The original 34 kids studied by Hans Asperger: A follow-up

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Chloe33
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17 Jan 2013, 2:00 pm

Danielismyname wrote:
It's also interesting how many he had were of a high level of intelligence; perhaps because they came from well off families (poor people probably wouldn't send their child to a physician)? It's known now that most with Asperger's have a normal, or slightly below normal IQ, rather than an above-average to high IQ.


It seems a very many that have Aspergers at least on here seem to have an average or above IQ.
I have a friend who is Aspie and his IQ is probably not average, below average possibly; to average.

Is it a misconception due to famous people who are speculated to have AS consists of all genius folks like Einstein, Thoreau, Newton, etc.
This stereotype or possible misconception that all who have AS are genius or have high IQs has to have affected others with AS who don't have such high IQs.

IMO, Hans Aspergers study was not good. He should have done more studies after he noticed traits in those 4 boys.
For some reason i thought he had at least between 30-50 children he did a study with, i guess i was wrong.
He observed Aspergers in the 4 boys. Yet he shouldn't have stopped there. He could have collaborated with other doctors to do
different studies with a variety of children from different backgrounds to make the information more collective.

Why did all the children have a normal or above intelligence in Asperger's study?

Wikipedia qoutes Aspergers as an eponymous diagnosis. Asperger should have done more research he seems to have hardly done any.

Thank god for current researchers and technology we learn more.

Yet Wiki also states the diagnosis being controversial and that WHO (World Health Organization) describes AS as: "a disorder of uncertain nosological validity" and and there is majority consensus to phase the diagnosis out of the American Psychiatric Association's diagnosis manual.[13].

So its seems why even bother using Aspergers as a term to begin with? It seems they used it until they could find a replacement (social communication disorder) possibly.

They used AS knowing that it would be phased out the next time the DSM-V came out. Why use Aspergers at all? Are they thinking it doesn't fit into the spectrum of Autism?
Or that some may fit into the spectrum, or another disorder altogether?
So did they use AS for lack of any other term at the time?
Its all so odd



AgentPalpatine
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17 Jan 2013, 2:35 pm

Let's not be too rough on Hans, he was the first doctor to describe what we now know as AS in modern Psycology.

We also have to remember that he had good reason to increase the recorded intellegence on his patients....remember what regime was in power at the time, and how they felt about anyone who was "disabled". Increasing the reported intellegence and not working with other doctors would have been logical steps to protect his patients. It's my understanding that he was fairly low on the totem pole, and his views were barely accepted then. He ended up serving as a military doctor in the army.


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alpineglow
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18 Jan 2013, 9:00 am

Quote:
does anyone have a map of this minefield?

I wish. But it is uplifting to hear of your success. Perhaps the next stage (s) of research might be in that direction. Perhaps with the goal of an individual's map being 'discoverable', for his or her age and predilections.



MrPickles
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19 Jan 2013, 8:07 pm

Danielismyname wrote:
That's a pretty good outcome. Around half in relationships (it's under that now), two-thirds working (it's far below that now), and they're happy enough (it seems to be far, far below this now); albeit, they're doing the stereotypical things with electronics and art (which there's nothing wrong with). Nice and positive.

It's interesting how these people are different to modern studies; a change of society, or a change of criteria in inclusion?

(I just have to add the working part, but hey, I'm studying, and I'd meet this.)


It has always been my view that many Asperger's that manage to do well in our society never get diagnosed -- I was not diagnosed until my son had problems at school - my brother who shows so many traits that I have no doubt that he is - is married and running his own business and doing quite well and I am quite sure will never bother with diagnosis. So maybe your view is slanted because of who you are seeing when you say that we the Asperger's of the world today are doing worse than this group. Yet another reason to deplore the fact that so many people will not accept many truly Asper people as legit with out a diagnosis.

One more point - this is more anecdotal account of some former patients of Dr. Asperger and less a study. Though, it is always good to see information on the outcomes of our kind.


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