So in a nutshell

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What have you learned about AS, yourself (or whoever you know is affected) and are you disappointed with knowledge gained?

Do you find yourself confused with degrees of the spectrum?

Do you find yourself questioning the validity of your own diagnosis or self diagnosis?

Do you find yourself questioning in general?

If you found out for a fact and not just your own diagnosis that someone else that went to school to read text books on traits also thinks you are on the spectrum, how do you feel about it? Do you wish you would have never known and/or has it helped you?

Do you get along with others with the same diagnosis?

Do you think aspergers and lfa are really all that much alike and if so what traits do you have that are the same as those with low functioning autism?

in primary school, i sometimes had individual time with a teacher aide.
there was this one teacher that thought i had aspergers and said something but nothing was done.
they thought i was autistic at one point and a bunch of other things too.

i kinda wish they found out about this earlier but it would not have changed things.

What have you learned about AS, yourself (or whoever you know is affected) and are you disappointed with knowledge gained? - I've learned way too much to list here - just say that after 50 years, I finally have some answers for why I am the way I am. Not disappointed at all - rather, enlightened.

Do you find yourself confused with degrees of the spectrum? - No, I get that.

Do you find yourself questioning the validity of your own diagnosis or self diagnosis? - Not for a second.

Do you find yourself questioning in general? - Constantly!! !

If you found out for a fact and not just your own diagnosis that someone else that went to school to read text books on traits also thinks you are on the spectrum, how do you feel about it? Do you wish you would have never known and/or has it helped you? - As self-diagnosed, I'd feel validated. I wish I had known 45 years ago. Knowing has been a big help.

Do you get along with others with the same diagnosis? - I have never knowingly met anyone else with AS - but of those I suspect, I get along with most - and some rub me the wrong way (our personalities are TOO MUCH the same.)

Do you think aspergers and LFA are really all that much alike and if so what traits do you have that are the same as those with low functioning autism? - Hmmm - yes, I can see the connection - it's clearly a matter of degree (as far as I can tell.) I really have sensory issues (overload, sensitivity to soft sounds, don't like to be touched when I'm not prepared, etc.), stimming (I tend to rock or spin - less, now that I've started walking every day), eye-contact was a real issue for me early in life, I want to trust EVERYONE, I have issues with knowing when to express my emotions......It's a pretty long list - those are just the top ones.

Questions, questions.

Nothing that I didn't already know in regards to me, and I learnt far too much about AS, really (another pile of facts in the brain...). No disappointment.

I was, but then I learnt too much, and I'm not confused anymore.

Nah, as nothing else explains my symptoms. If in the future there's a different label that does a better job, then cool.

Not really.

It's nice that someone cares. It's kinda moot whether I wish to have known or not as I need help to survive in modern society; that's how modern society wants me to survive, of course.

The question is too broad: people with AS can be more impaired in certain areas as those with HFA/LFA, and vice-versa. I do think that the majority of people with Asperger's are of an impairment that allows them to fit into society better than the majority of those with Autism, but it's still a severe disorder when they're compared to "normal" people in the areas affected. More alike than unlike is a saying I agree with, even if they're found to be two different disorders by future neuroimaging/genetic testing.

What have you learned about AS, yourself (or whoever you know is affected) and are you disappointed with knowledge gained?
I have had an autism diagnosis since childhood and am now 51. It is just a part of my being.
Do you find yourself confused with degrees of the spectrum?
No. It is not that important.
Do you find yourself questioning the validity of your own diagnosis or self diagnosis?
It has been agreed by all professionals since my childhood, so why question.
Do you find yourself questioning in general?
I like to gain knowledge.
If you found out for a fact and not just your own diagnosis that someone else that went to school to read text books on traits also thinks you are on the spectrum, how do you feel about it? Do you wish you would have never known and/or has it helped you?
n/a
Do you get along with others with the same diagnosis?
Yes.
Do you think aspergers and lfa are really all that much alike and if so what traits do you have that are the same as those with low functioning autism?
I went through most of life with the diagnosis 'atypical autism' and was changed in 2000 to Asperger''s syndrome. I am still the same, and I think the traits carry over from one to another.

I've learned to much to list. Some things disappoint (for instance the extent to which health practitioners are willing to bring their discriminatory stereotypes into their practice).


No.


No.

Of course.

Fairly neutral.


It has helped me.

I do not go about asking people for their diagnostic history. However, I do get along well with a number of people who have autistic traits (including one whose two children both have spectrum diagnoses).


What minimum quantity is represented by 'all that much'? Not everyone with lfa presents the same traits. Classic autistic persons, including those labeled low functioning, are individuals too.

The only things worth knowing are that (1) I'm not broken, so I don't need to be 'fixed'; (2) I'm not sick, so I don't need to be cured; (3) I'm not defective, so I'm not hopeless; and (4) I'm just different. That's all.


Not at all. Human personalities can not be quantified, whether NT or otherwise, so there is no problem.


No, everything finally makes sense.


Why do you ask?


Feelings are irrelevant. Unless that person can somehow affect my livelihood, I'll not waste any worry over it.


It's helped. Now that I know what my "toolbox" (perception and processing metaphor) contains, I know better how to use the "tools" within it.


You're joking, right? Either that, or you haven't been reading my posts...


Low functioning? Not I, dear lady! I am exceptionally functional ... or so says my wife!

I've learned a great deal over the past 6 months... I'm not disappointed, but can be frustrated by the modalities of research being targeted right now. The spectrum makes sense, and the condition makes sense - things fall into place for the first time, and I'm learning to forgive some things that I thought were just my own damage (which it is, but I think it makes sense - acceptance). I've always asked questions, so that is nothing new... depending on when someone met me, they are able to see those traits more clearly than others, as I've tried to adapt myself over the years. I'm finding that I don't always get along with those also on the spectrum, but I do enjoy their thought processes. I don't feel qualified to speak about the similarities between AS and LFA.


M.