Asperger’s Syndrome

By Abigail George

Elon Musk has admitted to having Asperger’s, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many people have speculated that he may be on the autism spectrum based on his behaviour and communication style.

There are many celebrities who live with Asperger’s syndrome.

There have been geniuses, thought leaders and visionaries who have had Asperger’s Syndrome. Some Asperger’s investigators hypothesize that well-known figures, such as Thomas Jefferson, Jeremy Bentham, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Glenn Gould and Ludwig Wittgenstein had Asperger because they showed some Asperger-related tendencies or behaviours, such as intense interest in one subject, and/or social problems.

The majority of children and adults with Asperger syndrome live well and are able to enjoy life and do many things that neurotypical people can do. Many people will have some level of difficulty with some daily tasks or interactions.

There are actors who also live with Asperger’s such as the actor Dan Aykroyd and Corey Burton who is a voice actor. Charlie Chaplin was rumoured to have Asperger’s. The actress Lizzy Clark, Paddy Considine, Daryl Hannah, and Anthony Hopkins all have Asperger’s. Crispin Glover is another actor that is rumoured to have Asperger’s.

The name for Asperger’s Syndrome has officially changed, but many still use the term Asperger’s Syndrome when talking about their condition. The symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome are now included in a condition called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is now the name used for a wide range of autism-like disorders. Those with Asperger’s syndrome, in contrast, must by definition have suffered no cognitive delay during their first 3 years of life. This means that they will usually have at least a “normal” IQ. In some cases, their IQ may be very high, even in the genius range. There are, however, different kinds of smarts.

Over the years, researchers have frequently noted that many individuals with exceptional gifts manifest autistic-like behaviours. Further, an increasing number of individuals with autism or Asperger’s are identified as being gifted. These twice-exceptional learners are in good company. People with Asperger syndrome often have difficulty ‘reading’ other people, recognising or understanding others’ feelings and intentions, and expressing their own emotions. This can make it very hard for them to navigate the social world. They may appear to be insensitive, even if they don’t intend to be.

Signs and symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome are as follows. They lack interpersonal relationship skills and instincts. They possess the inability to express one’s own feelings and often verbalises internal thoughts that most would keep private. They have a flat tone/speaking style that lacks pitch and on the surface of things appear to lack empathy and have a difficult time interacting with peers.

How do adults with Asperger’s behave? People with ASD typically crave routine and respond negatively to change. They may engage in repetitive behaviours as part of their routine. People with ASD may also behave differently in response to sensory stimuli. They may display under sensitivity or over sensitivity to sensations such as light, sound, or touch.

When it comes to Asperger’s vs. autism, Asperger’s generally features less severe symptoms and higher functioning. Despite no longer being a separate diagnosis, Asperger’s remains an accurate description of the symptoms and characteristics of some people on the Autism Spectrum.

It should be noted that though kids with Asperger’s don’t usually have language deficits-they can be very talkative, in fact, many on the autism spectrum do have difficulty communicating verbally, which is partly why new diagnostic criteria will stress social communication deficits and restricted interests.

Despite the problems in relationship skills experienced by many people with Asperger’s syndrome, some adults can progress along the relationship continuum and are able to experience romantic and subsequently intimate personal relationships, even becoming a lifelong partner.

The Asperger’s mind enjoys and focuses on details, while the normal mind is more skilled at assembling whole concepts from details. Some people with Asperger’s are visual thinkers and others are math, music, or number thinkers, but all think in specifics. If you live with Asperger’s, you may be more detail-oriented than a neurotypical person. You may be able to focus well on mundane tasks, pick up on small details, or commit yourself to a quality of work and accuracy.

This can be a very helpful attribute at home, school, and work. They have one-track minds that focus narrowly but intensely, sometimes producing long-winded lecturing on subjects of interest only to themselves. They are often clumsy, with poor handwriting and sometimes repetitive movements like rocking, or routines that resemble obsessive-compulsive behaviour.

Asperger’s syndrome is lifelong. But symptoms tend to improve over time. Adults with this condition can learn to understand their own strengths and weaknesses. And they can improve their social skills.

Individuals with ASDs commonly have a low frustration tolerance and significant irritability. They may report that they alternate from calm to extreme anger very quickly. There have been several studies that suggest individuals with ASDs have difficulty understanding and interpreting their own emotions.

You may find your partner with Asperger’s doesn’t say “I love you,” or express their emotions, as often as you need them to. Mendes says this may be because, to your partner, the love between you two has already been established. They might see no need to vocalize emotions any further.

The best things for Asperger’s are to concentrate for long periods of time on reading, experimenting, writing, Avoid wasting time in some activities that appeal to neurotypical people. Some special interests can be channelled into productive hobbies or even careers, where the person may be creative or make new discoveries.

The cause of Asperger syndrome, like most ASDs, is not fully understood, but there is a strong genetic basis, which means it does tend to run in families. Multiple environmental factors are also thought to play an important role in the development of all ASDs.

Sources

https://www.millcreekofmagee.com/disorders/aspergers/signs-causes-symptoms/

https://www.everydayhealth.com/aspergers/7-famous-people-you-didnt-know-aspergers-syndrome/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

https://www.bmj.com/content/329/7468/s130