Textbook Aspergers

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I used to know someone in a residential facility I lived in who described himself as having “textbook Aspergers.” Can someone explain this to me?

Noun

textbook case (plural textbook cases)

A real-life case that matches the theory perfectly, a perfect example.

a textbook case of hysterical psychosis

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/textbook_case

What Fire said.

You see a text book description of something, and then see a real person who matches the description perfectly.

What that means specifically I don't know. Aspies vary a lot, and most don't have all of the characterstics. I have special interests, but don't get melt downs, and don't really have sensory issues. But some other aspie might have meltdowns and sensory issues but not special interests.

How people describe themselves, which may sound literal. can mean something that is less literal.

Because Asperger Syndrome is a complex condition that includes a variety of presentations (presentations meaning how many symptoms one individual may have).

I would say that the "textbook case" could include a range of presentations, so the term textbook case could define quiet a few different people with this complex neurological condition.

He was originally diagnosed with autism then at age 17 it was changed to Aspergers. He said the doctor described him as a textbook case.

I wonder if he meant severe Aspergers because he had pretty much all the traits.

Difficult to say . He may have pretty much all ,but perhaps they're all at a mild/moderate level .

In my opinion knowing him I think he was severe.

Sheldon Cooper might be said to be a “Hollywood” textbook case of Asperger’s.

A sort of stereotype.

I don’t think he has Aspergers at all. He was just so intelligent he progressed through school quickly and just never had the opportunity to develop socially.

If you want to learn more about Asperger Syndrome. It may be worth you reading up, it is an interesting topic.
Tony Atwood has written extensively on the subject and i can recommend his books, in particular

The Complete Guide to Asperger Syndrome by Tony Attwood.
The complete guide to aspergers syndrome

I don't know anything about that actor. I don't watch the show. This does remind me that my therapist (of NTs) initially said something similar: you're obviously very intelligent; you're simply lacking social skills. I did *not* go through school quickly (dropped out of college a year), but I had an emotionally abusive parent.

I explain how HARD communicating is. It's like going through molasses. I can hear in recordings that I over-annunciate words in the effort. Interestingly yesterday when I found my college coursework, I discovered how I aced (top of class) my Communication, Psychology and Acting classes ------ this for an ENGINEER. I don't personally know of another Engineer that devoured those courses like I did. A month back, I read that folks who "pass" often are actresses, study communication and psychology. I had forgotten I was "textbook" that way until I saw it. I was astounded to see I got "best paper" for analyzing the communication theories related to the first time I met my boyfriend's parents. I know, I know: So ROMANTIC! (He wasn't put off; he's my husband now.) I've been starting to "let out" a bit of my experience recently. All those thoughts and actions that aren't "appropriate" in the NT world that I've been hiding 24-7... I hide better (but not well enough) than my mom, she hid better than her mother. Time will tell for my daughter. Will she need to hide?

Hopefully your daughter will be able to grow up open and confident about being an Autistic woman.

Yes. When folks say "the textbook so and so" they often actually mean "the stereotypical so and so".
That the person fits what the public THINKS something is to a T, and not that they fit how the experts actual define what it is.

The person the OP is asking about could mean either thing. That he is just like Sheldon Cooper (who I think IS a cartoonish version of an aspie), or that he ticks every box in some actual authoritative list he saw. But if its the later he would have to be a rare aspie, because few aspies actually have EVERY trait (ie special interests, AND sensory issues, and meltdowns, and not wanting to be hugged, and whatever else is on the list).

I think textbook aspies are very rare. I don't think many of them will sound like a perfect case from each aspie book that describes the condition from every page. To be a textbook, you have to be a stereotype of how it is often portrayed.

I would say he fits a stereotype.