On Aspergers
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What's Aspergers?
Aspergers is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Its "sufferers" tend to have socialization difficulties, are quiet, have narrow interests and generally are seen by their peers as being "different".
The known ASDs are "classic" autism, pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), high-functioning autism and Aspergers. Aspergers is the highest-functioning ASD of the aforementioned.
The higher the functioning, the higher the IQ and probability a person will live an independent life.
Traits
People who have Aspergers usually show symptoms that aren't present in many other disorders.This often makes it easy for doctors to conclude if someone has Aspergers or not.
Some common Aspergers symptoms are:
- Difficulty completing tasks that aren't of interest
- Good to excellent memory
- High-moderate to extreme fear of people, especially strangers
- Lack of facial expression
- Muteness or very little speech
- Narrow range of interests which consume lots of time
- Physical clumsiness
- Poor socialization skills, despite being articulate in a non-verbal manner
- "Stimming" (watch this video for insight on stimming)
- Viewed as eccentric by peers
Common misconceptions
Aspergers, along with most disorders, has its misconceptions.
Some common misconceptions about people with Aspergers "sufferers":
- They don't know how to take care of themselves
- They lack creativity
- They lack empathy
- They're unemployable
- They've unfavorable personalities
- They're unintelligent
Aspergers: is it necessarily a bad thing?
People with Aspergers generally don't view their AS as being a bad thing - they view it as a "difference". However, Aspergers, like most disorders, has its disadvantages.
The biggest disadvantages of having Aspergers are the social deficits that come with it. They can prevent people from attaining jobs, forming friendships and finding love.
The advantages people with AS have are that they're able to focus well on topics of interest, pay close attention to fine detail and can think logically.
Famous people who have Aspergers
Aspergers has it's share of famous confirmed "sufferers".
These people include:
- Alex Plank (founder of Wrong Planet, a prominent Aspergers forum)
- Dan Aykroyd (actor who's famous for his Cone Heads character)
- Gary Numan (new wave musician who reached prominence in the late 70's)
- Heather Kuzmich (model who became famous for starring in a season of America's Next Top Model)
There are also many suspected Aspergers "sufferers":
- Bill Gates (Microsoft founder; one of the top ten wealthiest people in the world)
- Michael Jackson (musician who recorded Thriller, the best selling album of all-time)
- Morrissey (was the lead singer of The Smiths, a famous band from Manchester)
- Steven Spielberg (film director who directed Close Encounters of the Third Kind)
Aspergers acronyms and jargon
People who have Aspergers often use jargon and acronyms which aren't well-known among the general public.
Some common Aspergers-related acronyms are:
- AS = Aspergers Syndrome
- ASD = Autism Spectrum Disorder
- NT = Neuro-Typical
- PDD = Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- PDD-NOS = Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified
A common Aspergers-related jargon term is:
- Aspie = Someone who "suffers" from Aspergers
Aspergers support forums
There are support forums for people who have Aspergers.
Recommendable ones are:
HikiCulture Asperger's & PDDs Board
CommentsLoading...
kirstenblog - thanks for the comment.
I find it important to raise awareness. Too few people never realize what's "wrong" - they feel hopeless.
Discovering I have Asperger's is the best thing that's happened to me.
tom cruise is just C-R-A-Z-Y! hah no, i am just really creeped out by him.
my mom tried to get my diagnosed with ADHD when i was little...now that i'm older i think its more likely that i have ASD...and my awkwardness only grows. :/
love your hubs! :D
double-frick - thanks for the comment.
Be sure to try and get diagnosed if you think you have an ASD.
Great hub, Bunny :)
Good luck with HubPages.
Audrevea - thanks. :)
Really well put together hub. I learned a lot. Thank you for sharing.
Kindest regards Zsuzsy
Looking at your list of "sufferers", you seem to be in great company. I hope you achieve fantastic things in your life. :)
Great and informative hub. I had not heard of ASD until I read this, good job!
Very well described hub. Thanks for sharing. I have learnt something new.
Wow, list of famous people with AS is really impressing. I have learned a lot.
Hikikomori, Very good informative hub! You have done your homework! I have a grandson who is Autistic and he is very intelligent! Thank you for sharing, Blessings!
What an informative hub! This is my first time to be acquainted with Asperger's.
Thank you for sharing.
Good hub. As a peds OT, I'm very familiar with PDD/ASD. I do however find your "suspected Asperger's" list, well, suspect. Where did this information come from?
People - thanks for the comments.
rmcrayne - I agree. The suspected Asperger's sufferers list was a little too long, so I trimmed it down. It now only has people who I believe have a near 100% chance of having Asperger's.
Someone on the Asperger's part of my board posted a huge list of suspected Asperger's sufferers. I decided to take a few names from the list and add them to this hub.
Here's the thread I took some names from:
Hmmm, I'd be interested to know why you, as a person with Asperger's, think Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson, Elvis, Dan Akroyd likely have Asperger's. Granted, my direct experience has been with children with PDD/ASD, I don't see it. I've seen and heard them all interviewed multiple times. Their social skills and social connectedness seem too good. Would you consider writing some hubs on some of these people on your personal "100% list"? I think this would be incredibly interesting! (I'm totally sincere, not being sarcastic at all.)
I had no idea, learn something new everyday. This is very informative. Thank you
Great information. I did not know a thing about this disorder. Thanks for the insight.
HC Porter
Great hub. Keep up the good work.
I found this really interesting. It gives a clear explanation of Asperger's. You are doing a good job of raising awareness.
Thank you, as a parent with 2 aspies I see thier creativity and emotional ups and downs on a daily basis. What others don't understand is how I understand my sons. I just have to pay attention to what they are saying and doing and I understand them just fine, we have no more misunderstandings than any other family. With the stimming we have been slowly finding culturally acceptable ways of allowing them to react(stim) without causing themselves problems interacting with others.
what value would a diagnosis have other than 'peace of mind' and possible medication? (i hate medication)
Very informative Hub.
I like how you started with a nice bit of type, but I can't place the font. What is it?
Shame about the jpeg compression. I'd like to find a way around that.
James - thanks.
Bookman is the typeface I used.
I also was wondering if there could be a way around the compression.
Hi. I am an undiagnosed aspie... female. We differ a bit from our male counterparts .. we use both sides of our brains which compensate for the the communication problems.
Have you read my hubs on aspies?
http://hubpages.com/hub/Do-You-Think-Your-Child-Ha
keep up the good work!
Shaz x
Wow, great hub! You are doing a wonderful job on raising awareness. Thank you.
The language of AS (impairment, restriction, difficulties) is always frustrating because it paints such a negative picture. Yes there are challenges with social and emotional skills, but Aspies are often very bright and just need help with learning to cope with their different outlook on the world
kirstenblog Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago
I gave this one an up rating. I had a childhood best friend who at the time was home-schooled. When he became an adult it was discovered that he had Aspergers but as a kid no one knew. I now work at a school that has several kids with this disorder. It is good to be sharing what this disorder is and raising awareness for it because not long ago it was not even recognized in the medical world. Good stuff here!