Aspergers symptoms you lack.

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The whole "autism = genius" thing is a stereotype. Filmmakers love it.

I have all the symptoms. The only criteria I fail for Aspergers (which I found out AFTER I was diagnosed) is that I had a language delay followed by a language regression.

I can't remember before I was 10 due to an accident so I wouldnt know :/

! This is me!
This is one that gets me, I'm seeking diagnosis and am worried it'll send Asperger's out the door for me.
See, i understand figures of speech and metaphor in conversation, but even though i only apply the logical meaning, I always see it both ways. Something I've done for a few years is making drawings of literal terms. I always just thought i had a new sense of humor haha.

For example: A bald eagle wearing a toupee with "Problem solved" next to it. Two peppers "grinding" (like the gross "dance form" , thus making Grinding Pepper). A pod of peas taking a shower with a guy looking in at the window with binoculars (Jack and the Bean-stalk). A red pepper with a beer belly looking depressed with crumpled beer cans and an empty ice cream carton next to him saying "I'm worthless" (Crushed RedPepper), and so forth.

interesting.

I always thought Aspies are super-organised, and I thought my lack of organisation was rather an indiciation of NT-ism.

It is not only a stereotype, it is a harmful stereotype. Among functioning autistics, particularly the Aspies, there is a normal spread of intelligence.

Among dysfunctional autistics, especially the ones who do not talk, we have no way of knowing just how smart or un-smart they are.

ruveyn

I have empathy at least I am pretty sure I do, but I have a hard time expressing it, so yes to others it can come off as not having empathy. Or maybe I just feel like I should feel empathy so I have tricked myself into beliving that I do.

True. in an italian site an aspie has said: 'All autistic must have a special talent. If you haven't one this does means only that you have not already found what is your special talent. So i suggest you to search until you find it!'

A lot of aspies are good to do things related to their special interests, but not at the genius level, but at the level of an average person that has studied with constance and effort that subject.

Anyway, about me
Sensory issues. I have some (touch) but they don't cause much discomfort to me. I hate being touched by other people because i fell much their touch, and i fell a lot touch even when is a cat that does touch me, but i still love contact with cats. I also have no problem with fabric, i tend to like them.
I think i have low sensitivity to light. I never wear sunglasses and i work always with lights on.

I think sometimes this is compensation and a coping mechanism. A lot of autistic people have problems with executive function, which translates into problems with organization.

I have had periods of extreme organization and periods of extreme disorganization. Often, I somehow manage to do both.

I lack a lot of symptoms yet I still seem to be a typical Aspie.

I seem to be very sensitive to how a person is feeling when I am near them. So I must be reading non-verbal cues. However, I constantly embarrass myself, say the wrong thing, think I'm being funny when in fact I'm being offensive and making myself look stupid, so there must be other cues I can't read at all.

I'm terrible at math & computers ... though I know being good at those things isn't in the DSM.

I'm good at abstract topics and I'm very fixaed on my appearance, more then any NT I know.

I recognise this. People tend to see the organised bit and miss that i'm only organised in some areas because it is very difficult to deal with those areas and even more so if they're uncontrolled.

I'm trying to remove some of the longer-term stress by creating order, but organising is also difficult, it drains me to do it, so the trade-off has to be that the short-term effort is less of a problem than the long-term disorganisation. It's not always successful either, which is a shame as it's wasted energy.

I have to face the universal fact that ultimately, entropy just has to win.

As for the OP question : I can feel a lot of empathy, can deal with a lot of verbal gymastics, similes, analogies, figures of speech...most of the time. I do sometimes get that whizzing over the top of the head feeling though when i've reacted literally to someone yet again, so no doubt a lifetime of learning when to spot them has helped compensate, but isn't 100% effective.

I understand sarcasm.
The problem I have is knowing if the person was sarcastic or not when they say it. I find it easier if its a person I know, but if strangers are being sarcastic, I am never quite sure if they are being literal or sarcastic.

I am empathetic,.
But I struggle with knowing what to do about it.
For example, last summer I saw a middle aged couple walking down the street, and the lady tripped, fell and smacked her face on the pavement. I checked, and did not have my first aid kit with me. I went into a shop and asked the shop keeper if they could call an ambulance (the lady had still not got up when I came back out of the shop and there was a lot of blood) I really wanted to help, and I found it upsetting to see the lady in pain, and the man distressed. It pretty much did my head in. I wasn't sure if I should say anything to them, or offer any other help (although I didn't think there was anything else I could do). I just don't get the point of saying "aaahhhh" and nodding if someone has a problem. Either I can help in a practical way, or I'm pretty much useless.

I understand lots of idioms, I got a book full of them from the library when I was about 9 1/2 and read it several times.

Other than that, Im typically aspie.

I was stumped with that whole not organised thing - then after discussing it at length with my wife I've come to realise that altho yes I consider myself quite well organised, I don't do it the same way as "normal" people and have to work way harder at it. Hard to describe but it's sort of like it just comes together or it doesn't. I gather "normal" people have more of a direct and deliberate kind of control. Don't get me wrong - sometimes I manage to do an excellent job of organisation - but even in those cases I'm really amazed and can never quite understand how it worked. I don't know if that makes any sort of sense to anyone?

i can look people in the eyes just fine, never had a problem with it