Are these traits neccessary for diagnosis?

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I do not know if this has been asked before.. but I was wondering if you could help me.

I have recently been told that I could be diagnosable for AS and since then I have been doing extensive research.

I have found that I do have some traits. These are:

I do not like to answer the phone, or answer the door.

I do not like it when people look at me.

I do not like it when people are walking in the same direction as me when they are behind me. I like to walk behind people.

I have a strict routine for weekdays which I do not like to break way from.

I like to eat the same thing at the same time every day.

I have only 6 items of clothing which I am comfortable in for long periods of time. These are my dragon hooded sweatshirt, my Jordan sweatshirt, my football shirt, my blue jeans, my pyjama bottoms and my school trousers. I feel uncomfortable wearing anything else if I wear it for hours at a time.

I will not speak unless I am spoken to.

I have several 'intense' and 'narrow' interests which could be called obsessions. My mother calls it 'tunnel vision'.

I like to make connections. For example, my favourite country is Russia and my favourite people are James and Oliver Phelps. The colours of the Russian flag are white, red and blue. James's favourite colour is blue and Oliver's favourite colour is red. Therefore my favourite country and my favourite people are connected.

I do not know when people are getting bored with me speaking about one thing.


But there are some things about me that do not fit. These are:

I do not have much trouble understanding sarcasm, though if it is very subtle I may miss it.

I understand most jokes and metaphors.

I can understand most facial expressions.

I can understand different tones of voice.

I usually know when someone is angry with me, or dissappointed in me, or happy with me.

Are these traits found in all Aspies, or are here exceptions...? It seemed odd to me that many things did fit and these few things did not. Would somebody be able to help me?
Thank you!

AS might be questionable, in my opinion. It does seem you have at least some degree of High-Functioning Autism. Or maybe you have AS and you just quickly learned to adapt to social situations, like facial expressions and things.

Definatly HFA though. Welcome into the fold, my friend.

Thank you very much for your help.

No problem! Live long and prosper!

I'm not sure what your problem is but I got the same problem
I liked your connections comment. It made me remember how when I was 14
I was convinced the number 3 had some importants to my life. I later read I
think Tesla had the same obsession.
Clara I'm an INFP most aspie seem to be INTP what are you?

Please avoid the self-diagnosis trap. Although it's natural to ask your friends - or in this case your new friends - for their opinions, the diagnosis of AS is serious business with lifelong consequences.

For the record, the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, 1994) is the main diagnostic reference for mental health professionals in the United States. There are six main criteria for Asperger’s Disorder in the DSM-IV (1994). Additionally, criteria A and B each have four subcriteria that are not listed here.

299.80 Asperger’s Disorder
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction.
B. Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities.
C. Clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. No clinically significant general delay in language.
E. No clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.
F. Criteria are not met for another specific pervasive developmental disorder or schizophrenia.

Whether you qualify for a diagnosis of AS or some other disorder is something that only a professional can decide. While you're at it, you might follow the lead of the previous respondent and find out your Myers-Brigs type. She said that her preferences are INFP. Although the letters probably don't mean much to you, it's significant that this personality type - which is considered completely normal - is found in only about 1% of the general population. The question comes down to this: Do you have a neurological disorder, or are you a rare but OK person whose only sin is that you diverge significantly from the social norm?

Don't be so ready to pathologize yourself.

Geezer

LOL!

In response to Clara's original post, I noticed that many of the traits mentioned sound a lot like the characteristics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Keep in mind that if you don't have the time/money for a professional diagnosis that all other possibilities have to be ruled out for a diagnosis (in most cases) and in regards to the DSM-IV, you have to follow the standards that are set for diagnosis, so if there are a lot of the traits mentioned in the DSM-IV that you don't possess at least moderately, chances are you don't have it. Though like someone said earlier, it is a possibility that you could have a form of high-functioning autism.

It's interesting that you see certain traits in yourself and wonder about whether you might be meet the criteria for AS. I was reading out the DSM IV at home one night and my 17 year old daughter, said "Mum! That is me!" She has been dux of her high school every year, has always felt on the outer socially, and can be quite pedantic about being on time and having things done a certain way. Also when I read certain traits of AS I can see them in myself. I can remember for years I would make my mum tuck me into bed so tight I couldn't move, I counted my steps walking home from school, I was always top of the class but always felt on the outer and used to sneak home from school for lunch so I didn't have to interact with the other kids. However I think AS and Autism Spectrum Disorders are a continuum and many people have some traits to some extent or other. I think the you have to look at the overall picture and get a professional diagnosis if you believe it is going to help you in your life or else just accept that we are all different and we all have our little quirks.

I agree with you somewhat Booie - I think most people to some extent have the characteristics of AS, but there is that line between having characteristics that all make us "weird" and having the condition where it actually affects your life. I honestly think that a professional diagnosis is helpful if it's going to help an individual function better in society or if it will bring peace of mind in someone so that they actually know there's a reason they are the way they are. (A medical reason that is). I hesitate to say I have AS, because truthfully I do not know. I am working toward finding a professional that would be able to give me an accurate diagnosis who knows about Adults with AS. I have carefully read over the DSM-IV and fit into every catergory one way or another, to the point where it negatively affects my life (for example, I've lost many friendships over these traits of mine but never understood why) However, I am familiar with the ethical ramnifications of self-diagnosis from countless psych classes I've taken in high school and college so until I have spoken with a professional that can accurately assess my odd behavior I can simply say that I'm a really strange, socially inept adult who might quite possibly have AS.

Thank you for all your help to everyone who has replied.

I am not sure what personality type I am. I read a bit about it but was interrupted before I could finish so I never really thought about it.

I am supposed to be being evaluated on the 26th July 2006 and also at a later date in August.
So I will find out for sure then.

It was my counsellor who first suggested that I might have this condition, and he is coming back one week tomorrow. He originally suggested it because I have so many problems with school, such as the uniform which I have trouble wearing and also the fact that I find it hard to get along with my peers and I find homework difficult because it interrupts my schedule (I tried to build it in but failed) so I am only on a part-time timetable at the moment.
When my mother showed me the information he left with her, I managed to match up lots of the traits on the paper with traits about me.

Thank you for all your advice and help and suggestions
Clara xx