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Aspergers Syndrome

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is classified as an autistic spectrum disorder. People with AS typically have difficulty with social interactions, exibit repetitive behavior, have significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, have average or above average intelligence, exhibit difficulty with motor coordination, and other differences from the general population.

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Can aspergers keep people out of jobs?

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Asked by Wiki User

Depends.

If you're looking at something like the military, sure, you can be refused entry. But excluding a person from a particular job based on them being an Asperger rather than them actually not being able to do that job is a violation of the Charter for Human Rights.

Should students with Asperger's Syndrome be homeschooled or go to public schools?

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Asked by Wiki User

Public schools. The more social situations they encounter, the more used to them they will become. You dont want to keep your child at home for years, and them expect them to walk out into the world and be fine.

Do cats have Asperger's Syndrome?

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Asked by Wiki User

  1. no Aspergers is a human disorder which is impossible for any animal to have.

Does bill gates have aspergers?

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Asked by Wiki User

The only way to answer this question with certainty is by asking Bill Gates' doctor. And unless that doctor has screened him for Asperger's (commonly referred to as AS, for Asperger's Syndrome), even he couldn't say for sure.

To qualify for an Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis, one has to meet several psychological and behavioral criteria.

Diagnosing Asperger's is normally done through clinical observation, interviewing of the patient and various other tests.

Here are the official criteria used by psychologists to diagnose Asperger's:



[From Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM IV]

"(I) Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

(A) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(B) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(C) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(D) lack of social or emotional reciprocity



(II) Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

(A) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(B) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(C) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(D) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects



(III) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

(IV) There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)

(V) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

(VI) Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia."

Whether Bill Gates displays these symptoms is certainly debatable. But here are some examples of where he might fall on the spectrum:

** He failed to develop peer relationships, for example, preferring to bond with older students and associates. (Criterion I.B.)

** He's noted for ignoring the opinions and feelings of others. (I.D.) This lack of empathy and awareness of other perspectives/opinions has possibly led to multiple lawsuits against Microsoft for its super-aggressive infringement on competitors' legal rights.

** Single-minded pursuit of computer expertise at the expense of all other interests, including graduating from college (II.A.)

** Gates' noted rocking is not debatable. (II.C.)

Behavioral analysts familiar with Aspergian behaviors also note a general lack of fashion sense (or "trend awareness"). Gates' appearance has long been noted for its "nerdiness," which is unusual for someone so wealthy and powerful.

The list of indicators for Gates being Aspergian goes on.

However, there is one indisputable counter argument: No doctor has officially diagnosed Bill Gates. And until that happens, it's impossible to say whether or not he's an Aspergian. There are certainly good arguments to be made for, and against, such a diagnosis.

But even with clinical diagnoses, a diagnosis often comes down to somewhat subjective observations and analysis.

Can people with Asperger's Syndrome compete in the Special Olympics?

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Asked by Wiki User

No. We are not physically handicapped. I was a star runner and hurdler in track, and always finished in the top ten at Cross Country Running. I sucked at football, baseball, and basketball.

Actually I found this article that talks about an athlete with aspergers who has won medals in the Special Olympics.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/04/19/for_man_with_aspergers_ice_levels_the_playing_field/

Can people with autism dangerous?

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Asked by Wiki User

People with autism does not spread to others. It's just starts to happen when they're born. Sometimes if they have A LOT of autism, they may look scary and copy what you do because they have learning problems. How they act could indicate autism such as not listening to adults or repetitively stacking of lining up objects. They might also act weird. And also when they grown up and have children, the child may also have autism because of their gene. People with autism SHOULD go to a special school. You could tell if they have it by they're voice, how they act and of copping others.

No, autism isn't really harmful to others. It won't spread to others. ;)

Do people with Asperger's Syndrome cry a lot?

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Asked by Wiki User

Yes, of course Autistic people can cry.

Autistic people are as capable as any allistic person of crying, it's a normal human response to pain or happiness. Autistic people often have higher affective empathy which can make Autistic people more sensitive so thus can be more prone to crying as a result of emotional upset.

Does Dan Aykroyd have Asperger's Syndrome?

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Asked by Wiki User

In a 2004 interview with Terry Gross, he claims to have been "analyzed" as a Tuerette's and Asperger's kid. There is still some speculation about if it was true or not. It was a radio interview so no one could see his facial expression but when asked, he said he was not joking. I personally find it hard to believe that if that were true, why is he not more of an activist for autism?

Can a person who has Asperger's Syndrome have a special interest in another person that becomes dangerous?

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Asked by Wiki User

Of course they can - just like anyone else. AS doesn't make anyone either more or less likely to become obsessed or stalkerish.

A:If one of the special interests of a person with Asperger's Syndrome is another person, it can appear to be stalking, but it is not the same. The person with AS is trying to learn everything about the special interest, but is not usually a danger to that person. This is not to say that a person with AS cannot be a danger, but as the previous poster explained, they can be that just as anyone else can. The special interests of a person with AS appear to be obsessions, but there are psychological differences between obsessions and AS special interests. However, both can make the target equally uncomfortable.

Also, misunderstood communications can exacerbate the situation. If you tell a person with AS that he or she can visit anytime, you probably do not mean that the person can visit three times a day, every day, but the person with AS who took your statement literally might not realize that. In addition, you might be the only "friend" the person with AS has, which means that all the hours each day that you might divide between multiple friends, the person with AS is trying to spend solely with you. But, this is not stalking in the usual sense.

Is there a connection between Asperger's Syndrome and codependency?

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Asked by Wiki User

I myself have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and within the last year through my experiments in dating and reading much philosophy and psychology I have came upon some conclusions.

One with Aspergers their brain has an altered Amygdala. The purpose of the Amygdala is the processing and memory of emotional reactions, but also being a part of the limbic system.

Sigmund Freud a known neurologist and founding father of psychoanalysis wrote of narcissism. He stated that when ordinary people are born that as an infant they have needs yet no way of fulfilling them innately which causes something called a narcissistic scar in particular the first such instance. This changes or forms the child's initial concept of reality and builds momentum for something called the death drive. The death drive being the desire to be like how easy it was when one was a child before you had problems and so forth, a destructive desire to embrace death and weakness.

Now those with Aspergers for the most part are not religious perhaps because they have no death drive. There is a persistent feeling throughout my childhood a strange deja vu that would leave me wondering if before I had known the things that I know now which I think contributes to being the paranoia most associate with Aspergers perhaps it comes about because there is no initial Narcicistic scar?

Often those with Aspergers complain about neurotypicals showing signs of Confirmation Bias and Group Think which are both forms of normally accepted Narcissism. The main problems with Aspergers is the inability to use willfull ignorance a form of conscious apathy. When faced with empathizing with someone using such it insights a defensive reaction outbursts of rage which I assume is to reject the other's narcissistic scar.

How should you explain Asperger's Syndrome to friends?

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Asked by Wiki User

I explained what my life is like - the challenges and the benefits that being on the autism spectrum brings. I told them that I valued their friendship but couldn't always explain it the right way. It helped a lot, and I became better friends with many of them as a result.

Do girls have more hair cells than boys?

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Asked by Wiki User

no, as a matter of fact they have shorter vocal cords! This of course makes it much easier to talk, hence the saying that girls talk too much. Also, because boys have longer vocal cords, boys have higher percentages of stuttering problems than girls.

Is Asperger's Syndrome more common in children or adults?

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Asked by Wiki User

Asperger's Syndrome is diagnosed more often in males than in females. This could be because it occurs more often in males or it could be because it is not as easy to diagnose in females. For example, it is more likely to prompt concern if a boy seems withdrawn than if a girl seems "shy." As another example, it seems that the special interests of boys and girls differ, so a boy who is extremely interested in firearms will bother parents more than a girl who is extremely interested in horses, so they might discuss the boy with the doctor but not the girl.

Does Asperger's Syndrome get worse?

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Asked by Wiki User

No. It does not actually worsen, but when a person with Asperger's reaches puberty, he or she can come under tremendous pressure and stress. So even though there is no actual cure for Asperger's, it can be made less noticeable if the person with Asperger's is taught the correct ways to behave. This can mean going to occupational therapists, speech therapists, or the like.

The more positive work you put towards helping the Aspergian, the less noticeable the Asperger's will be.

Even though Asperger's does not worsen, it can become more noticeable during, and just before, the teen years.

How is phantom limb syndrome diagnosed?

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Asked by GaleEncyofNeuroDis

Medications such as anticonvulsants , muscle relaxants, and antidepressants may be tried. Opiate medications have also been used. Ketamine, an anesthetic agent, or calcitonin has been shown to be effective in some clinical studies.

Is thought to be a milder form of autism that occurs in relatively high-functioning individuals?

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Asked by Wiki User

Most people think "Aspergers" when they think of "mild autism", because (very fortunately), those with Aspergers (also called "Aspies"), don't have issues with lowered cognitive abilities. But "high functioning" is the part that always trips people up... They assume if Aspies are "bright" then they "function better". Although, what that really means is whether or not they function well within the environment. Aspies can function well, but sometimes there are HFA individuals (High Functioning Autism) who function better, on a day to day basis, than some Aspies.

Can people with asperger's syndrome have children?

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Asked by Wiki User

Yes. people with Tourette's Syndrome can have kids but, there is a very big chance for the child to have Tourette's and also if you have a sibling with Tourette's like i do you also have a chance to have a child with Tourette's or even just the side symptoms of Tourette's like OCD, ADD, ADHD, or anxiety.hope this helps

Support a learner with asperger syndrome?

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Asked by Wiki User

To support somebody with Aspergers Syndrome you've got to try and give them plenty of independence, understanding and time to get to know them. Having been supported myself by a support learner I was left bitter as the support learner treated me like a remedial.

Can someone with Asperger's Syndrome join the military?

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Asked by Wiki User

Contradictory responses by WikiAnswers contributors:
  • For the United States, more than likely No.
  • I have to agree with the No. I have researched this as I had an applicant with this high form autism. The person will not even make it to the physical.
  • I disagree... It all depends on the individual; the military looks at each person on a case-by-case scenario. It mostly depends if the person applying had special accommodations and also treatment. If they have, then Yes, they would be disqualified and if still have Asperger's and are not receiving accommodations or treatment, then they can join the military.
  • Yes. I know someone with Asperger's syndrome who was recently admitted into the Air Force and will leave to join it in a couple of months. As long as a person can pass all the tests and has the necessary skills for the branch of the military they're trying to get into, they will get accepted.
  • Hey, I'm from Canada, and I've been diagnosed with a slight case of aspergers. I've aspired to enlisting since I could remember, and have recently continued on to do so. I've passed the Physical, Aptitude and the Medical. My last step was to complete the final interview, but I had a debt mixup, and outstanding criminal charges (no, I'm not a psychopath, I just got a bit rowdy while drinking). Now that I think of it, after a bit of research, it may have been a bad idea to exclude my "disability" from the medical questionnaire. The problem here, is that doctors have always told me I had ADD, which I told the military physician. However, during the last "just incase" test my mother had forced me into, I was told that I had a few symptoms of aspergers, not really enough for diagnosis, but they would diagnose me anyways, so it would be easier to get a job... A lot of help that did, huh? Anyways, I hope this has helped in one way or another, and I wish anyone thinking of military service, luck in their indeavour's.
  • Unfortunately not. Not in the United States, at least. The Armed Forces of the United States adhere to almost inflexible regulations known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and that code does not recognize the ability of ANY prospective aspirant who is NOT of perfectly sound mind, nor does it recognize the confidentiality of doctor-patient relationships; Asperger's disorder is still officially considered a mental deferment.
  • The United States Military will accept people with Aspergers on a case by case basis. It all depends on what doctor that you see while at MEPS. I am a Legalman in the United States Navy with Navy Legal Service Office North Central, Detatchment Great Lakes, and I have had this question posed to me before. I discussed it with a few of the JAGs in , and after reviewing the UCMJ, they found that there is no Artical forbidding it.
  • Ok, lets beat the dead horse one more time. The UCMJ has nothing to do with medical clearances into the military. This is a MEPSCOM function that falls under the department of the Army. The person will not get cleared by a MEPS Dr. because their MEPSCOM regulation forbids it. The best they could hope for, if the sun is shining particularly nicely that day, is to get a mental evaluation and then get disqualified. The branch of service that is attempting to bring them in can try for a waiver but once again, it's ultimately up to a Doctor, now that branches surgeon general, to put their name on this.
  • Wow, a bunch of people who are GUESSING. That's what's wrong with these types of sites (any Wiki site, Yahoo answers, etc.), they are loaded with a bunch of unqualified opinions. Yes, someone with Asperger's can get into the military. The person above who spoke of the UCMJ and MESPCOM is partially right, but mostly wrong. Asperger's does NOT fail you during the mental evaluation. However, if you're taking any medication for it or any other disorder then you have to be off of them for at least a year.
  • YES. My husband has AS and he is doing very well in the military. Some do and some don't. The decision is on a case by case basis. If you would like more info about Asperger's Syndrome in the military check out this web site I just found http://www.aspires-relationships.com/articles_as_in_the_military.htm
  • After 50+ horrible years, I was diagnosed as Aspergers/High Functioning Autism incidental to an Aspergers diagnosis for my daughter. Can one do the military? The answer is a "qualified" yes. I did two years in SouthEast Asia and came away with the Distinguished Flying Cross even though essentially I was 12 in many ways, not counting I was behind that far biologically. Later, I made it through the commissioning program. At a later junior officers leadership course, they tested and retested my physical coordination skills for placement on competitive teams (everyone had to compete) thinking I was playing uncoordinated as a "ringer. I was almost passed over for 1st Lt, was passed over for Captain, but pulled data together that clinched it, then despite my technical efforts leading to officer of the year two years in a row, was passed over for Major. Years later I was able to secure a reserve position, and it was my Aspergers skills that led to a recall to active duty and my eventual retirement as a Lt Colonel. I had a habit of placing myself in situations that were beyond my comfort level, but to be truthful, leadership and socialization is not the strong point of Aspergers. Technical skills however, is where we excel. As a junior officer in charge of 150 people I was a flop. Later as a technician, I was great. At least for the Air Force, however, there is an up or out policy, which means you have to compete for and be promoted. As a SSgt and later a Captain, I was right where I should have been and that would have been fine. But to answer your question, with enough drive and by creating the right sense of circumstances, Aspergers/HFA may have a successful career if they can avoid the leadership situations. By the way, there is a quote: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," out of the scriptures, I believe. Knowing I'm Aspergers has allowed me to more successfully (and more happily) deal with life than ever before.
  • According to at least one person in recruiting, United States military rules prohibit enlisting a person who has a mental disorder (including autism spectrum disorders) that interferes with school or employment, unless that person has not required special accommodations for school or employment for 12 months.

I actually checked on this a few years ago, when my son was old enough to start thinking about enlistment. He has an autism spectrum disorder and, as it turns out, that did not render him ineligible. The medications for his condition, however, made him ineligible.

Do some people with Aspergers Syndrome have selective mutism?

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Asked by Shoebetcha

I have aspergers and find myself a chatterbox to a friend and rather silent to my mother. IDK :p She gets annoyed though but what can i say?

People with aspergers may or may not experience selected mutism.

What axis is aspergers on in the DSM?

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Asked by Wiki User

Asperger's can be listed on Axis IV in connection with a medical disorder.

If there is mental retardation involved this would go on Axis II.

Otherwise, asperger's seems to fit best on Axis I.

Can a person with Asperger's syndrome learn to drive at 16?

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Asked by Wiki User

As a person with Asperger's syndrome, you may distinctly prefer not to multi-task in most - if not all - situations. It is likely you may also have dyspraxia (gross motor discoordination), a comorbid (85%?) of asperger's syndrome. You may also have hand-to-eye coordination and other visio-spatial issues to contend with that are not fully encompassed by the term dyspraxia.

Yet in my experience, given you are first willing to learn to drive (never a thing to be presumed - so many are not willing), given extra patience from an instructor who knows to keep verbal and other directions to an absolute brief minimum, given you are not subject to anxieties too much above typical learner levels, it should be no harder for you to learn to drive than anyone else.

If, as a learner, you accept that there will be an extra permanent care that you may need to bring to such matters as reversing and negotiating tight spaces, then you or your vehicle will be as safe as any other. It should become apparent during instruction whether or not this need for extra care is applicable to you or not. If you can read mirror-reversed writing with ease you can certainly learn reversing with ease. If you can mentally manipulate objects in space with ease, likewise you can learn to make allowances for your cars size in positioning it as though it were more an extension of your own physical self when driving, and in coming up with steering solutions that fit the circumstances confronting you.

Many friends with Asperger's drive very safely, are very observant of the road code, but sometimes expect too much of others in expecting them to also invariably know and adhere to the law in like manner. I have also noticed nearly all their cars have a host of minor dings in them and when I enquire about the cause of these I hear tales of unseen letterboxes, tight-spot parking challenges, handbrake forgetfulness, and the clipping of other's wing mirrors. As I say, nothing major, but "wide berth' may need to be our motto all our lives if dyspraxia is present.

You may prefer to learn in an automatic to avoid initially having to master yet another simultaneous task (gear changing) - but this is only suggested to ease the learning curve at the start. It is an extra 4-6 hours of patient practice to master smooth gear changing for most.

The almost hypnotic state we all secretly drive our cars in, most of the time, is fully available also to people with Asperger's after a reasonable period of learning, and it also allows sufficient psuedo multi-tasking to take care of gear changing.

It will change your life radically to learn to drive, give you confidence and abilitiy for all else you wish to achieve in life, take you to new places, allow you to be more helpful than you already are, and improve the first impressions you make with the opposite gender. Go fo it!

Why do famous people have Asperger's Syndrome?

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Asked by Wiki User

A small fraction of the population has Asperger's Syndrome. It is likely that some of these people would become famous. People with Asperger's Syndrome can excel in their special interest areas and thus can become famous in those areas.

There are famous historical people who are speculated to have Asperger's Syndrome because of a few traits known about them. They did not necessarily have Asperger's Syndrome.

Does Asperger's syndrome cause mood swings?

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Asked by Wiki User

Sometimes, yes. Aspies can be volatile due to their emotional state and frequent frustration when dealing with the rest of us. ---- Yes, the above is correct. Asperger s does not cause the mood swings. Dealing with those of us who are not logical or rational can be frustrating.

How can i know whether I'm Asperger or not?

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Asked by Wiki User

That depends. Milder cases of autism or Asperger's Syndrome are usually more difficult to detect. A person with a mild case might seem typical most of the time and just a bit eccentric in some situations. However, depending on the traits, a mild case might be easily noticed. For example, while most of the signs of Asperger's Syndrome could be very mild, if one of the traits that the person has is echolalia (repeating heard words), that trait will stand out.