are there levels to aspergerdness?

Post Reply New Topic

I see that some people 'round here are more NT than others while a few - there's no question.

It could also be that there are other stiff going on with them that it enhances or exacerbates their aspergerdness. me for example, ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, dyslexic...just a whole slew of stuff wrong with me.

(like my adjective form of aspergers?)

For example: would it be safe to say that there might be what would be in comparison to the Kinsey secksuality scale?

Are there some people on here that seem more NT to you? (that's me fishing for a rank or something)

Autism is a spectrum, so of course there are people who are not as affected by it as much as others.

I'm not sure "more NT" is accurate, but I am obviously less affected by the various components of the disorder than many. My sensory issues are not overwhelming, I don't have huge social phobias, I have been able to develop some sense of how my behavior impacts others, I have developed some awareness and ability to articulate my emotional states, I can participate in conversations fairly well, I don't stim in public.

However, I prefer my own company, can't read subtle body language, have odd body language that discomforts others, can utterly butcher conversational mores, am frequently the victim of group politics/gossip, and am usually the odd man out in any social situation. People routinely misconstrue my motives. Apparently my Aspie face scares the bejeesus out of timid souls.

So I am less affected, only have PTSD as a co-morbid condition, but life with others is still a constant confusion and bafflement to me. Not to mention the heartbreak.

I think it's an issue of having overcome many of the issues.

I am very mild AS, and only my issue of being sensitive to some loud noises remains.

Even so, it's still difficult to fit NT social norms, so that is why my dating pool is still Aspies only.

Well of course some Aspies have fewer symptoms, or experience less severe impairments from their AS. Other disabilities may also mean one's functioning is worseneed (eg. my blindness, which causes the skills of daily living to cost me much more energy, which increases the risk of overload).

wow you describe me so well. thanks!

I'm not sure "more NT" is accurate, but I am obviously less affected by the various components of the disorder than many. My sensory issues are not overwhelming, I don't have huge social phobias, I have been able to develop some sense of how my behavior impacts others, I have developed some awareness and ability to articulate my emotional states, I can participate in conversations fairly well, I don't stim in public.

However, I prefer my own company, can't read subtle body language, have odd body language that discomforts others, can utterly butcher conversational mores, am frequently the victim of group politics/gossip, and am usually the odd man out in any social situation. People routinely misconstrue my motives. Apparently my Aspie face scares the bejeesus out of timid souls.

So I am less affected, only have PTSD as a co-morbid condition, but life with others is still a constant confusion and bafflement to me. Not to mention the heartbreak.

My worst bit is socialising with people in my own age group (I'm ok with it on the internet, but in real life I'm no good )
My sleeping pattern has always been very bad and my time management is even worse
However I do like loud environments with lots of people as long as I can be on my own and come and go as I please.
I also like bright lights which I know a lot of people with Aspergers dont like
Loud noises startle me and ''make me jump'' at first but after a few seconds I dont mind the noise

There are levels of asperger's that can be measured by the Vineland II test. It can tell you your level of functioning and how much it has been compromised by AS. The thing with me.. when you meet me, you think I have mild AS, but the test indicated it was moderate.

Yep there are different levels of aspie-ness. I myself am on the mild end and I have friends, am quite independant, don't really have overwhelming sensory issues apart from having a bad mood because a top is too tight or feeling strange if someone hugs me. Even though I am mild it's still pretty much a pain in the arse to live with and socialising to some people is downright painful. But I am nothing like some aspies I've seen, I know severe ones and I have hardly anything in common with them except for the things we got up to when we were kids.

I'm another "mildie" (maybe you could call me a Halfspie...). No official diagnosis, though self-suspected because of my childhood traits.

My problems used to be much more pronounced and noticeable as a child. I eventually learned enough to get by socially, even if it took me longer than my peers. I used to have mild sensory issues, and now they are virtually nonexistent (except when I'm ill, I noticed).

I still have organizational issues related to executive dysfunction, and I still occasionally say the wrong things in conversations but they are mostly forgivable. I never had a monotone voice (more of a singsong voice) and no real trouble with eye contact. That and a very good upbringing gave me a lot of self-confidence which has, I believe, kept me out of depression and helped me to deal with anxiety.

There seem to be very few here affected in a similar way that I am, so it makes me wonder if I really have AS.

I suggest looking at the criteria in the DSM-IV. This will give a list of impairments, however each listed impairment can be more or less severe for you than others. I have enough impairments to be listed as having autistic disorder. I meet every autism criteria but one. However, some of these impairments may not affect me as severely as others. An Aspie who is very severely affected by one impairment such as sensitivity to light may not be as functional as me due to this one impairment. However, according to the DSM-IV, I am considered severely autistic while the Aspie is considered less severely autistic.

Like Temple Grandin, I can get up in front of a large group of people and give a presentation and pull it off just as well as most NT's. I can also deal with people as far as day to day business is concerned. I can also do a good job in many different technical fields and carry on an intelligent conversation about politics, bible, and world events. However at other times, I am a typical sound sensitive, headbanging, hand flapping "Kanner's" Autie. So in essence, there are degree's of severity when it comes to Asperger Disorder. However, Aspergers like other form of autism, is diagnosed by the presence rather than the severity of impairments.

I've long suspected that many on this forum are not AS at all. However, as stated, AS exists on a spectrum. Aspergeric might be a more accurate adjective.

A cousin and I have both been dxed with AS. Hers was disabling, while I have a semblance of a normal life with a wife and children. This tells me that the AS dx is too broad. The drafters of the DSM-V seem to agree. Their preliminary proposal is to remove AS as separate disorder and replace it with ASD, recognizing that ASD forms a spectrum. In one draft, I would be mild ASD, while my cousin would be moderate ASD.

I am a mild aspie. I have a big problem with social outings, and I have a problem with making eye contact, a problem with some types of clothes, I also have very sensative hearing, I can hear everything,LOL!

yes, definatly, and it also varies in the person- sometimes one can be ok, other days really unable to function/crawl into clothes.

i 'seem' and 'look' ok- i can converse, albeit a bit rantingly, pretty well (though no small talk). and i can read visual cues well, and im really empathic.

its all the hidden stuff that pinnions me- cant read clocks, cant take noise, bright light, cant be around others, cant always think logically and clearly. cant follow group conversations. cope REALLY badly with change. so it is really crippling- but i look 'normal', because i am really expressive, confident and seemingly outgoing when i speak, and flash smiles about etc (im in the minority doesnt-shut-up a.s group).

i like donkey buster's 'Apparently my Aspie face scares the bejeesus out of timid souls'
i do it too! and im actually quite approachable, beneath the unintentional glaring/ striding along the street.

its annoying, because it means we are forever getting told 'you dont LOOK like you have a.s- i know someone with it, and he's really different to you.'
like a.s is the midwich cuckoos.