I have been told that I am an Aspie, but am I ?

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So much has happened since my last post....

I believe that I might be an aspie...I was told so also by a psychologist a couple years ago, but I didn't want to see it, so I pushed it back in my mind.

Here's why she thought this:
* I was diagnosed with ADD at a young age.
* I have an above average IQ.
* I love talking about things that interest me.
* I have a hard time listening to others when the subject doesn't interest me.
* I tune people out a lot and think of other things while they are talking to me.
* I found myself wondering about someone's facial expression...like why are
they making that face while talking, how do they know to do that? I'd feel
awkward doing it...even now, I feel I am just mimicing only because I know that
is what I am supposed to do.
* I got paddled twice in school because I am a day dreamer....big time.
* I find eye contact too intense at times, but I can do it if I make myself.
* I have trouble reading people at times....someone may be teasing and I
would likely think that they are serious.
* I used very advanced vocabulary at a very early age.
* I like animals, more so than many people.
* I am told that I can come across as stand offish or shy, sometimes even snobby.
* I don't like large groups...bars or clubs were never my thing.
* I'm a loner....but I do have many friends, however you'll only find me with 1 or 2 at a time.
* I'd rather email than talk on the phone.
* I was never good at sports, I felt so awkward...
* Although, I could do well with the course work, I would have to drop it because I couldn't make myself go to class. I didn't like the large number of students and felt awkward...I would walk up to the class and just not go in...I'd just go back to my car and sit.

I am sure I could post more. So what do you all think? Did Dr. Kizer have me figured out? lol

high possibility, or at least social anxiety disorder. But the fact you have many friends shows that your condition is relatively mild.

Really hard to say because ADD and Asperger's are so much alike. And you can have both which is what I think I have.
ADD usually have more success with friendships. I have a few friends, but I'm not close to them and I don't seem them that often. If someone was to hang out in my room I'd not know what to do.

I think ADD people have poor social skills because of the symptoms either making them impulsive or not able to concentrate, but with AS it's more just a cluelessness. Just my opinion. I can sit down and concentrate on a conversation but I can't always share my opinion. The subjects in conversations move too quickly for me.

If you don't believe your shrink, try the quiz. It is nowhere near as official as a diagnosis from a doctor.

http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am still not sure what to think. I've been thinking more about this especially within the last few months because there might be a chance, my son Hayden is on the spectrum for autism. He's in early intervention now and so far, they think he might have SPD due to being a preemie. He's working on speech and cognitive skills. He's only 17 months old, so they say it's really too early for a diagnosis of ASD.

The first time I felt it could be possible for him, my mind quiclkly went back to that day in Dr. Kizer's office.

Could I have passed this down to my son?

I do have many friends, only because they are gracious and nice people. I can go months without talking to any of them, I certainly don't put the time in to maintain the relationship. I *know* thats what I should do...but at times I am clueless. My best friend since age 4 is really the only one I feel comfortable enough to call etc.

Guys have always showed me attention. I've had boyfriends, but I concentrate on more of the physical aspects of the relationship if you know what I mean.

I do feel love sure, and have been inlove....it's showing it that's hard. I have been thought of as cold or icy before...and I don't feel that's how I am at all.

HaydensMum,

Belive it or not, you described ***ME***! SERIOUSLY!

Steve

Need resistance to change to be convinced.
It is what I lack.
I do however, quite fully adhere to the remaining two categories.

My son does concern me though. I can see red flags...although in a child his age, these things aren't considered red flags yet (or so I am told).

He rocks back and forth, not a lot...but he does do it.
He loves to spin wheels on toys, especially cars....although he will play with them "properly". He loves anything with wheels.
His language is slightly delayed. He babbles a lot and changes the tone of his voice, but he's not easy to understand.
Seems to have selective hearing at times, especially when he's watching tv or something.

Here's non- asd traits that he shows (again, this is all compared to text book resources)

He smiles at you a lot
He makes eye contact
He engages in play time with others
He shares toys etc
He comes to you for attention
He loves to be tickled and chased
He will respond when called

So, I don't know....he's in early intervention...I don't think getting extra attention will hurt anything...I know how I have felt growing up knowing something was different about me...I just want him to healthy (mentally and physically) and happy.

* I don't like change but I have been able to deal with it much better in my recent years. I do my best to just "go with the flow"...sometimes I do get really irked by it, but I don't melt down or anything .

If they say either you or your son is on the spectrum and the interventions and therapies help his or your needs and they are wrong about the diagnosis, the interventions and therapies still helped. If they say neither you or your son are on the spectrum you and your son will not get the therapies or interventions that would have been helpful whether you really were on the spectrum or not! Everybody has some traits that place them on the spectrum because nobody is exactly normal, an imaginary line is drawn by clinicains to seperate black and white but all people are shades of grey. Even salesman go to "Dale Carnegie training" to brush up on their socialization skills and "self-help" seminars are a multi-million dollar industry to hone executive skills and motivation. Does it matter if you or your son is an Nth over or under an imaginary line?

Don't worry about whether you "gave" your son his condition, worry about helping him be the best he can be.

You're right. I shouldn't worry about that. What will be will be. I just want him to get the best help that he can.

He starts developmental therapy as well as speech therapy on Thursday. I really like the gals who work with him. I know he will feel at ease with them.

I agree.. sounds like just normal kid things.... personally I do not think kids should be diagnosed until they have to be.

It's tough because I know growing up, I felt different...although I just didn't know why. I was always observing...always thinking and carrying out this inner dialogue with myself...but I just never had the desire to speak up UNLESS it was something that highly interested me. Then I sometimes would be seen as a "know it all" of sorts.

As for my son, aspie, asd or something else...I will just do the best I can for him and take it one day at a time.


He starts EI tomorrow...so hopefully that all goes well. I agree, I don't want a label on him until he has to have a dx. I think talking and getting my dx later in my life actually turned out to be very beneficial.

Question:

I can show my son affection easily but with anyone else it is hard. Anyone else like this?

Even doctors doubt my AS diagnosis but I was severly autistic as a child. If a parent or someone who is truely dedicated to helping the child and discovering their passions helps them, they will eventualy "come out". I personaly believe that the most severely autistic child would eventualy become more ASish if the parents were dedicated to truely helping them instead of trying to force them to become normal.

PunkyKat,
I totally agree with you on that. I just want him to be his authentic self but I want him to be the best authentic self that he can be. As a parent, part of me still wants all the "normal" things for him in his adult future. I want him to go to university, get married and start a family one day...but I know he has to do what feels right to him just as I did.