The Opposite of Asperger's Syndrome?

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People with Williams Syndrome (based on the interviews I saw on some of them) seem very warm people. But because of their deficits, and even despite their social inclination, the interviews said they still have problems socially because they are so different.

But they're a fascinating people.

First, I agree with Steve_Cory that "Aspies" have different well-developed skills and interested -- some are very good at mathematics, while others are not. So what's important here may be what is typical of populations rather than individuals. If Aspies are more likely to be good at math than non-Aspies, that will be significant, even if an individual Aspie may not be good at math and an individual non-Aspie good at math.

That aside, I will now try to assemble a composite profile from the Williams-syndrome and the prima-donna personality, and compare it to the Asperger's profile.

Will and PD: Very social
Asp: Being social can be difficult

Will: Has a large vocabulary, but sometimes uses it with not-quite-correct semantics; "People with Williams speak fluently, and yet they often seem to miss the underlying point of what other people are saying."
PD: Prefers speaking for effect rather than substance; impatient with the opposite.
Asp: Prefers informative styles of speech.

Will: Has difficulty in applying learned rules in actual situations.
PD: Has difficulty in following routines and rules and regulations.
Asp: Sometimes obsessive about routine.

Will: Poor in spatial abilities.
PD: Poor in mathematics and understanding of technology.
Asp: Sometimes very good at these.

On the spectrum that would be Kanner Syndrome the traditional stereotypical autistic child that the general public are familair with.

that's me. Now what am I again?

Don't forget there's a a good percentage of Aspies who also have Nonverbal Learning Disorder and NLD often has problems with visuo-spatial stuff and math and seem to prefer auditory learning over anything else.

It wouldn't surprise me if NLD symptoms are inherent in William's Syndrome, too, kind of like OCPD is part of Aspergers but it's never diagnosed because it's part of the diagnosis.

Yes, Williams Syndrome

Someone mentioned "politician's syndrome"...sociopathy can be seen as a sort of inverse-autism, in which the so-called "mirror neuron" functions and mind-reading skills work better than those of most nonautistics, but these people's ethical sensibilities seem to be inactive. And many politicians are thought to be "mildly" sociopathic (if you can say such a thing.)

Of course, because neurology is so multidimensional, it's hard to pinpoint a single opposite to anything. There are too many ways you can slice the pie.

You ask for one thing and THEN, in "describing" it, ask for something else. Please make up your mind.

The description of the opposite of aspergers wuld be:

Very social(How can they be more social than NTs? Some attempt it, and end up offending nearly everyone!), empathetic(How could they be more empathic than NTs? Only shows like star trek dare to venture into such things. Some CLAIM AS people have no empathy, but most AS people seem to indicate this is just that they don't APPEAR to have empathy!), (friendly is a non sequitor! Aspergers doesn't mean you can't be friendly), and VERBOSE but not articulate(AS people as a group ARE verbal/articulate. They just don't talk much about uninteresting things), but clueless about mathematics and mechanical things and the like, and often having difficulty following routines or concentrating on some task.

Frankly, such people DO exist. They tend to be salespeople and receptionists. Other than some calling them STUPID, NOSEY, etc.... I'm aware of no other labels.

BTW RE: Williams syndrome, it is as similar to aspergers as it is dissimilar. Some have mental retardation. With AS that is specifically excluded, but a similar condition CAN become LFA! With AS parts are miswired and used for other areas. With williams, they are missing. Both can have sensory problem comorbidity.

BOTH can have savantism!(Although AS CAN cover enough areas as to never really have the label applied.) With williams it is music. With AS it could be almost anything, or far more general.

wikipedia says....


So williams is clearly not the exact opposite.


BTW I am not that great at math either, but I AM getting better. Interestingly, my CHOSEN profession required a strong math background, and I wanted to get more of it when I was younger. I didn't. Anyway, most AS people probably DO have the inate ability to be good with math, etc... After all, it just requires simple abilities AS people have, a somewhat good short term memory, and practice.

BTW I changed careers at the last minute. My chosen one is CLAIMED to require a good math background, but I have yet to see any need for it even though I have more experience than most in the industry.

Steve

Exact opposite: Basically, an extroverted partygoer who drinks all his/her brain cells away with alcohol, gets on the dance floor and winds up cleaning the toilet in McDonalds.

That's interesting. OCPD has always described my behaviour scarily well. I knew that it had things in common with Asperger's but not that it was part of it.

That is one of the things I used to have IN SPADES! I knew where EVERYTHING was, put it away WHEN I WAS DONE(That last part always escaped my mother, which was a major reason why I got away from it), and even labeled my books with a system so they could always be in the same spot in the book case. Maybe THIS is why I had so many dymo label makers, and remember getting a couple as gifts.

And YEAH, I was kind of obsessed with it. I guess SOME sticked. When I moved here, the first thing I did was I got a lateral file cabinet, and organized ALL my financial records. Every blasted receipt, etc... Also, if I get nervious and/or bored and have nothing else to do, I organize everything. I do that at every customer site before I leave.


* Preoccupation with details, rules, lists, order, organization, bodily functions, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost

I had that sometimes, but I got rid of it.

* Showing perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)

MAN, I don't call myself a perfectionist anymore, but this STILL affects me.

* Excessive devotion to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity)

Aren't a lot of Aspies this way?

* Being overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification)

YEP!

* Inability to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value

OH GOD! Until my last two moves, YES!! !! !! I STILL have a lot though. Before the move prior to this one, I had every magazine I ever got, even ones in the 60s!! !! ! I STILL have every IBM PC(I have over a dozen! About 6 are laptops!)(Except for one I let some jerks "borrow"), and my APPLE II+.

I DO throw out things that don't work may be hard to fix and can easily be replaced, etc....

* Reluctance to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things

I REALLY have a reluctance to delegate tasks! If they do them for ME, it must be MY way. That probably won't happen, so I avoid it!

* Adopting a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes

I used to REALLY do this, and should.

* Showing rigidity and stubbornness

I used to be a LOT more stubborn!

* Urge to perfect every little thing

YEP, that is me!

Steve

I would say ADD/ADHD would be an opposite of AS. AS is a condition of hyperfocus. I have heard some people are diagnosed with both, but to me, they seem complete opposites. Any attention issues with AS to me seem related to overstimulation, not simply inattentiveness. People with AD(H)D are said to be highly coordinated, sometimes even very athletic, while people with AS are said to be clumsy and awkward. (I think Roger Bannister defeated that stereotype of AS.)

I'm not clumsy or awkward! Actually, ADD appears(from outsiders) to have SO much in common with AS, that AS at least WAS often misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD! WHY? The distracted attention appears to be a LACK of it, and other AS symptoms, like the arrogant attitude, appear to support it. ALSO, ADD has NOTHING to do with intelligence, speech, social ability, coordination, etc...

Steve

Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell.

I wonder if there is a clinical term for people who exchange insults via international media outlets.

Also, anyone who has ever been on the Jerry Springer Show.

Most all newspeople, any channel ! !! They're prissy pretty, empty headed, giggly know nothings ! !!

I thought the opposite of "Asperger's Syndrome" was "Not Someone With Asperger's Syndrome."