your Autism

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To get to know you better, I was wanting to know if your Autism was severe or mild (Asperger's (and/or) High Functioning Autism)?

Hmm... in lieu of an introduction...

I have AS, severe in some aspects and mild in others - I don't quite see the point of characterising the condition itself, rather than the individual's ability to function, as 'severe' or 'mild'. So for example I get sensory overload very easily, and far more frequently than the average Aspie. I am also way more limited in fine motor skills and balance than the average of the Aspies I know (again, samples are limited etc.) due to dyspraxia (at times severe enough to keep me from using a fork and a knife, holding a pen, etc.). As far as test scores go, I should be classified as severe (I have a record low eye test score of 4 and a rather extreme Dewey Test score, too). With all the rest of the issues (severe ADHD, Tourette's, NVLD), it's a fair load. But some aspects of AS affect me less - e.g. I have adequate personal hygiene (or at least no-one bothered to tell me), and get along rather well in an environment that expects me to at least pretend to function as a proper human being for a couple of hours a day. It's all a mixed bag of sweets, really.

I am me, difficulties, abilities, and all. By most, I would likely be considered "mild". Have Aspergers, etc.. But that's all relative isn't it? I'm me.

I have HFA (LFA in early childhood)

Asperger's here, probably mid-range in severity. It's the comorbids that really get me down, though--I have ADHD and depression, too. Thankfully the depression is in remission; but I have very bad decision-making and I'm bad at keeping to a schedule, despite yearning for order. I've been kicked out of college because of bad grades despite a high IQ and an ACT of 34. I'm going to a community college (I start in ten days), and if I don't make it there, then that's the end of the road for my education... A scary thought because my high need for mental stimulation at all times (ADHD trait) makes it impossible for me to do menial labor without having something to think about, such as a book on tape through headphones. Also, most minimum-wage type jobs have sensory things I can't handle.

My obsessions are: D&D, fantasy in general, cats, psychology, Roguelike computer games, and physics.

Based on what I have seen here, etc... I guess I have mild AS. I have some sensory skewing, some stims(controllable and usually subtle), the extreme interests aren't as strong as they used to be. I used to be almost obsessed.(most would say I was). My Hygiene is good. Socially, I am probably 97% normal, but couldn't react quickly and properly to subtle cues about certain interests. THERE, I am real bad.

On the plus side, I HAVE a penchant for learning. I actually DO learn some things by osmosis! Sssh.... Don't tell my old "teachers"! They used to claim it wasn't possible. A lot of it is cross linked/indexed which I guess is an aspie trait, since aspies do it, and it is rare. I do well with vocabulary, etc... I can learn concepts fast, and I can teach well also. I used to have an excellent short term memory, and talent for puzzles. I am working to get that back.

Steve

Here's an idea: Look in the gifted/talented classes for mild AS... I bet those smart, socially clumsy kids could use some help, even though they did get lucky with Aspie strengths. In school, you get good grades if you're suited for the teaching method they use; and some Aspies are great at rote memory, etc. which is stressed in a lot of schools. But after school and during college, when you need skills at teamwork and social interaction... they often fall behind.

What's the difference between HFA and Aspergers? I thought the terms were just used interchangably.

My dr diagnosed me with Aspergers. Judging from the few AS I have met in person and the people here I would say I have mild to medium Aspergers. I work and live alone yet I'm definitely not your average Bear. I stim, have some cleanliness obsessions, have issues with foods & textures of fabric, trouble communicating with others, eye contact is horrid and body language is non existent. I think I also have CAPD but have been unable to get my audiologist to understand this. And I think as a child I had PDD because I had extreme difficulty learning to walk.

Maybe I still have PDD because I sometimes have gait problems. But then again I can't say whether that is really related to the AS or if its related to having broken both ankles and right fibula and then not getting proper medical treatment. Yeah I walked 4 weeks on a broken leg because the first three doctors were too stupid to X-ray my leg when I told them I fell on it and it hurt bad. But that's another story...

I have an extremely mild form of AS. In the Aspie Quiz, in both versions 7 and 8, I got scores that indicated that I was "very likely neurotypical", yet I have an official diagnosis (in 1996 at age 16).

Tim

I think I have a moderate case of AS.

Starbuline,

Why do you say moderate vs. mild? It seems like you and I might be similar as to degree, based on messages I saw you post here, and I am just curious.
Heck, we're even both interested in languages. I SWEAR I am getting better at it, etc... Who knows, maybe I'll luck out and learn another two next year. If I can get my memory to what it once was, maybe I'll even learn Chinese. That would be a kick.

BTW Everyone,

I am just curious because of all the talk about hygiene. By that, you basically mean the propensity to basically work on an interest for 2 days or so straight, right? It isn't something that happens all the time. I have certainly had that happen myself many times. At this point it might happen about 5 times every 3 years or so. Then again, if I am on vacation, etc... It may be more.

Steve

I can describe myself as having a pretty full-blown case of Asperger's, and am rather high functioning. I did sort of mediocre in school, but I was able to get my grades up as I reached high school. I flunked out of a 4 year college, and then went to a community college and did good there. After that, I job-hopped around for about 4 years before starting my own business about 7 years ago. So far, the business is growing slowly, but steady.

Here are some of my traits:

Food aversions: usually related to textures, and not so much about taste. When I was young, I was very picky about foods, but as I grow older, I'm starting to like some different varities. I still don't like mixed foods, like some Mexican, Chinese, and casserole type dishes.

Sensory issues: My hearing is extremely sharp, and I can hear high frequencies most people can't. I've always had an aversion to loud noises, and other noises with odd-order harmonics and distortion. Random chaotic noises bother me too, like dogs barking, people arguing, stuff like that. I do have a sharp "photographic" memory to sounds. My eyesight is very much the same, and I don't like a lot of glare, although I am comfortable with bright light as long as it's not direct. Scents and smells are always trouble for me, and I don't like to be touched. I am very particular about my clothing, and in fact don't like to wear it when I don't have to.

Obsessions: I have some pretty intense obsessions, usually relating to electrical and mechanical type stuff. One of those being audiovisual stuff, which I've turned into a career, but also automobiles, appliances and other similar things. I also have an intense obsession for mid-century modern architecture, so I live in an old Levitt home. Also, hammond organs, which I own 3 of! Overall, I have a thirst for learning.

Social integration & communication: Although I can be a rather outgoing person, I am a total clutz when it comes to handling myself properly around others, especially in parties, gatherings, etc. I have a terrible time with small talk, but enjoy engaging in deep discussions, especially when they involve some of my obsessions. I have a very hard time with body language, understanding sarcasm, and humor. Likewise, my own body language is terrible, and I have major eye-contact issues. I am much better with written forms of communication however, and have frequently been commended on my writing. Throughout school, I had a terrible time with bulleys, and interacting with the other students. I never really played the social games through life, and as a result, am still single.

Routine and change: I am definitely a creature of habit, and I don't like things to change. It sometimes disturbs me to see familiar buildings get demolished when new places are built to replace them. I like things to be predictable and precise in their execution, and will do utmost planning to make sure that it happens that way.

Dexterity: My fine motor skills are excellent. I can draw and write very well. One of my skills is soldering those tiny surface-mount chips onto circuit boards. My gross motor skills however are severly lacking, especially when it involves fast reaction times and stuff, likewise, I was never good at the traditional "ball & stick" type sports. I also must have clean, unobstructed traffic patterns through my home and office so I won't run into stuff.

Stimming: Occasionally, usually when noise and chaos gets to umbearable levels, or if my own level of excitement about something gets high. It usually involves rolling something like a pen or other small object through my fingers, rocking, or shaking a leg.

One interesting thing I have noticed about myself is that I appear to be in extremely good health. At 32 years of age, I have the body of an 18 year old teenager. My resting pulse rate is about 60 BPM, and my body fat is about 15%. I only weigh about 130 pounds, so I'm a rather small person, but my strength is pretty good, and my endurance is excellent. I also rarely ever get sick, and can't even remember the last time I even had so much as a case of the sniffles.

I'm definitely quite high-functioning. I have no trouble academically (and never have had such trouble) and can communicate as effectively as anyone else in everyday conversation.

My difficulties are in social inferences and understanding other people's motivations and emotional states. This makes it almost impossible, for instance, for me to tell if a girl is smiling at me because she likes me or because she's just being friendly, unless she flirts very obviously (for instance by reaching out and touching me) or says something to clarify.

I also seem to have substantially less of a desire for emotional attachment than other people, to the point where I wonder if I really understand what "emotional attachment" means in the sense that others use it. I certainly want friends just like anyone else, and can get to the point where I highly trust them and tell very personal information to them. However, what holds us together is the fact that we can talk about our interests and perform activities together, rather than the sort of social connection that some others seem to feel.

My other problem (aside from social understanding) is being forgetful about things I have to do, where I have to be at a certain time, what I need to bring, etc.

If I do have Asperger's (I don't have a diagnosis), from the online tests I've taken and through comparing my experiences to others on this forums I think I can say that my case, though not severe, is worse than moderate. If I weren't reasonably intelligent, my symptoms would probably be much more noticeable and impairing.