If you could change the label Asperger's Syndrome...

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Definitely.

I think the term "Social Dyslexia" would actually help others understand what I was going through better. That's in my case anyway. I appreciate that other people's situations may be different.

Gosh, if that term had been used when I was younger, I could have been helped more positively and understood what was going on myself!

When I was younger, I was not explicitly told what AS meant so I spent years wondering why people reacted to me in the way they did and why they seemed to think that AS meant that there was "something wrong" with me.

Any mention of "syndrome" in my experience tends to send people "running for the hills" in fear or them saying "you're not ill". People are afraid of AS, but not so afraid of the concept of Dyslexia. Dyslexia seems to be a more palatable concept for many people.

I'll have to say that I've learned more about AS from these boards than I have from any assistant or professional.

Why didn't they explain things more clearly and succinctly at the time in a positive way?

If they had have done, my family and I certainly would have cooperated more!

Many have also thought that the word "syndrome" is an unfair description of my personality traits given it's negative connotations. Personality traits can be interpreted either very positively or very negatively depending on your point of view and therefore that the dx of a "syndrome" wasn't appropriate for me.

They just couldn't understand why I was brilliant at solitary tasks, but struggled more with social tasks.

I wouldn't change it. I like the current name. It honors Hans Asperger's discovery. Just like Alois Alzheimer and James Parkinson are honored by having the disorders they discovered named after them, I think it's only fair that Hans Asperger gets to have "Asperger's Syndrome."
-OddDuckNash99-

What about: Autism with Perseverative Interests?

That's basically the only difference I see between HFA and AS.

Ass Burgers

...

Kidding! Honestly, I've never thought about a different name for it. But it would be nice for it to have a better-sounding name.

I actually like the term Asperger's. I also use Aspie. But often times when the situation arrises that I mention that I have Asperger's, I will also say it is high functioning autism. To be honest, if we just used the term autism---that would be fine with me. When you get right down to it, Asperger's is a form of autism---so autism works for me.

You have to admit that Hans Asperger's original label "Autistic Psychopathy" has a certain punch that "Asperger Syndrome" lacks.

"Asperger Syndrome" sounds like one of those imaginary problems that hypochondriacs invent.

People wouldn't f**k with us if we could say, "I'm an 'Autistic Psychopath', leave me alone."

So I'm for "Autistic Psychopath". At least until they figure out the real etiology and give it a real name.

yes.
speaking from exerience, "psychopath" works a treat!
as does "sociopath," but the latter doesn't have quite the same punch.

I think Social Dyslexia, High Functioning Autism, Atypical Autism, or Autism minus mental retardation would be good. Then the a**burger jokes would stop.

Social Processing Aphasia.


M.

Haha I have thought of the same, it would be a great term to scare creepy guys away with...
But in other cases I'm not sure it would be good... it might scare people you didn't want to scare... or it might sound more "disabled" than necessary (if you understand what I mean).
And today "psychopathy" isn't quite the same as Hans Asperger meant by it, I think.

I liked the Cat Syndrome one.

But since most of it is based on poor social skills, you would think it would be a social disorder. I guess they would need to learn more about it to re-name it. They just don't know too much about autism, and I read somewhere that they separated Aspergers from autism but kept it in the spectrum because they think it could very well be a different genetic disorder all together from autism. Which I was confused by Aspergers name anyway because I read a lot where Asperger discovered Autism at the same time but in different regions back in the day, and his wasn't as famous as the other to spread the knowledge. I guess they just decided recently to give the name to a milder autism that they aren't even sure is autism and just based it on the notion that an Aspergers child displays autistic tendencies. Hell, AS adults is a new thing too. I've known psychologists who only think kids have it.

But based off whatever I may have, I would name it Cat Syndrome because I think most people are like dogs socially, and aspies are more like cats socially. We just have different motivations, and we don't like our butts sniffed all the time. And, we don't do tricks. At least not on command.

I'd be fine with that.

I like the "Social Dyslexia" and "cat syndrome" the best!

Xale is obviously biaised towards the cat syndrome.

hehe, certainly!