Questions

[Outrider]

Could someone describe what Asperger's is like, not the DSM description but what it is like.

[bloom]

1. This is from "GRASP"

Although there is no single distinguishing trait or characteristic common to all people with AS, and very few that are exclusive to this condition, there are numerous behaviors and traits that are commonly observed in individuals who have AS. These include:

very intense interests in highly specialized and often unusual areas (which can range from train routes and schedules to sports statistics to geographic or national facts to astronomy or even astrophysics) that preclude attention to or conversation about other subjects;

inflexible routines in personal habits (insistence on always doing things the same way) towards which there is great resistance to change;

repetitive bodily motions (such as flapping of the hands or feet and rocking back and forth);

awkward physical coordination (“clumsiness” and difficulty with sports);

unconventional body language, inappropriate facial expressions, and poor eye contact (which often causes others to misinterpret their intentions);

unusual speech patterns (such as a noticeably peculiar tone or modulation of voice);

atypical conversation (such as inappropriate remarks or irrelevant statements, and a formal “professorial” style of speaking that is more a lecture than a reciprocal conversation with another person);

strong tendencies to be very literal in understanding of spoken or written language (which can make them very susceptible to being fooled or tricked);

lack of awareness of their social environment or of the feelings of others (which can make them appear unemotional, unempathetic, or insensitive);

remarkable memory for facts or details; exceptional abilities with numbers or patterns In addition, a few more specific behaviors and traits often observed in younger children with AS include: • slight delay in the use of speech (particularly complete sentences);

reversal of pronouns (such as “you” instead of “I”, and vice-versa);

incessant repetition of favorite topics, expression, or words;

lining-up toys or other objects in a row;

very strong attachment to specific objects or items;

intense fascination with spinning objects; possibly exceptional ability to make things spin (e.g., a top) As in other forms of autism, people who have AS sometimes have very acute sensory sensitivities. In particular, they can react strongly to sounds or visual stimuli that are not even perceptible to most people (such as the high-frequency sound emitted from the back of a television or the “flickering” of a fluorescent light).
Similar issues concerning the fragrances of perfumes and toiletries, the tastes of foods, and the textures of clothing are also not uncommon. Asperger Syndrome was first described in 1944 by the Austrian pediatrician Dr. Hans Asperger.

http://www.grasp.org/lrn_def.htm

Of course just some of these things would apply in most cases.

[bloom]

2. From OASIS

What Is Asperger Syndrome?

By Barbara L. Kirby

...Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".

By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context....

___

A More Down-to-Earth Description
by Lois Freisleben-Cook

...A few people with Asperger's syndrome are very successful and until recently were not diagnosed with anything but were seen as brilliant, eccentric, absent minded, socially inept, and a little awkward physically.

Although the criteria state no significant delay in the development of language milestones, what you might see is a "different" way of using language. A child may have a wonderful vocabulary and even demonstrate hyperlexia but not truly understand the nuances of language and have difficulty with language pragmatics. Social pragmatics also tend be weak, leading the person to appear to be walking to the beat of a "different drum". Motor dyspraxia can be reflected in a tendency to be clumsy.

In social interaction, many people with Asperger's syndrome demonstrate gaze avoidance and may actually turn away at the same moment as greeting another. The children I have known do desire interaction with others but have trouble knowing how to make it work. They are, however, able to learn social skills much like you or I would learn to play the piano.

There is a general impression that Asperger's syndrome carries with it superior intelligence and a tendency to become very interested in and preoccupied with a particular subject. Often this preoccupation leads to a specific career at which the adult is very successful. At younger ages, one might see the child being a bit more rigid and apprehensive about changes or about adhering to routines. This can lead to a consideration of OCD but it is not the same phenomenon


http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/

[Rosemary2205]

3. My husband's answer

is that too many times people don't understand him. Like they speak a different language.

[thedeadchicken]

4. Computer analogy?

It's a hard thing to explain, because it's a rather fundamental difference in mental processing, but the best analogy I've been able to come up with is it's like being a Mac in a PC world: most everything that you encounter is designed for the one operating system. Not a perfect description, but it's a decent starting point, I think.

[idgiehkt]

5. also, has anyone noticed

now in those Minnesota tests, or whatever, like they give you to work at Wal-mart (psychological testing) they are basically trying to screen out the introverts/aspies/non-conformists? I am sure alot of us are really hard working loyal employees, though we may not be group people or 'team-players' as much, but it's like they are on a quest to make sure we are screened out of certain jobs. I find it strange.

[Deja Q]

6. I've noticed. It's really heartwarming for the self-esteem too...

And we are better at ensuring everything gets lined up properly.

And many of those they hire? I should have kept notes from the last Aspie group I went to. One chap was talking about not getting a job and covertly studied the people who were hired. Target should be ashamed. (oops, did I name drop?)

[Outrider]

7. Back in the late 90's

I remember seeing articles several articles while I was in college about EQ (Emotional Quotient). The gist of the articles was that businesses should be just as concerned about a person EQ as their IQ, and they seemed to suggest weeding out applicants that had low EQs because they would become problem employees. Though they mostly dealt with the negative impact on business caused by employees with poor inter personal skills, I got the distinct feeling that though they weren't outright saying it that they were suggesting that people with low EQs were more prone to behaviors like sexual harassment.

Unfortunately I didn't save any of the articles and just remember that one of them was in a magazine in the engineering department that I read while waiting for an advisor.

[bloom]

8. There was a whole book

about EQ - I more or less read it. I don't really remember any of it.


I think that a lot businesses (except maybe the customer service parts) would be better off with people who were better at focusing on the task at hand instead of talking around the water cooler - being sociable and all. It seems that there would be tests for that. But no.