"Outgrowing" Asperger's Syndrome?

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Is it possible to quote-on-quote "outgrow" Asperger's Syndrome, or at least "get rid" of the majority of Asperger "traits" later on in life?

I've always specifically wondered about this, because comparing myself now to comparing myself a few years ago, I've literally gone a 180 degree turn in terms of my Asperger's and the "symptoms", if I could call it that.

For example...

5 years ago, I met my best friend. He has (or had? idk) Aspergers just as much as me.
We would have our interests in technology and video games, and we would have our difficulties within social circles, at least when it came to meeting new people. We would both laugh at stuff that most people would find to be, well, stupid, in all honesty. Such as boring cartoon characters in a basic pose, we would always point and laugh at it whenever we saw it.

However, recently I've felt as if I've been "outgrowing" my Aspergers, if I can call it that...
I'll admit, I still have my interests, but doesn't everyone?
I no longer really laugh at the stuff I used to, as a matter of fact, I kind of find it stupid, as most other people did as well. I no longer have a problem with meeting new people, I could go to a party with 100 new people, and if I was around someone I knew, I would be comfortable.

To me, that's a BIG change from what I was like several years ago, and it's made me wonder... Is it possible to "outgrow" Asperger's Syndrome, or something similar to outgrowing it, or is it not possible?

I seem to have "outgrown" certain traits myself but I'm still an Aspie. There are traits which I'll never be rid of. The bottom line is aspies mature just like NTs (maybe not the same way or at the same pace).

I don't know about everyone. But in my case, I would say no. It is like a skill like any other skill. If I immerse myself in NT social contacts and really work at it and pick up cues from people (which I admit I do better than some other ppl on the spectrum), then I can appear pretty normal. Maybe that is what you experienced. But in recent years I have lessened my social contacts dramatically. And my social ability has suffered dramatically. I am, as you would say, quite rusty. I think my performance would only really improve if I put myself in a similar high-level social learning environment which would refresh my memory and help routinize appropriate reactions. To make what is now jerky more smooth and fluid. I can be pretty adept but only with regular practice. I wish I could have held on to what I did because it would be of better use now.

It is true that I have "outgrown" more juvenile expressions of my AS. That is just a regular part of growing up that everyone goes through (e.g. NTs outgrow juvenile expressions of NTism). But as I engage in the adult social world with its expectations for employment, socializing, etc. I adapt in more contemporary ways. Truth be told, tho, I do indulge in some older behaviors when I am alone.

If Asperger's is neurological, it's really hard to say you can outgrow it. However, a lot can be dealt with through education. Example, learning about metaphors will help someone take things less literally when needed, as you learn to recognize common phrases. Not only that, but learning something like logic will help you infer when something is a metaphor and something is literal. If you know that you're not good at learning through lectures, you can tailor your education to suit your needs (I am treated like an idiot when someone demonstrates, but give me a manual and I'm fine, usually, depending on the quality of the instructions.) Sensory issues, etc, are probably more permanant, but your best bet is always education.

I showed more moderate autism traites in elementary, only when I got older (8 years or so) did i imporve and kept going, b4 that, i was difficult to get through to, very odd, aloof. Im a fully functioning adult today, drive, go to work, and someday plan on supporting a family. I realize once on the spectrum always on the spectrum however.

Interesting post since I am thinking about that topic for quite a while now ...

OK - I'm not officially diagnosed, I'm 37 of age and first heard about AS 6 months ago. Since then I am studying AS and myself to find out if AS really could explain my life till now (and I think it does perfectly).

I was pretty aspie as a kid and adolescent - although I had a few friends as a teenager I was still horrible at meeting new people, conversation and socialising.
That changed dramatically during my 20s - around 23-28 I was very social, had close friends, went out partying, met new people. I guess the fact that I was at university at that time made it easier. I kept a lot of my traits, though, and needed a lot of time on my own to relax, but still I was able to live an almost normal social life with my peers. At a certain point I just had understood how to fit in.

After university and when I started to work things changed and I started to become a loner again. I still can socialise and do conversation and meet new people - I just don't have the energy any more to act like I did when I had plenty of time to relax as a student - and I did nothing than acting or "playing" to be one of them. My job is very demanding and when I have off I need to follow my weekend routine otherwise I freak out - no way to have much social life any more, even if I had learned the skills.

So from my experience I'd say no, you probably will not outgrow AS, you just may learn skills to cope as you get older.

No, I don't think that it's possible to outgrow AS. What I think happens is that as we grow into adulthood we learn to live within our abilities and accept our limitations.

Ed Almos (50)

I agree with the majority. AS can Not be outgrown.
We grow and mature justas everyone else does. But our wiring does not change. We can develop new neural pathways. We learn and adapt.

im sure anyone whos on the mild side of the spectrum can learn how to deal with it better, but i dont think anyone ever really outgrows it

No. You can curb your aspie traits in various ways. But not completely. I guess it is important to understand that AS is a difference and, for many, a set of more difficulties on top of everything else. But it isn't a disability.

i dont think AS will ever go away, but i will mature and get better later on in life. right now it seems im going senial, like i cant find things and im getting slower to process comands. never was this bad its probably why my parent says i get worse as i get older.

Someone with true aspergers can't outgrow it.

They just learn to live with it, and develop ways around several of the symptoms.

My traits have become less of an issue as I've aged. I noticed it first when I was about 38. I'm 50 now. I sure can't say the traits have been eliminated, but the other adults I'm around aren't as judgemental as younger people when I was younger (if that makes sense). Also, I'm less reactive and more accepting of myself.

AS cannot be "outgrown," per se, but everyone grows and changes if they are given the chance. This is true for people with autism, AS or other disabilities, such as Down Syndrome, or for people with no disabilities at all.