Do I have Aspergers?

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Hi everyone, I'm new here and am currently not diagnosed with any form of Autism or anything like that. I didn't know Aspergers even existed until a few months ago. But, now I know about it and the symptoms I think I might have it. I read up on the symptoms, and did a few online tests, which all came out positive. I have a high percentage of the symptoms; although I don't have that much trouble understanding figurative language and tones of voice. My parents never picked up on my symptoms, and just said that it was me being 'pathetic' or deliberately un-cooperative, so I have not voiced my concerns to them. I pretty much just sit around at home and play video games or read, talking to people and making eye contact make me awkward and exhausted. I am really unnerved by uncertainty, for example when my parents let our pet dogs loose from their leads/leashes and I can't predict if they're going to run away. Also my mother has a horrible habit of randomly wanting to go out and when we are about to leave I'll ask her where we are going, and she'll just say "out". This frustrates me in the extreme, I become agitated and irritable, and very angry. I don't see why she hates being at home so much, we have a large house with a swimming pool! Anyways, I am also very bad at sports and similar activities, and have a tendency to walk into things or drop small objects. I am quite unsure about my condition and have attributed Aspergers to events in my past, for example, I was about 2/3 years old, and at a birthday party for mum's friend's child. While the other children were staring out a window in awe of tennis players on a court, I climbed up on the table and picked up the ENTIRE birthday cake and took several bites out of it before anyone noticed! I was stopped, obviously (unfortunately!). If anyone with knowledge about Aspergers or Autism could help or give me some advice, that would be appreciated. Thanks.

What does being bad at sports have to do with having Asperger's, if I might ask?

Welcome, Finreeve, your epiphany experience is not unique here, many of us only learned about Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism as adults and realized immediately that the diagnostic criteria described our lives and ourselves in eerie detail.

However, no one here can confirm or dispute your self-diagnosis, that must come from a licensed professional Psychologist (a Psychiatrist can also DX, but may tend to lean toward diagnosing a condition treatable with medication and AS is not one of those).

Some people feel the need for an official diagnosis (I did), others are content with their own self knowledge, that decision is up to you. Getting officially evaluated can be prohibitively expensive, however, though if you're poor enough and happen to end up with the right Mental Health counselor, you might be lucky enough to get those expenses covered by some government program. It's kind of a crap shoot.



One of the diagnostic traits mentioned by Hans Asperger himself was clumsiness. I know of Aspie Scientists, Musicians and Actors, but I can't think of a single Aspergian pro athlete.

Hi Finreeve,
I am no expert but to me it seems that the symptoms you describe are AS symptoms. I am undiagnosed but I think I have it. I read this book and was convinced I had it. I recommend reading the book.

If you have specific questions feel free to ask

Last edited by hyena on 12 Feb 2014, 6:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Me neither. Doesn't exclude the possibility of an Asperger's/ASD diagnosis. Generally sounds like it would be worth pursuing a diagnosis. You don't write how old you are ... do you need your parents' permission? Depending on where you live getting assessed by a professional may be easier than Willard writes as your health insurance or, if you're in the UK, the NHS may cover the cost. If you go for a psychiatrist, just look for one that specializes in autism (depending on your age, in adults or juveniles). My lead assessor was a psychiatrist specializing in autism in adults.



Poor motor coordination is typical for autistics.

Thanks for your insight, guys!

We don't know.

Only an appropriately-trained, experienced, and licensed mental-health professional can make a valid diagnosis of an ASD; and, as far as I know, there is no such person among the membership of Wrong Planet. Online tests can not provide an objective ASD diagnosis, either. While the characteristics that you describe may suggest Aspie-like symptoms, they may also suggest other mental or neurological disorders, as well as hormonal imbalances or chemical deficiencies.

There are too many people in the world who have seen "Rainman", read just a few articles on Wikipedia, and then claimed expertise in diagnosing some degree of Asperger's Syndrome in just about everyone -- especially themselves.

So, your best bet is to consult at least one mental-health professional who has been trained in Autism Spectrum Disorders, has years of experience diagnosing and treating Aspies, and is licensed to practice medicine in your state.