Is there any way to tell if I have asperger's syndrome?

Hi Kira, My son and I have ADHD (he is diagnosed and I am to be assessed). I sometimes recognise little quirks in us that could be aspergers. I talk with other people with ADHD and parents of those with it online and so many of them feel that they must have at least a touch of aspergers. When I mentioned my sons aspergers type behaviour, his childrens mental health worker said that these were also common traits of ADHD too. like oversensitiveity over his clothes missreading social situations rambling on at length obsessions he used to line up all his toys panic when things are changed I am like this too. I used to be louder and confident until I was 11 then I realised I had to make a big effort to not embarrras myself and became withdrawn. I try to take turn in conversations but it doesn't come naturally. I let them have their turn but I don;t really listen because I am thinking too haerd and trying not to forget the stuff I want to say. I was diagnosed dyslexic too. They are all neurological conditions. I struggle with relationships and just generally feeling like I am an equal when having conversations, especially social ones. Are you a bit scatty at all, do you sometimes find it harder when there are more people to think straight? Do you procrastinate? (put jobs/tasks off for another day and keep on putting it off untill you get into trouble.) Do you try and run a bath and end up flooding the bath room, emptyiong it out again the make it too cold, and try agaih and then make it too hot? It is just a thought to concider, many people do not realise how close to the spectrum ADHD is. And you don't have to be hyper to have it either, it includes innatention (swings bettween under and over focus), impulsiveness and hyperactivity and a person with ADHD can have one or more. Our hyperactivity is mostly verbal but somedays we are too busy to or restraining ourselves from talking too much. We have ups and downs energy and mood wise. I'm gonna take that test now! EDIT i got 36, I'll try the other one later, I'm gonna be late for work! EDIT just queezed it in, Thats ADHD for you, I couldn't just leave it! My results. Your Aspie score: 137 of 200 Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 73 of 200 You are very likely an Aspie

It sounds to me like you very likely have Asperger's syndrome. You have a lot of the symptoms. The only way to be sure though is to see a qualified professional, preferrably one who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. You can also visit the discussion forums at Wrong Planet, which are for people with autism spectrum disorders. Maybe reading the stuff we talk about there helps you realize better whether you have AS or not. http://www.wrongplanet.net/forums.html What's interesting is that your path to finding out about Asperger's syndrome is very similar to how I found out I have it. I always knew there was something different about me, but I wasn't sure what, so I read about mental disorders and started thinking I had OCD, schizoid personality disorder and depression. Later, when I researched Asperger's syndrome, I found out that that describes me much more accurately.

I don't have it, but my ex does, and yes, I'm almost 100% you have it. I have social anxiety and from what I know, not being able to recognize social norms is not a function of social anxiety. Being unable to recognize sarcasm is a big one. He would think I was serious a lot of the time and thought I was cruel, not funny. He was also obsessed with random subjects (piano, music), unable to read people, the one-sided convo thing. He absolutely didn't understand social boundaries, would yell without meaning to, was even unaware of the volume of his voice. I've actually known quite a few people with AS, and have something of a radar for high functioning autism. I'm ready to bet that if I met you I would tell you within five minutes that yes, you have it. As far as I know, behavioral therapy, having someone "teach" you social norms, how to read people, is the only treatment. Medication helps a small amount of the time. I've seen videos of people who actually memorize facial expressions (downturned mouth, wrinkled forehead means anger/frustration) and break it down literally like that to help read people in social situations. But you do have a gift, a unique world view, so as long as you figure out how to get along better in society having asperger's isn't necessarily a problem, but rather a different perspective.

I've read about AS before and i thought it sounded a lot like me, but i decided i didn't have it because i think i know what people feel by their facial expressions. Well, i took the test on okcupid and i got 39. Now i know why i was the smartest kid in class (im not bragging) but with no social skills. I'm in my 20's now and i have come a long way socially from when i was younger. I still have a hard time relating to most people but at least i have a few friends and a job. That's why i don't plan to see a psychiatrist again because it was all a waste of time, that didn't help me out. All the progress ive made is by pushing my limits, trying to force myself into uncomfortable social situations. I don't know if i have AS, but it feels good to know that im not the only one with those characteristics EDIT: i took the other test. Your Aspie score: 152 of 200 Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 64 of 200 You are very likely an Aspie

My video about Asperger's might help you