Is "Asperger's Syndrome" the most overdiagnosed condition of all time?

03-10-2019, 01:47 PM

-

#31

dusky99
Registered User

dusky99
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2012

Posts: 8,657

Rep Power: 21095

I swear this is just an attention-whoring diagnosis to make people feel special and unique. Also lolling at all these neurotypical females claiming to be on the spectrum.

03-10-2019, 02:00 PM

-

#32

DrewDarden

DrewDarden

Join Date: Nov 2016

Posts: 23,021

Subscribers: 5

Rep Power: 508455

Originally Posted By dusky99⏩

I swear this is just an attention-whoring diagnosis to make people feel special and unique. Also lolling at all these neurotypical females claiming to be on the spectrum.

Well it's not really even a thing anymore, so it sounds like you'll be happy to learn that.

Now people are just referred to as being on the spectrum.

03-10-2019, 02:02 PM

-

#33

wincel
Banned

wincel
Banned

Join Date: Aug 2016

Location: Chad

Posts: 64,937

Rep Power: 0

It's a pretty grey area. Also people can have aspie features like me as kids, but get better at dealing with it as adults.

03-10-2019, 02:07 PM

-

#34

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By dusky99⏩

I swear this is just an attention-whoring diagnosis to make people feel special and unique. Also lolling at all these neurotypical females claiming to be on the spectrum.

I've had clients who really have it and it's an extremely bizarre and rare condition.

Several years ago the autism foundation was low on money. So, they got psychology to broaden the definition dramatically to include many normal behaviors of shy people, poorly socialized people, and so on. That then allowed more people to be diagnosed to raise more money.

Super unethical.

A true person with autism doesn't know they have it, doesn't care, and wouldn't be on the internet talking about it, or anywhere. They're autistic because they're oblivious to such stuff.

03-10-2019, 02:09 PM

-

#35

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By wincel⏩

It's a pretty grey area. Also people can have aspie features like me as kids, but get better at dealing with it as adults.

You don't have that.

You're just intelligent and don't have much in common with anyone. That will create poor socialization and isolation.

That creates what's called an "idiosyncratic thought process" in what is a normal person.

03-10-2019, 02:29 PM

-

#36

Silencespeaks
Banned

Silencespeaks
Banned

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 114,138

Rep Power: 0

Post deleted by user

03-10-2019, 02:33 PM

-

#37

UknowWho11
My turn is now

UknowWho11
My turn is now

Join Date: Feb 2019

Posts: 4,091

Rep Power: 17408

higher intelligence and bit of antisocial behavior is most of the time misdiagnosed for asperger's, so yeah

03-10-2019, 02:37 PM

-

#38

dusky99
Registered User

dusky99
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2012

Posts: 8,657

Rep Power: 21095

Originally Posted By TheAdlerian⏩

I've had clients who really have it and it's an extremely bizarre and rare condition.

Several years ago the autism foundation was low on money. So, they got psychology to broaden the definition dramatically to include many normal behaviors of shy people, poorly socialized people, and so on. That then allowed more people to be diagnosed to raise more money.

Super unethical.

A true person with autism doesn't know they have it, doesn't care, and wouldn't be on the internet talking about it, or anywhere. They're autistic because they're oblivious to such stuff.

True I agree that it exists, but it's an extremely rare condition and doesn't apply to every person who feels "social anxiety". I've only met two people with legit Asperger's in my life. The first was a guy in my college dorm studying medicine and could draw anatomy like a genius, but he had tons of weird quirks about him. He walked constantly on his tippy toes. His room was spotless but he was obsessed with the air-conditioning vents bringing hair and dust into his dorm room so he built a makeshift filter to block it. He freaked out when he realized we were driving to a busy bar and said that he fantasized about killing large crowds of people.

The second was an ex-girlfriend who I realize I still don't even know who she is. All I know is that she had an encyclopedic knowledge of history and could speak six languages. Very robotic personality. All the signs of an aspie.

03-10-2019, 02:39 PM

-

#39

severagee
Registered User

severagee
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2018

Age: 56

Posts: 1,529

Rep Power: 16879

I'm in computer science.

Trust me, quite a few of these dudes legitimately have it.

Now, ADHD I think is grossly over-diagnosed. Most likely a result of dudes not having any real outlets for their excited and high-test behavior as kids, with recess being cut at schools and being forced to sit in a seat for hours a day.

03-10-2019, 03:13 PM

-

#40

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By dusky99⏩

True I agree that it exists, but it's an extremely rare condition and doesn't apply to every person who feels "social anxiety". I've only met two people with legit Asperger's in my life. The first was a guy in my college dorm studying medicine and could draw anatomy like a genius, but he had tons of weird quirks about him. He walked constantly on his tippy toes. His room was spotless but he was obsessed with the air-conditioning vents bringing hair and dust into his dorm room so he built a makeshift filter to block it. He freaked out when he realized we were driving to a busy bar and said that he fantasized about killing large crowds of people.

The second was an ex-girlfriend who I realize I still don't even know who she is. All I know is that she had an encyclopedic knowledge of history and could speak six languages. Very robotic personality. All the signs of an aspie.

Those are correct features that are seen, but that dude must have been very high functioning to be in school.

Most Aspergers patients are typically super unusual and can't function.

03-10-2019, 03:13 PM

-

#41

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By severagee⏩

I'm in computer science.

Trust me, quite a few of these dudes legitimately have it.

Now, ADHD I think is grossly over-diagnosed. Most likely a result of dudes not having any real outlets for their excited and high-test behavior as kids, with recess being cut at schools and being forced to sit in a seat for hours a day.

Many computer nerds have Schizoid Personality Disorder which looks like autism but isn't.

03-10-2019, 03:19 PM

-

#42

wincel
Banned

wincel
Banned

Join Date: Aug 2016

Location: Chad

Posts: 64,937

Rep Power: 0

Originally Posted By TheAdlerian⏩

You don't have that.

You're just intelligent and don't have much in common with anyone. That will create poor socialization and isolation.

That creates what's called an "idiosyncratic thought process" in what is a normal person.

I had seen a psychologist when I was younger and then said they thought I had Asperger's. I used to have lots of rituals and be very particular about how I stored my toys and things.

03-10-2019, 03:21 PM

-

#43

dusky99
Registered User

dusky99
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2012

Posts: 8,657

Rep Power: 21095

Originally Posted By TheAdlerian⏩

Those are correct features that are seen, but that dude must have been very high functioning to be in school.

Most Aspergers patients are typically super unusual and can't function.

He barely functioned. One semester he dropped all his classes and disappeared into his room for a few months.

03-10-2019, 03:25 PM

-

#44

nothingshocking

nothingshocking

Join Date: Jan 2017

Location: Uranus, Gambia

Posts: 36,368

Subscribers: 5

Rep Power: 949957

03-10-2019, 03:28 PM

-

#45

Humungus
Lord of Ruin

Humungus
Lord of Ruin

Join Date: Apr 2013

Posts: 8,065

Rep Power: 50189

Originally Posted By TheAdlerian⏩

Several years ago the autism foundation was low on money. So, they got psychology to broaden the definition dramatically to include many normal behaviors of shy people, poorly socialized people, and so on. That then allowed more people to be diagnosed to raise more money.

Yeah, autism fundraising and "awareness" has blown up in the past few years. Seems like every third kid is autistic now. Back in the day it was just that some kids were slow.

03-10-2019, 03:30 PM

-

#46

katya422

katya422

Join Date: Dec 2011

Location: United States

Posts: 34,673

Rep Power: 372543

Sigh...

No, I don't think so.

Actually it isn't a formal diagnosis at all anymore. As of DSM-5 people are diagnosed as autism level 1, 2, or 3 depending on how impaired they may be.

Women tend to be under diagnosed because historically the evaluation was based on the traits of young male autists. Females present differently and are better able to "mask", aka pass for normal.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...rent-in-girls/

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-23613816

However masking comes at a cost.

https://www.spectrumnews.org/feature...laging-autism/

There are actual lab tests now (blood and saliva) that are believed to be 85% effective. Can't say how that may affect diagnosis going forward.

And I have wondered if what is labeled autism is more than one thing (different causes), or alternately if ADD should be included as part of the spectrum.

03-10-2019, 03:34 PM

-

#47

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By wincel⏩

I had seen a psychologist when I was younger and then said they thought I had Asperger's. I used to have lots of rituals and be very particular about how I stored my toys and things.

The sad news is that's typical of many little kids, they exhibit OCD symptoms and it's fairly normal.

Saying a person is "autistic" is in the same category, literally in the DSM, as saying someone is retarded.

It's a very extreme diagnosis that needs all of the based covered and very detailed observation. You don't just toss that diagnosis out there.

03-10-2019, 03:35 PM

-

#48

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By dusky99⏩

He barely functioned. One semester he dropped all his classes and disappeared into his room for a few months.

If you're on your toes and all of that, you aren't finishing college most likely.

03-10-2019, 03:36 PM

-

#49

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By Humungus⏩

Yeah, autism fundraising and "awareness" has blown up in the past few years. Seems like every third kid is autistic now. Back in the day it was just that some kids were slow.

Back in the 90s it was ADHD.

That was driven by pharma to sell drugs and make huge profits from yuppies and poor people who didn't teach their children. That's a fact.

Now the diagnosis has died down due to backlash.

03-10-2019, 03:38 PM

-

#50

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By katya422⏩

Sigh...

No, I don't think so.

Actually it isn't a formal diagnosis at all anymore. As of DSM-5 people are diagnosed as autism level 1, 2, or 3 depending on how impaired they may be.

Women tend to be under diagnosed because historically the evaluation was based on the traits of young male autists. Females present differently and are better able to "mask", aka pass for normal.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...rent-in-girls/

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-23613816

However masking comes at a cost.

https://www.spectrumnews.org/feature...laging-autism/

There are actual lab tests now (blood and saliva) that are believed to be 85% effective. Can't say how that may affect diagnosis going forward.

And I have wondered if what is labeled autism is more than one thing (different causes), or alternately if ADD should be included as part of the spectrum.

There is no blood test, that's bullsh!t.

If so it wouldn't be in the DSM.

The DSM is considered psychological and not explained by science. If so then autism would be in a medical text as a disease.

Also, you're correct Asperger's no longer exists as a diagnosis.

03-10-2019, 03:45 PM

-

#51

dusky99
Registered User

dusky99
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2012

Posts: 8,657

Rep Power: 21095

Originally Posted By TheAdlerian⏩

If you're on your toes and all of that, you aren't finishing college most likely.

You're making it sound like being on tippy toes means he was on the retarded side of the spectrum. He wasn't, he was one of the most intelligent people I've met.

03-10-2019, 03:52 PM

-

#52

TheAdlerian
Registered User

TheAdlerian
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 44,596

Rep Power: 96349

Originally Posted By dusky99⏩

You're making it sound like being on tippy toes means he was on the retarded side of the spectrum. He wasn't, he was one of the most intelligent people I've met.

These people aren't cookie cutter clones of each other so anything is possible.

But, there's intelligent, as used by average people "Wow he can do math!!" and then there's real intelligence which means global understanding of everything. For instance, I've met poor people who never went to school, not even HS due to trauma, etc and I could tell they were extremely smart.

I can't imagine an autistic person could be globally intelligent enough to make it that far in anything. However, I could see a self-taught computer person working from or near home being able to hold some kind of job.

03-10-2019, 03:58 PM

-

#53

Deenur
Certified smartestMISCer

Deenur
Certified smartestMISCer

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 12,156

Rep Power: 83276

definitely

03-10-2019, 04:12 PM

-

#54

ComputerHacker
Registered User

ComputerHacker
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2015

Age: 33

Posts: 444

Rep Power: 1737

can't say I've ever met anyone who's claimed to have an aspergers syndrome diagnosis so it mustn't be that common. ADHD on the other hand.. met a few of those.

03-10-2019, 04:17 PM

-

#55

Duckliver
Offal

Duckliver
Offal

Join Date: Jun 2013

Location: Washington, United States

Posts: 32,148

Rep Power: 346618

Originally Posted By TheAdlerian⏩

I've had clients who really have it and it's an extremely bizarre and rare condition.

Several years ago the autism foundation was low on money. So, they got psychology to broaden the definition dramatically to include many normal behaviors of shy people, poorly socialized people, and so on. That then allowed more people to be diagnosed to raise more money.

Super unethical.

A true person with autism doesn't know they have it, doesn't care, and wouldn't be on the internet talking about it, or anywhere. They're autistic because they're oblivious to such stuff.

This.

I work with a company that tries to get truly extremely autistic people jobs. They are very very very bad. Really hard to work with a lot of the times.

I have somone else who is “on the spectrum, he’s just like the 40 year old virgin

03-10-2019, 04:29 PM

-

#56

CommonPheasant
Registered User

CommonPheasant
Registered User

Join Date: May 2011

Location: Sugar Land, Texas, United States

Age: 41

Posts: 12,142

Rep Power: 13135

They broadened the definition to "autism spectrum" giving the justification that people on the spectrum share some traits with people who are much more severely afflicted, i.e. those traditionally considered "autistic".

Whether you agree with them doing that or not is up to you.

03-10-2019, 04:38 PM

-

#57

katya422

katya422

Join Date: Dec 2011

Location: United States

Posts: 34,673

Rep Power: 372543

Originally Posted By TheAdlerian⏩

There is no blood test, that's bullsh!t.

If so it wouldn't be in the DSM.

The DSM is considered psychological and not explained by science. If so then autism would be in a medical text as a disease.

Also, you're correct Asperger's no longer exists as a diagnosis.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0619122434.htm

One year after researchers published their work on a physiological test for autism, a follow-up study confirms its exceptional success in assessing whether a child is on the autism spectrum. A physiological test that supports a clinician's diagnostic process has the potential to lower the age at which children are diagnosed, leading to earlier treatment. Results of the study, which uses an algorithm to predict if a child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on metabolites in a blood sample, published online today, appear in the June edition of Bioengineering & Translational Medicine.

03-10-2019, 04:38 PM

-

#58

dusky99
Registered User

dusky99
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2012

Posts: 8,657

Rep Power: 21095

Originally Posted By Duckliver⏩

This.

I work with a company that tries to get truly extremely autistic people jobs. They are very very very bad. Really hard to work with a lot of the times.

I have somone else who is “on the spectrum, he’s just like the 40 year old virgin

Are those people high-functioning? What makes them hard to work with?

03-10-2019, 04:40 PM

-

#59

Duckliver
Offal

Duckliver
Offal

Join Date: Jun 2013

Location: Washington, United States

Posts: 32,148

Rep Power: 346618

Originally Posted By dusky99⏩

Are those people high-functioning? What makes them hard to work with?

Rude to everyone. Throw tantrums when things are slightly different. Can’t ask them to do anything out of the norm.

03-10-2019, 04:40 PM

-

#60

eod8989
All honked out

eod8989
All honked out

Join Date: Aug 2014

Posts: 58,435

Rep Power: 81966

I'm almost certain i have it. I have intense passions for a few hobbies but don't care about anything else. I have a difficult time expressing myself to other people. Little emotions. And avoid eye contact a lot. I don't act like Jason Genova or anything but i do act more like a kid that i should and find it extremely hard to socialize with people.

I just don't know how i can have so much trouble picking up social cues or understanding how to be social if i don't have it.

Log In

Your email is not your username

Register

Confirm your email

Welcome

Sign in

Thread: Is "Asperger's Syndrome" the most overdiagnosed condition of all time?