Self diagnosed people here don't have aspergers

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Actually the overwhelming majority of health practitioenrs, including doctors, are not up-to-date in the field of Autism.

Also, I do not believe calling other posters derogatory names like "idiot" is consistent with WP's TOS.

The title is true, most self-diagnosed aspies are NT's.

First, the title is not accurate: Self diagnosed people here don't have aspergers. The implication is that all of the self-diagnosed persons on this forum do not have Asperger's--which mathematically is quite unlikely.

Second, there is no such thing as a self-diagnosed aspie who is really an NT. Either one is an aspie or not, regardless of where the diagnosis comes from. If one is an NT, then they cannot be a self-diagnosed aspie; instead, they are a person who self-diagnoses with Asperger's.

Self-diagnosed means that one diagnoses oneself with something one has a low chance of having.

No.

Self-diagnosed means that one diagnoses one's self with something, period. The latter portion of your statement (low chance of having) is a by product of accuracy in diagnosing (which requires objectivity and access to enough correct factual information to make an assessment).

I have no problems with imagining that a socially awkward, insecure nerd would diagnose himself with AS.

Last edited by bdhkhsfgk on 16 Feb 2010, 3:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Get your face out of the mirror, already. Your narcissism makes you ugly.

So far most people seem to disagree with OP's assertion. You're outnumbered, dudette.

And besides, if someone wants to pin so much of their personal identity on what someone else says about them because that someone wears a white coat and carries a badge (and spent a bunch of money to sit in a bunch of classrooms), it's sad and terribly limiting, yes, but it is their right and their privilege.

We all have to grow up some time. Being 19 with AS isn't easy, I know, because it only accentuates the belief that you know everything already and that everyone else is wrong.

You, girl, are in for some rude surprises in your later life.

And stay out the Phoenix sun this summer - it'll only fry your brain more.

I consider myself an NT, but weirder than most Aspies.

I also think the OP is correct, literally.

I think both sides of this thread are correct but not realizing it.

Most Aspies that diagnose themselves are correct and do have Asperger's or Autism.
AND
Most NTs that diagnose themselves have falsely done so and do not have Autism/Asperger's at all.

basically, if you have it, you will know, but not everyone who thinks they have it, actually do.

Let's assume that 2% of the population at some time in their life, believe they have Asperger's/Autism.
If we look at it like Aspies/Autism are about 1% of the population, then even if the Aspies themselves are 99% correct in their self diagnosis, the overall average will still be rather low and false, because Aspies make up such a small percentage of the population.
In this scenario, only 49% of the people would be correct, even though 99% those who actually have the disorder is correct, the overall average is still below 50%.

This is what I call the minority influence. Even though something might be very accurate for a minority group, because a minority is only a small percentage of the overall population, the overall average will still be extremely low when distributed across the full population.

Aspies are NOT most people, they are a tiny minority. So even though most of the people with Aspies are self diagnosed and correct, the majority of the people that self diagnosed overall will still be incorrect.
Aspies accurate self diagnosis and the overall self diagnosis are mutually exclusive and should be considered two separate events.

So far the majority of those who disagree have been hammering on about the inexperience or even the incompetence of professionals while ignoring the personal bias a process like self-diagnosis is subject to.
Yes, professionals make mistakes, but they are much, much, much (much) more qualified to make assessments than many who's knowledge of Autism or any other condition is limited to wikipedia or what a google search came up with.

I'm aware that there are a good deal of people here who know a substantial amount about Autism, self-diagnosed or not, but discrediting the worth of professional diagnosticians is uncalled for and based on limited personal experiences.

The majority, too, can be wrong.

I was talking to b9 about you.

Okay, here's the thing. I know you, and no matter how many times we try to win you over with logic, you'll never change your mind, but here goes.

You say that every single self diagnosed person here is an NT. How can that be? It's staticticly impossible. And the thing is, half the AS patients self dignosed themselves before getting a diagnosis. Are you saying they never had AS until they talked to their doctor? (Knowing you, the answer is probably yes.)

Also, I do have faith in doctors. To call them all incompetent is also a gross generalisation.

Actually, my identity isn't based on my Asperger's. I actually can't stand having it. I also can't stand how people diagnose themselves with it when they fit only a few of the symptoms. Self-diagnosis only takes you so far.

I don't even get why self-diagnosed people get upset if you question them. Why would you even want to have ASD? Sure, it's nice being smart, but do you want the crippling social anxiety that goes along with ASD? Do you want to be lumped in with people like Chris-chan? Do you want to have sensory problems?

QFT, I couldn't agree more.

It's good to see that I'm not the only one with this opinion, I wholeheartedly agree that self-diagnosing is for amateurs.

It's not that they want to have it, it just explains everything about themselves. Their struggles and why they could never be "normal." And those who do go in for a diagnoses, their self diagnoses was actually correct. And there are others out there who are unsure if they do or not and some others who don't want to have it so they deny it so they refuse to get tested for it or even say they have it. They deny all their symptoms and problems. Some might even find excuses for why they have those problems or they pull the "everyone does this" card.

I am sure there are people out there who want to have it so they say they do just to be cool and fit in. Some actually do it for attention but I doubt they actually want to have it or there is seriously something wrong with them. No one wants to have a condition. I wouldn't even want cancer or cerebral palsy or dyslexia or hearing loss or blindness, etc. Those who do want to have a condition, they have one already.

I am not fond of self diagnoses either TBH because lot of symptoms overlap so they could have something else instead. But if they read deep into it and they had every single symptom or all the main symptoms of AS, then I don't doubt they have it, even if they are self diagnosed. I take their label more seriously. I am aware some do diagnose themselves over a few symptoms because I see those kind of questions pop up at Yahoo Answers asking if they are autistic or saying they are and how do they get diagnosed and they didn't even list all the main symptoms they have. Instead it's mostly about how they have troubles fitting in and don't feel connected to people, stuff like that. One teen thought he might be autistic just because he doesn't like talking in the car.

I've been told by my doctor that in the area where I live here in the UK they are not doing diagnoses for older adults because of pressure of work, shortage of money, etc.

Since I can't afford to go privately the alternative appears to be self-diagnosis but I can see problems with this. Firstly, it's easy to think you've got something (physical or mental) merely by reading the symptoms. I'd like someone else to give me an objective examination and assessment. Secondly, there may well be occasions in my life when I feel the need to say that I have Asperger's but if I'm asked if I've been clinically assessed and I answer "No" how much credibility will that have?

What about a nerd who is super secure but socially blind, and forces others to deal on his terms?