Explaining Asperger's quickly.

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I described Asperger's to a friend as "Difficulty with making the right facial expressions during conversation". Do you think this an accurate description? How do you guys sum up Asperger's quickly for other people?

There isn't one. The multiple complexities and areas in addition to the spectrum makes it impossible to describe it in a single sentence. Otherwise it would be a hell of a lot easier to diagnose.

^ Indeed. It is a complex thing to describe in a sentence. You'd need at least a few paragraphs at the most.

"A form of high-functioning autism."

There really isn't a quick AND effective way to describe it, in my experience.
For the social part, "a lack of social intuition" or "a social learning disability" works quite well for me.

No, it runs much deeper than that. You're neglecting other forms of nonverbal communication and other characteristics of Asperger's syndromes.


"A high-functioning form of autism, which usually affects social and communication skills" If they follow-up with questions, I usually try to answer them as I go along.

I actually like "socially ret*d". Here's why:

- it gets the "ret*d" thing out of the way at the beginning, owns it, and shows you can't hurt me by using that word on me.
- it doesn't get into the misleading "lack of empathy" thing, which actually refers to reading social cues and not being some kind of psychopath but tends to imply the latter.
- yes, it doesn't touch on sensory issues and special interests, but in my experience, NTs don't really care about that stuff except insofar as they consider us boring or weird for talking about it, hence socially ret*d.

Oh, and I hear the young'uns today have a problem with the word "ret*d", but as someone who literally is, I believe I have the right to use that word.

For a quick and usually more easily understood answer I usually just say something casual along these lines: " It's kinda like a type of high-functioning autism".

I find it sufficiently informal and vague to avoid my having to get in over my head with more details. And these days most people recognize the word "autism" so it gives them something familiar with which to make a general association.

I don't think I could give anyone an accurate understanding without at least 20+ min.

im sure if you run around in a circle yelling obscenities that make absolutely no sence at all, while banging pots, and pans together, you will get your answer pritty quick. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! !! !

A one sentence description?


thats a challenge.

Try "a condition with different manifestations that includes an inability to process some sensory information, difficulty interpreting that information and being unable to respond in an expected manner."

autism is so heterogeneous and nuanced in how it presents, it would be challenging to condense such enormity down to a few soundbites. you could use the triad of impairments as a tentative guide, maybe, and add in your own experiences for flavor? i.e. "aspergers is a form of autism and people with autism typically have difficulties in these core areas. for example, i....(insert your own experiences)." or you could simply say it's a different way of thinking and experiencing things and then say something about your own sensory, social, emotional perceptions if the person is still interested.

it is lacking. but yet underestimated and overstimulated.

The explanation I give depends on the person (and since autism/Asperger's is an area of interest for me, I generally talk about it way longer than I should), but if I'm trying to be brief, it goes something like this:

"Asperger's is a form of 'high functioning' autism.*

(Pause for the person to say "Oh, yeah, I think I've heard of autism.")

Yeah, do you watch The Big Bang Theory?

If yes: Well, the characteristics are kind of like Sheldon.**
If no: Well, suffice it to say it's mostly social skills issues.

End by saying: If you want to learn more about it, I'd love to talk to you more, or you can check out my website!*** (And then hand them a business card wiith the website link.)"

I've got it down to a science by now...although I do prefer to have more time to talk and explain.

*If I have time, I'll go into the high functioning debate with the poor soul who happens to be talking to me.
**Yes, I know that Sheldon is not the best explanation, but if you're trying to save time it's just easier to use an example the other person already knows.
***Naturally, you don't have to use my website, but I'd still offer to point the person in direction of some resources, in the interests of spreading autism understanding.

It is not possible for a neurotypical to understand what AS is. You could explain it until you're blue in the face and they won't get it. Even professionals in the Mental Health Field, while they can describe the externally visible symptoms, I don't think most of them really understand what it's like living inside an autistic brain.

I don't even try to use the term "Asperger Syndrome" out loud. First, I pronounce it correctly, so if they've ever heard of "Ass Burgers" they still won't make the connection and understand what I'm referring to when I say Ahz-pair-gur. I've always called it "A form of Autism," or "High Functioning Autism." It's still meaningless to most people, but at least they've heard of it and know it's a disability.

Of course then you start getting the old "you can't be autistic, 'cause you're not ret*d" remarks.

It's much easier for me to explain it on paper, where I can delineate the sensory issues and the social issues and explain how they're connected, yada, yada, yada...

But truthfully, most people don't give a rat's fuzzy patoot. If they ask questions, they just want a thumbnail overview and there isn't one. If you launch into a serious, explanatory answer, they'll start making excuses to leave.

Yes, I have used that example - that's how I explained it to my daughter when I was first diagnosed and she got it immediately, because she's seen me act like that so many times. I also use Temperance Brennan from Bones as an example.

It's more than that.

It involves not just making, but also reading facial expressions, body language, etc.

Autism is normally described as a neurological condition where the person has trouble with communication and social interaction.