Hi-
My pseudonym is Dexter. I was reliably diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at the age of 20 with a full neuropsychological test (WAIS Verbal IQ = 170, WAIS Performance IQ = 85). My Asperger traits were not diagnosed till 20 because of my high verbal intelligence. I could read at three, understand basic physics and chemistry by five, and got a 1400 SAT (old test) as a freshman, despite forgetting my calculator.
How I got diagnosed is a funny story. Probably the most noticeable Asperger trait I had was narrow interests in certain scientific fields that would change every year or so. The catalyst was my early ability to read at three. I would read everything available, from phone books to textbooks to pamphlets. I had memorized the Maryland Driver's Handbook at the age of four. When I was five, I was obscessed with reading about physics. At six, I loved playing with my chemistry set, and understood chemistry at a high-school level at the time. At seven, astronomy, at eight, hurricanes, at ten and eleven, studying and designing aircraft, at 12/13, building computers as well as ideas for businesses for the dot-com boom at the time, from 14 to 16, I excelled at amateur electronics. Then 16 and after, I became fascinated with medications. My uncle was a prominent physician, and I always enjoyed reading the Physician's Desk Reference he would have lying around.
Pretty soon the academic interest turned to curiosity, and I became fixated on trying all these different classes of psychoactive medications. It was a scientific experiment to me, just like playing with my chemistry set. When I went to college, however, the aspergeroid obcession turned to dependence, and I also experienced severe mood and anxiety episodes around that time. At age 20, I had to be admitted to a psych ward because of my obsessive drug use that resulted in an overdose. The psychiatrist interviewing me noticed that I described my drug use history in a very precise fashion, with exact milligram doses, and the indication I was using it for. He asked if I had ever been diagnosed Asperger's, and I said no. He then ordered a comprehensive neuropsychological test that confirmed the diagnosis. In retrospect, I fit every criterion to a T. I did not have as much of a problem with hyperacusis, tantrums, or irritability, and had some idea of social interactions and a desire to pursue them even if I was poor at actually executing social skills, so that mitigated things a bit.
Positive Traits:
Can explain how things work (mechanical, social, political, etc.) very easily to others in a way that is understandable to them
My verbal intelligence is very strong, and my vocabulary is excellent
I am talkative even to people I do not know (although the topics tend to bore people)
I am insatiably curious about the world around me, and will always intensely research anything that interests me
Negative Traits:
Perseverance on negative behaviors (drug use, causing scenes at social gatherings, not learning from mistakes)
Irritability, sometimes to the point of rage, when I feel I am not being understood properly
Inability to interpret non-verbal social cues as they are happening (In retrospect, I realize what I did wrong, but cannot correct the problem)
Boring people with didatic one-sided conversations about things that I am interested in, and not knowing how to relate to the other person's interests
Anxiety about initiating intimate contact
etc....
16 Nov 2012, 8:45 pm
