with one other child
does not participate in show and tell
can express his thoughts but does not share it with the class
makes decisions on his own
demonstrates self-control by following classroom rules and routines precisely
can become quite argumentative when reprimanded
does not take responsibility for own actions, but will blame others (even adults)
requires 1:1 assistance with writing tools and utensils
does not use crafting materials
still needs to be reminded to grip his writing tools properly
often forgets the task at hand
reluctant to perform in group situations
Verbalizes extreme excitement when making a new discovery about a topic he enjoys. The next step however is finding books that can help him answer some of his questions.

starts day off playing with same toys at the same place with the same friend
Enjoys the structure of a day, deviating from this routine appears to confuse him.
Cannot follow instructions, must be repeated multiple times.
Very nervous and fidgety when asked a question
Easily distraction by external stimuli (like a fly in the room)
He can operate a computer independently. He enjoys this activity immensely and is very capable of using the keyboard and retrieving programs that he wishes to use on his own. I must limit his time on the computer so that others can have a chance to use it.

After I was out of Kindergarten not much happened, I was always sent to isolation in the back of the room for "over socialization" but all I can remember was being tricked into getting in trouble. It was either the other children were seeking help from me in whisper so I would say it in a normal voice and the teacher would think I was socializing too much. I was extremely gullible when it came to "friends". All of the people I thought were my friends were actually picking on me mildly and the only person who could be called a "friend" under official social terms suffered from mild retardation. After he went to a special school in Grade 3 I only had a single friend at a time. They were all from troubled families and were constantly being moved around from house to house. They all could connect to me I guess. I think the fact that I was so gullible with friends is the reason why I was never diagnosed. I remember asking since Grade 2 to be home schooled, sadly I'm still stuck.

It all changed in Grade 7 when I hit puberty. I shut down connections, I realized that I was being bullied for who I was. I just started to notice that I was different around then. I didn't think much of it, I just thought "wow these people need to grow up and look at their own behaviors". I was the only child who followed rules so precise in school that I almost never got in trouble. I was teased for this because I was a "rat". I was given multiple nicknames, "walking dictionary", "walking calculator", "random facts guy" and it all started to wear on me. For a while I thought I just fell under the gifted category because of my oddness, but under the classification they were good at social skills. So in my thirst for knowledge I delved deeper and found out about Aspergers....what a match!

Into Highschool is where I really changed. All my life I had perfect routine. I had never moved, my parents had always been together, schedules never changed unexpectantly, no new students ever joined my classes so I was with the same kids from Kindergarten until Grade 8. Entering Highschool presented me with a whole new class, a whole new environment, and a whole new routine to follow. I was literally sick every morning for the first month of school and was nervous everyday going to school for the first whole year. I did develop some "friends" although I would more correctly coin them as acquaintances to share knowledge with.

And now here. .

Hi, my name is Katie. I have finished at university in something related to Psychology (Human Development and Family Studies to be exact). I recently went through the diagnosis process. In fact, I just got my dx today. It's PPD-NOS, but my friends (also in HDFS) thought it was Asperger's so, for a while, I was 90% sure it was.

Actually going in and getting something written down on paper can be a bit jarring because there's a finality to it that says: Yes, this is one way to explain your strengths and weaknesses. However, it shouldn't consume your identity. I know that there will be times where I will have to fight that.

Fresh out of the dx process, here are some pros:

-You can be eligible for services such as social-skills training, help in school for subjects you struggle in, vocational training etc. **This is possibly the best benefit because your evaluator will discuss specifically what tools will be helpful to you.**
-You finally have a NAME to explain your struggles. It seems like you have settled it that you have AS, but it's nice to have that validated.
-Easier for teachers and others to understand behaviors and how to help
-Possibility of scholarships. Are you currently in a university or about to go or don't know yet?
-For me, it's a nice 'moving forward' stage so I don't feel like I'm constantly drowning in my struggles. There's a name for them and a way through (not necessarily out) and a way to cope.

Cons
-First, if you are still in high school (it seems like you ended at high school, so I assume you just graduated or are in a higher grade), DO YOUR PARENTS KNOW? You really need to sit down and discuss. It's hard, but something you need to do.
-It is jarring to get a diagnosis because suddenly there's no going back and pretending you're 'normal.' There is a bit of a grief process.
-Getting a formal evaluation is expensive. However, agencies such as church organizations, disability services, health insurance might be able to help.
-There might be a wait-list to see a professional who is an expert at diagnosing stuff on the autism spectrum.

I hope this helps. What helps me is knowing God has a purpose for making me like this and He has a plan to use both my strengths and weaknesses for good. Having something similar to put your hope in helps too.

Thanks for your input.

I'm in Highschool, Grade 11 in the fall.
I've been talking to my mom about it and we went through a huge list of traits to mark off, I covered a large percent of them. My dad is different though, he's so overly critical over everything, my mom says I shouldn't say anything to him either.

Also, because I live in Ontario, Canada I think it is covered by OHIP, can anyone verify this for me? Thanks.

Even though that was extremely long I still missed some things.

In addition to the above stated I also exhibit some minor stims. I can't sit still in a chair (I'm always putting one leg up, then the other, then sitting on one etc), I clench my toes and hands a lot, I grab my hair, and sometimes when I'm excited I'll shake my arms up and down really fast.
When in conversations I avert my eyes constantly (I look at their eyes, look away, look back)
I'm not sure about social cues, I mean, If someones smiling its obvious, and if someone is crying its obvious its the subtle things inbetween the extremes I don't pick up on too well I guess. (ie. I did the "Minds Eye" test and I couldn't get playful or flirtatious.)
When I'm with my friends doing work I tend to over-exaggerate speech. By this I mean, I change my tone, pitch, speed too much.
Loud, sudden noises frighten the heck out of me and sunlight forces me to close my right eye unless I have sunglasses. Being touched when not expected can also lead to me re-flexing the and punching at them, or jumping out of my chair. I get nauseous in the detergent and perfume aisles of stores. I can't stand the texture of pie crust, my hair stands on end and I shiver whenever I eat it.
I don't invite my friends over much and when I do I often just go off on my own to my computer or just show them all of the things I had found on Youtube etc.

Hopefully that covered everything I missed.

Last edited by Coldkick on 01 Jul 2010, 8:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

Y'know, the thing that confirms your suspicions of aspergers to me is the willingness to accept that tests are the answer. More than anything else, that is. If you'd felt the connection to someone else in your life you'd be fighting against it, but as things are you're so desperate for something you can belong to...

It was the same for me, except that I'd clung to the belief that I was just like everyone else for half a century before the truth snuck through.

Thanks for the comment peterd.
The only person I have really "connected" with would be my mom. The other friends are more like acquaintances honestly.
And for the tests, extremely true! I'm constantly looking for more quizzes/tests on the internet to confirm different things.

I am in Ontario also. I just started the diagnosis process. I went to my family dr and explained why I thought I had it. He said he would find someone for me that knows about AS/Autism in adults but he needed time to find someone. (Been waiting about 3 weeks so far) A psychologist/psychiatrist would be free if your Dr agrees that you may have it and he refers you to them. There are private psychologists, etc that specialize in AS/Autism that you can go to but you would have to pay out of pocket. No idea how much it would be though.

Start a list of your traits/symptoms. Read up as much as you can about AS but don't forget to research other disorders that could fit your traits. I have LOTS of things that fit into LOTS of other disorder but I found AS to be the one that fits best and is my gut instinct.

Good luck. I hope you find what you are looking for.

P.S.

Growing up alot of things were kept from my Dad too. LOL So I can relate about that. If he's unsupportive, get your diagnosis and then you have "proof" and he may be alot less likely to disagree. (Hopefully!) You're lucky having your Mom to help you through it. It would be alot more difficult if you were trying to do it on your own. Anyone who isn't supportive or is unbelieving is going to hinder your process and make you start to question things. If you are certain there's something different about you, go for it! Don't give up.

Thanks for the comment Brija.

The only other disorder that fits might be Schizoid Personality Disorder but I don't think its that.

EDIT: It says usually diagnosed after 18 so I guess its out of the picture

Sorry for necro bumping this but I only got three responses, if it is too long I can make a skimmed version.

Honestly, I never read these long descriptions of symptoms and histories because I get nothing from them. I would recommend running through some of the online tests at the top of the forum (I like Baron-Cohen's), at http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt113459.html and then discussing your results. Or how you fit with the diagnostic criteria.

Hehe I just happen to be a test maniac and have done about 20 tests in total now.

OK I got a 34 on the AQ Test

Aspie-quiz
Aspie: 176 of 200
NT: 22 of 200

113 (Moderate PDD) on the PDD Assessment Scale

Scored high on Achievement Attitude, Intellectual Factors, Philosophical Attitudes, Risk Attitudes, Task Performance Attitudes
Scored low on Emotional Temperament, Energy Level and Physical attributes

Scored high on Dependability, Fairness, Leadership, and Regard for Rules
Scored low on Aggressiveness, Control attitudes, Ego-centrism, Emotional Expression, Physical appearance, and team spirit.

A big con for getting diagnosed is that you can't join the military. Just thought you might want to know.

I don't plan on joining the military but thanks for the heads up anyway

A lot of what you've described are classic AS syndromes, though the traits you've listed are more often in the gifted category than the disabled category. It's possible that you have AS, but it's also possible that you are just extremely intelligent, which isn't necessarily related. Can you list some more of the negative symptoms?

Thanks for the reply LotM.

I have a lot of OCD symptoms. I am constantly fidgety and can't can;t sit still without getting EXTREMELY anxious and sick feeling. I also do the ever so stereotyped hand flap whenever I am excited or when I'm moving around at home. I chew on my clothes too.

Socially, I can't keep a conversation acceptable. I will go on and on about my favorite topic or something in the news no matter what the listener is thinking. Eye contact is a large problem. I quickly glace and then look away. If I meet someone new I pace and pace and don't know what to say, usually just start talking about my cats. Going to school can be troublesome for me because I feel like I need a day to rest and calm myself from the loudness of school. Since Grade 2 I have wanted to be home schooled because I felt I would learn better without people being around me. Because I was so rule bound if any other student did anything wrong I reported them to the principle or closest teacher immediately making most kids hate me because I ruined their fun. I only participate in social activities if I have to.

In school work I was frequently told that I lacked creativity and could only work with things that I had already known. My voice was too loud during class but when asked to read something I was almost inaudible. I also had extremely poor listening ability and still do. I can't follow instructions no matter how much I try. I also had a lack of interest for anything that didn't suite my obsessive interest (computers).

I suffer from motor clumsiness. I couldn't correctly use a tricycle until i was 7, ride a bike until I was 11, and tie my shoes until I was 13. I didn't hold my utensils right until I was 15