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[PTTG??]

I have known several people who have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. They have all suffered from "High-functioning Asperger's Syndrome". What is Asperger's Syndrome, if not high-functioning Autism, which includes a range of behaviors from near-comatose self-centeredness to simply being "shy"? At what point do symptoms of a disease become so mild that they are merely normal?
 
  My point is that from my strictly non-medical experience, none of the people I know who have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (all of them High-Functioning) actually have any symptoms other than what someone without medical experience would call "being quirky".
 
  While it is important that those with serious disorders can be helped, there needs to be a better way to prevent healthy people from being treated like the severely disadvantaged.
  The consequences of being labeled with a mental disorder are apparent. Education and employment become more difficult to find, and so on, so I won't go into details.
 
  It's important that I explain that I'm not saying there's a conspiracy to misdiagnose; it's just that a parent or teacher will go to a professional with the suspicion that a child is suffering from the latest fad disease, and will search until they find someone who agrees with them.
 
  Also, this is not a media conspiracy to convince parents that their child is sick. Nothing sells like bad news, so it's just good business sense.
 
  My thoroughly untrained advice, no better than any pedestrian diagnosis, is that if you are called HF-AS, then ignore it. You are quirky, and that's it. You might as well sign up for Social Security while it lasts, though.
 
  Oh, by the way, I have also come to the impression that chronic sleep deprivation has many of the same symptoms as HF-AS. So stop staying up all night on the internet.

EDIT: Let me make it clear; there are people who do suffer from Asperger's Syndrome, and these people need care and help. My comments do not intend to trivialize a real disease; on the contrary, I am worried that many healthy people are being wrongly diagnosed.

[Torak]

People taking internet tests for diseases and end up believing them may as well be retarded.

[inaluct]

There's a lot of stuff like this. People with ADHD and ADD are just hyperactive. People with SAD are just whiny pansies.

What would have been considered personality traits not too long ago are considered diseases and conditions today. There are people that actually have these things, most likely, but they've been so over diagnosed that it's really become nothing more than a label and an excuse.

[Neonivek]

Actually Aspergers is REAL

The problem is that it is being misdiagnosed.

Not everyone who obsesses over things, uses big words, and has trouble socialising has Aspergers... but unfortunately many people have taken it upon themselves to define all "Nerds" and "Geeks" as people with Aspergers.

People have been noticing this problem

My point is that from my strictly non-medical experience, none of the people I know who have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (all of them High-Functioning) actually have any symptoms other than what someone without medical experience would call "being quirky".

That is what "High-functioning Autism" means. You could speak to people with high-functioning Autism and never know they have it. It isn't an overwhelming disability and many people can live normal healthy lives almost unhindered from it.

I mean... what did you think Aspergers was? Some sort of disease with symptoms such as caughing sneezing and inability to function in society.

While it is important that those with serious disorders can be helped, there needs to be a better way to prevent healthy people from being treated like the severely disadvantaged.
  The consequences of being labeled with a mental disorder are apparent. Education and employment become more difficult to find, and so on, so I won't go into details

Actually where I am there isn't too much of a problem with that. My High-school has excellent programs for the Learning disabled and had one of the best litteracy rates in the country. They offer help with homework, a quiet room for tests, extra time, and other accomidations.

Of course Canada still has a problem with overdiagnosis... but we are dealing with it one day at a time.

"What would have been considered personality traits not too long ago are considered diseases and conditions today"

Actually if properly dealt with it is HARDLY a disease.  All that is supposed to happen with some of these conditions is the person if they are having trouble are supposed to receive resources.

And trust me... Ive SEEN what they do with people who do have more serious conditions (Heck the Learning Disabled Core Resource room was right next to the one for people with Mental disabilities.)

So that would be a second issue this topic brought forth: The treatment of those with simple learning disabilities as... well... disabled...

Ohh and to answer your question: Previously those children would have been treated badly because people wouldn't understand... for example... Why they could do the multiplication tables as fast as the other kids... and would be struck until they do.
-So don't think that the time before learning disabilities was so wonderful either.

[PTTG??]

My brother has been diagnosed with high-functioning autism.

You said yourself "You could speak to people with high-functioning Autism and never know they have it. It isn't an overwhelming disability and many people can live normal healthy lives almost unhindered from it."

My point exactly. Of the three or four people I know who have been diagnosed with HF-AS, I would never have guessed they had a mental disorder. What, then is the illness? If you had, say, high-functioning mild benign Gigantism, wouldn't just be easier to say you're tall?

Also, let me make it clear that I realize that there are people who actually have Asperger's Syndrome. These people have measurable disadvantages and need support and help. All of my statements refer to High-Functioning Asperger's Syndrome, which has been overused on healthy but un-normal people.

[Neonivek]

All of my statements refer to High-Functioning Asperger's Syndrome

I think that statement is redundant... Aspergers is a High functioning form of Autism. (Full Blown Autism... is pretty hard to misdiagnose though...)

Mind you PTTG you are right... They diagnose it too much to people who have what they call "Extreme Normal Personalities". So sorry Nerds but your all normal!

As for ADHD Ive met someone who had been diagnosed with it and got pills... Went to see a different doctor and was told she didn't have it. (She was just excited that day).

Anyhow...

What, then is the illness?

Generally speaking people with Aspergers are Learning disabled (mind you... you can be Gifted AND learning disabled at the same time) which means that they have problems learning some materials such as reading and writing (it is actually complex...). Being Learning Disabled only means you have difficult in some aspect of learning.

By being a type of Autism that means they usually don't understand or notice certain social ques that would come easily to a normal person.

Diagnosis of Aspergers happens over a time frame, not instantly... If your Brother just went to a doctor... went out... and they said "He has Aspergers" Id be concerned.

By being High functioning it means that your Brother would need help ever now and then.

There are good articles you can read on it on the internet... Aspergers is hardly something to get worked up about. It is only something that you can use to better understand some of the strengths and weaknesses your brother is going through as well as a roadmap to possible aid he may need in his academic life. Along with this not everyone is very typical and many people with Learning disabilities can more then cope with it or cope with minor aid.

Of the three or four people I know who have been diagnosed with HF-AS, I would never have guessed they had a mental disorder

WHOA mental disorder? it isn't that strong. No one should be crying that they have High functioning Autism.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

I agree with PTTG.

There is a massive problem with diagnosis of people just to give tham a label.  Labels allow people to define you, compartametalize you and then dismiss you.  Watch any media hatchet job on someone, they have code word diagnosis' which they use to pinhole other people.

I have been diagnosed as normal as a kid, depressive as a teenager, manic depressive as an adult, then ADD.  I have quit taken medications now that Im nearly 40 and viola!  I feel great and am finally thriving cuz i am the way I am supposed to be and not drugged.

I know people with serious problems.  They need help.  I know people who seem to have problems.  They need a swift kick in the ass, possibly many.  Too many people I know now look for excuses for their behavior and failures and decisions because they cant/wont own up to it.

Fact of the matter is, we have a massive economic industry based upon diagnosis and treatment and counseling of all these "high-functioning, mildly, semi-, minor, lessor, etc" problems.  An industry no more valid than snake oil pedalers of the old american west.  In fact, just watch american TV and you cant help but see 30 drug commercials in each hour of programming.  Most are not even FDA approved.

I think I got a little off topic here.

GMcG

PS:  Either of you know anyone with Fibro Myalgia? (snicker)

[Yanlin]

I have a personal history with Assburgers Asperger's syndrome. I was wrongfully diagnosed with it once. Man was that a waste of time.

I don't see why people hammer other people with mental disorders. It's not like they chose to be born with them. But there is no reason to treat them specially. It's kind of what I say about gay rights. Gay people don't deserve rights because they are gay. They deserve rights because they are people. Assburgers Aspergers deserve equal treatment because they are people.

[Brendan]

PS:  Either of you know anyone with Fibro Myalgia? (snicker)

I do. But obviously you don't.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

PS:  Either of you know anyone with Fibro Myalgia? (snicker)

I do. But obviously you don't.

no, I dont, cuz its not real.

I do know doctors however.

edit:  actually , I have known 2 people who claimed it.  Both were selfish, self-absorbed, lazy, whiny, crybabies who wanted all attention.  Thats called a character flaw, not a disease.  They both had enabling parents and spouses who took care of them until the parents/spouses didnt treat them good enough then they left to look for more suckers to bleed.  I hope I never see them again.
(No, I wasnt the one bled).

[Brendan]

PS:  Either of you know anyone with Fibro Myalgia? (snicker)

I do. But obviously you don't.

no, I dont, cuz its not real.

I do know doctors however.

So my aunt's unrelenting pain and chronic tiredness with no apparent cause is imaginary. Okay, thanks for clearing that up. I guess maybe it's the pain fairy or something. Goddamn pain fairies.

edit:  actually , I have known 2 people who claimed it.  Both were selfish, self-absorbed, lazy, whiny, crybabies who wanted all attention.  Thats called a character flaw, not a disease.  They both had enabling parents and spouses who took care of them until the parents/spouses didnt treat them good enough then they left to look for more suckers to bleed.  I hope I never see them again.

I hope you remember that if you ever have to depend on someone else due to physical or mental disability.

[Neonivek]

I feel like there are two groups here right now

The group of people who believe Learning Disabilities exist but are over diagnosed

And the group of people who believe Learning Disabilities don't exist (or are just minor or unimportant)

Also... Yes Depression is also overdiagnosed. Though the mistreatment of it is also another serious problem. Curing Depression isn't supposed to be a passive "Lets take drugs!" episode but rather a serious and in depth look at what are the possible causes and learning to cope. Otherwise you get people who could be on the drugs for pretty much ever. (The drugs are only supposed to break you out of the vicious cycle so you can function enough to deal with the real problem)

I actually have no idea what progress has really been made in terms of depression... I mean we knew YEARS ago (5 years) that basically all someone had to do is show up at the doctor's office mildly sad with everyday complaints and get a bottle of Prozac... Id think there would be SOME progress... but apperantly not.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

PS:  Either of you know anyone with Fibro Myalgia? (snicker)

I do. But obviously you don't.

no, I dont, cuz its not real.

I do know doctors however.

So my aunt's unrelenting pain and chronic tiredness with no apparent cause is imaginary. Okay, thanks for clearing that up. I guess maybe it's the pain fairy or something. Goddamn pain fairies.

sounds like mild lymphoma.  my mother had those symptoms for years before the Dr.'s noticed her white blood cell count was off.  She is fine BTW.  She hasnt complained or received special treatment other then love.

Fibro Myalgia is the wastebasket of diagnosis'.  Anything that doesnt fit anywhere else gets thrown in.  Its another symptom of our need to over diagnose.  I am not saying your aunt doenst hurt or is tired.  I am just saying that, So Do A Whole Lot of Other People who dont need a fancy name for it for attention and just go about heir lives and goto work ok ok, wayyyyyy to hostile.  my bad.  I am an ass.

I am just saying that FM is a catch all phrase for stuff many doctors havent figured out yet, and my experience with it has been people who used it to avoid growing up.

by armok, there is no way I am getting outta this conversation without still being an ass........sigh.

I hope you Aunt feels better Brendan

--------------------------

crap, just noticed we're posting on top of each other.

I feel like there are two groups here right now

The group of people who believe Learning Disabilities exist but are over diagnosed

And the group of people who believe Learning Disabilities don't exist (or are just minor or unimportant)

Also... Yes Depression is also overdiagnosed. Though the mistreatment of it is also another serious problem. Curing Depression isn't supposed to be a passive "Lets take drugs!" episode but rather a serious and in depth look at what are the possible causes and learning to cope.

Yes, mental illness is real.  Yes, i know people with real problems.  I also know people with fake problems.  i am sure that I should have much more sympathy for them.  Maybe that having pulled myself out of depression, alcoholism, drug-addiction and generally being a useless person, I dont have patience for other who wont.  I am sure its my character flaw.  Oh well, baby steps.

EDIT:
"having pulled myself out" is an arrogant statement on my part.  Actually, friends and family having an intervention upon me and "disowning me" started my awakening.  Alcoholics Anonymous gave me my Higher Power to get up after awakening.  Constant and thorough examination of my deeds keeps me on the path, and hopefully I get a little better everyday and can be of better service to my fellow humans.  When I stop focusing on me and start focusing on life, things tend to get better. 

[Pnx]

Yeesh, this...

So I'm seeing a lot of misconceptions about ASD's here. So let me try to clarify what they are for those who don't know.

Now understand that it's hard to define clear lines when it comes autistic spectrum and related disorders, some people may show aspects of a disorder and lack other aspects of the disorder yet still be called it.

Also understand that these are all indeed just labels, Psychoanalytically we saw that some people had poor social skills, then we noted that a certain group of them had a great deal in common, they'd tended to have strong auditory and visual senses, an inability to "block things out" and a high ability to notice patterns and distortions. We called them aspergers. We noted that they behaved a hell of a lot like a autism, had the same focus around repetitive behavior but was less crippling. So we called it a high functioning form of autism because they do indeed seem connected.

Now aspergers specifically isn't what people generally understand a learning disability to be. It is primarily expressed as an inability to pick up the cultural and social cues that most of use do naturally and subconsciously, it is also primarily expressed as an inability to describe and comprehend emotions, this is thought to be linked to the social culture thing.

People with aspergers usually get better with time, by the time they've gotten through adolescence they usually have picked up the right cues and social skills that they're more difficult to distinguish from more neurotypical members of society. They're usually capable of becoming fully functioning members of society eventually, the main concern is with assisting development. It's also pretty important to note that people with autism and aspergers aren't ever going to be like ordinary people, similar perhaps but there's just something different there.

[Pandarsenic]

Interjection:

I know one guy with Asperger's, and he's way past the "Just quirky" line.

He obsesses over guns, history, and politics, has or claims to have a gun fetish, has a ridiculous penis fixation, and in addition to have no ability to read or respond to emotions, he's a bit emotionally retarded. I've been attempting to give him relationship advice with a friend. It's gone... yeah. Examples can communicate what explanations can't.

"So the girl I've been telling you about mentioned something about a boyfriend. Still worth pursuing?"