what happen to older aspies?

Post Reply New Topic

Well, I can tell you with certainty that it doesn't just go away.

My sensory problems have gotten much worse over the years. What used to be a distaste for the smell of fragrances and cleaning products has grown into a full-blown allergy.

I was diagnosed about 5 years ago, after I suggested the diagnosis to my Psychaitrists. It has helped me a lot by letting me understand why I am the way I am, and also that there are millions more with the same problems.

I was lucky to become hooked on rock band Max Creek. Here were hundreds, even thousands of people who were hooked on the same thing I was, so I was able to fit in. I collected about 600 cassettes of the band from the tapers, and would give out copies of any of them to anyone who wanted one, as long as they gave me a blank tape. I sold the band's merchandise for about four years, and became even better known. Now I take pictures of the band, and post them on my website, http://scoogy.com as well as take old cassette/DAT masters that tapers are lending me, digitizing and editing them, and putting them online at Internet Archive so everyone can share them. So I have hundreds of friends. The only bad part is that I can't remember their names.

I've been living for 12 years with the same roommate, and many of his friends are also my friends. That helps. I mostly stay in my bedroom, where I have two Mac computers and my TV/stereo.

Getting my first real computer changed my life. I'm not working now, but still spend at least 8 hours/day at the computer, either doing Max Creek shows or scanning old pictures for my family and some old friends on facebook. (or posting here on WP )

I've never had a really decent-paying job. $12.50/hr is the most I ever made. Now I'm living on $800/month Social Security, plus food stamps, so I fit the poverty model.

I never solved the problem of looking into other's eyes, but I found that if you looked at their mouth or nose they couldn't tell the difference.

I am sure "quirky." I wear sandals most of the year outdoors, have been wearing closed-toed sandals in this severe winter. I wear a bathrobe almost all the time at home... belts bother a bad spot in my sacro-illium, so I dress for comfort. I have a fairly long ponytail. There are other things as well, I just can't think of them right now

Yup it was us with leaves on the line!! ! We have had schools closed due to THREAT OF FLURRIES!! Not a flake in sight but a lot of kids having a day off, think the teachers are still sleeping!!

Greentea, do let me know the result of the scan, not that anything is conclusive!! My bet is that it is just natural wear and tear on the hippocampus, makes sense doesn't it! Bet he lives for many more years and his memory will just slowly deteriorate! But this likelihood is that you MAY get a Dx for Alzheimers, if you do, please take time to check the DX out! It may not be after all!

Memory problems especially WORKING memory are massive in those of us on the spectrum. With the years it just wears out! But it takes many years to slowly get worse! Seems pretty standard for us on the spectrum. I am certainly expecting my own memory to fade as I get older, although now back at University at a very mature age, I am hoping I am reboosting it! You can do that too! Recharge it by learning, it does work honestly...................now where did I put my glasses!! !

Thank you, jelibean. Your words did me a lot of good.

Some people like to deny that adults can have autism if they no longer posses the typical traits that are found in small children.

I am glad Greentea, I do hope your father lives many more happy years, I am sure he will!! Actually as he was soooo intellectually gifted I am postive he will. The medical profession are very keen to label any kind of memory problem a 'pre dementure' one!

Same but different, IBS, how often is that label just thrown at anyone who has bowel problems?? Seems the medical profession (and I am one) just like writing bits of paper and throwing them at us to get rid as quickly as possible. Well that is the opinion I am gettiing of the UK system.............!

I can see Alzheimers quite clearly thanks doctors everywhere! There is no mistaking the misery I see when a TRUE Dx is given BUT elderly autistics just losing their memories?? Nahhhh noooo way is that Alzheimers, it is just used to explain a poor memory! Genuine cases of Alzheimers are I am sure much lower than statistics would have us believe.

Good luck Greentea with everything, I shall be back in the auditiorium soon with a full popcorn cornet to watch Millie!!

Edited to add

Sora,

People can deny all they want. ASC is a DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITION!! So there is NOooo way the presentation stays the same, that is the whole point!! So if you are born on the rainbow, you die on it, simple as!! ! Wish people would STOP denying who they are! If they found out who they are inside, they may actually like themselves! I do and I am deeply on the spectrum. See it is possible!

I like the sound of this. My husband remembers more things we did in general, and is often astonished that i forgot about them. I remember fewer things but in much greater detail and I'm astonished that he can't remember all of the event. So I guess people have different styles of memory. It makes sense that aging would affect these brains differently. Good observation!

We turn into mad hermits and crazy cat ladies.

They assend beyond the need for a pysical form, and guide the events that unfold in the universe

Ah, yes! Douglas Adams' old man in the shack - must be what happens to older Aspies! (He's a hermit & has a cat.) =)

MAN: Hello?
FORD PREFECT: Er, excuse me, do you rule the Universe?
MAN: I try not to. Are you wet?
FORD: Wet! Well, doesn't it look as if we're wet?
MAN: That's how it looks to me, but how you feel about it might be a different matter. If you find warmth makes you feel dry you'd better come in.
. . . .
ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX: Er, man, like what's your name?
MAN: I don't know. Why, do you think I ought to have one? It seems odd to give a bundle of vague sensory perceptions a name.
ZARNIWOOP: Listen. We must ask you some questions.
MAN: All right. You can sing to my cat if you like.
ARTHUR DENT: Would he like that?
MAN: You'd better ask him that.

We could really do with that snow, Its been above 40 c most of last week, we got a brief respite, but today is forecast mid 40's with strong winds, great wildfire weather Also the city is down to 15% of its drinking water capacity

Jelibean, Like you I have a great long term memory, but my short term is crap. This is a reasonably common trait for aspergers. Like many of us I went through life life a wrecking ball until my DX last year, luckily until recently I was a chef so meltdowns were regarded as par for the course (temperamental chefs) although I always had a horror time doing a' la carte I used to spend soooo much time re-checking the dockets (bad short term memory)

Now I work for myself, alone, and I love it. (window cleaning) and the best part: I earn far more than I ever did slaving away in kitchens.

Jelibean your Hippocampus theory, is this your own and if so have you discussed it with anyone that can help you investigate it further, It certainly strikes a chord with me because I have felt for a long time that my memory is getting worse.

Last edited by DentArthurDent on 06 Feb 2009, 3:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I am an Old Aspie. I have learned to adapt to the NT world.

ruveyn

I fail to see the problem with what Clarkson said. It seemed a good description of our leader. He's blind in one eye, Scottish, and his utterances regarding having saved the world are idiotic. Though it might have escaped the attention of those on the left, we're not living in N Korea, and so don't expect to have to prostrate ourselves at the mention of our "great" leader's name. If we wish to say he's a one-eyed Scottish idiot, we will.

Whilst on the subject, I'll mention that I can't see why Carol Thatcher, or any one else for that matter, shouldn't describe someone as looking like a golliwog, if they do actually look like one. Call a spade a spade, I say.

Old age is something I have put a lot of time in doing without even missing a day. Actually, I'm more curious about things now than I was as a youngster; and back then I was very curious about things. I'll probably evolve into a bookworm.

But I always was a crazy cat lady...

Hmm, I think it gets better but only very slowly indeed, and with alot of effort. I'm 37 and not diagnosed, but have read alot about the sydrome and learned alot reading the forums here. Just discovering Asperger's was like putting a key piece into a jigsaw puzzle for me, I finally realised why I was socially awkward, annoying people, talking about boring stuff and acting like a teenager, etc. I try and suppress that behaviour now, but it's very hard.

Couldn't agree with you more!


After a particularly bad bout of depression, and subsequently snapping and shouting at someone at work, I wento onto SSRIs (prozac). It helped me so much, it was as if all those rituals and habits I'd built up to help me cope didn't matter any more. I wish I could go on them again now.


Same here. School wasn't so bad because we were in small classes, but college and university were hell. Kids can really be so cruel.

Hiya!! Umm, well I do go on a bit and am fairly gobby by nature. Sadly though at the moment I am a single mum on benefit with a nursing qualification, so no one really considers me qualified enough to take much notice!! But have no fear, I am completing an MEd (Autism) so then maybe someone will listen! Until then it is just great that I can run my theories by you on the forum. It is actually the community that matter more to me than the professionals! So if we all think something is ringing a chord, we should all shout! Trouble is the medical professionals in particular feel very vulnerable and HATE being told what to look for, they are the detectives after all, the experts!????? Ummmm noooooo, when they listen to US on the spectrum they may learn something. There are too many of them with their heads up their colons!! LISTEN TO US is my cry!! Maybe someone somewhere will listen to the experts, because we DO HAVE VOICES and WE DO KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, most of the time!!

Edited to add! I cannot take all the praise for this theory, my good friend, autistic advocate (diamond encrusted!) and expert Barbara Jacobs (currently completing a PhD in Autism/Education) is the lady to thank! For those who don't know Barbara wrote 'Loving Mr Spock', an amazing book on a relationship she had as an NT with a man who has Aspergers, it changed my life and it changed hers, forever. Very funny, sad, informative and easy to read, I would recommend it highly