Such thing as a half aspergers syndrome?

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I could not fit enough information in the title so I made it into the next best thing I could describe this topic as.

Is there a kind of autistic spectrum disorder where you can read body language, understand all social cues, emotions etc perfectly just like a NT but you have a limited ability to express those emotions and social cues yourself?

Don't think so. But it could be alexithymia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexithymia

Surely you're either Autistic or not? As mentioned above, there are other diagnoses which would cover the symptoms mentioned.

[quote="whirlingmind"]Don't think so. But it could be alexithymia:

/quote]

That's not exactly what I had in mind but that you for responding.

I personally have some traits of aspergers but others that are absent. I was thinking that I might have a type of ASD not currently recognized.

People often think I'm cold hearted or robotic because I can't express emotion very well but I can perfectly understand others emotions. I also have a problem with expressing body language but I have no problem whatsoever reading others.

Also I have no problem with identifying with my own emotions and I can perfectly describe what I'm feeling I just can't express them using body language that's all.

Many a Christmas has past where my mom had gotten me something I had always wanted and I was so excited and my mom say's "why aren't you excited, isn't this what you wanted", and then I'm like "what? I am excited what are you talking about? and then my moms like "well you don't look very excited".

Also one of my past girlfriend had commented that I'm sooo much more emotional talking online than I am in person lol.

So is there a disorder of somekind that could describe my symptoms listed obove?

People with ASDs are affected to varying degrees as it's a spectrum, so it's not a question of halves or other measurements it's just degrees. It's possible to have some of the symptoms and not others, in which case you couldn't be diagnosed as you wouldn't have the full set. You would just be a person with some AS traits.

Broad autism phenotype. These are people who have some autistic traits but not enough and too mild for diagnosis. They seem normal in person, but often reserved.

Every single trait of autism can be found, on its own or alongside others and in varying strengths, in the general population, as part of normal or abnormal personality makeup, learning and sensory perceptual issues. Having one trait of many possible ones required for a diagnosis doesn't make you have "half" AS, it just means you share that trait.

It's thought that everyone is on the autistic spectrum, just the 2% (around about 2%) of the population with the most traits meet the the diagnostic criteria. Maybe you're just further down the spectrum than the average person?

No, there's no such thing as "half Aspergers."

You're just a person with Asperger-like traits.

Aspergers Disorder is an impairment across several major life areas.

I think it's much better to look at aspergers to be more like a neurological orientation and not a disorder..


It's comparable to being left handed or right handed.

Of course some people are both as well.

Just because one is left handed does not mean one cannot use their right hand, it means their preference, their instinct, their natural impulse is not too.

If one is aware it can be quite easy for one to compensate for many of the traits of AS, that being set it requires concentration.

You may pick up on body language, while your concentrating on it, and that may not be any surprise.

The true test is when your not fixating on it will you still pick up on it the same.


This for me was a major issue with my denial. None of the symptoms were always present, however they'd all emerge in the scope of a day.

I wonder too where I am on the spectrum as I can have both NT traits and ASD traits at times.

I can read some body language but not all body language (I tend to miss anything too subtle lol).
I am terrible at reading intention (I cant tell if someone is trying to be my friend or if a man is flirting with me etc and I often miss any subtle invitations of friendship. Goes over my head lol).
I need certain routines and get upset and/or flustered if they are disrupted
I am told I am obsessed with my hobbies but I prefer to think I am passionate
I don't know how to start conversations, I can have trouble keeping them going unless its about an area I have an interest in, I am terrible at small talk and rely on learned scripts and so on.
I have a lot of sensitivities
I suspect I have meltdowns but can't be sure if that is what they are as I am not diagnosed with an ASD and don't know if meet the criteria for one.
I have difficulty making and keeping friends
I have trouble holding relationships
I tend to live in my own world somewhere (I am preoccupied with my own ponderings etc)

However

I can read some body language and many facial expressions (subtle ones take longer to work out lol)
I am fine with tone of voice though, so other than accidentally talking over people sometimes as they had not finished speaking I can use a telephone ok.
I can cope with some change as long as it does not affect my most important routines or if I am given time to prepare.
I do sometimes want to socialise but can tire quickly so don't socialise often (introverted NT?)
I am very emotional but can't always cope well with processing my emotions (emotionally sensitive, very intense feelings).
I don't necessarily take things literally
I can usually follow written instructions (unless they are poorely done) and I think in both pictures and words
I fared well academically and never had any problems learning except in the sense that I got bored because the learning speed at most schools was too slow for me (I always finished before everyone else and would sit and daydream whilst I waited lol). At college and University I can achieve A grades frequently (pretty much a straight A average...I love studying subjects that fascinate me). I also had terrible hand writing, no one could read it, but its much better now lol. No specific learning disabilities in that arena though.

At the moment I don't work as I get disability due to not being able to cope with a lot of change and social interaction but my official diagnosis is social anxiety, anxiety and depression.

Basically I am not sure where I fit on the spectrum.

It is possible for both NTs and those with ASDs to have mixed traits I guess.

"Half-assed pergers!"

When you're p**** footing around, are not commited to going all of the way!

Thats the funniest thing that Ive heard in the entire year 2013 so far!

I'm kind of like that. I'm a little bit closer to the narrow autistic phenotype than the OP, but I much greater difficulty expressing myself than I do understanding other people. Do I have problems with both? Yes. Is it even at all? No.

I am similar to Bumble with mixed traits. Definitely not full on AS, definitely not NT.

I suspect some traits can be nullified through experience/education, even subconciously. Children that are diagnosed early and undergo treatment learn to overcome some difficulties to some extent, thus effectively becoming more NT-like.

schizotypical personality disorder.
this is highly comparable to aspergers, while also being clearly different; perhaps that is what you are looking for