4 ms·

I have not seen any evidence that Asperger Syndrome or mild autism leads to well-paid occupations. For sure, there is some anecdotal evidence (which I find unco

I have not seen any evidence that Asperger Syndrome or mild autism leads to well-paid occupations. For sure, there is some anecdotal evidence (which I find unconvincing), but I haven't come across anything more solid, like a research paper or study. If you've seen something along those lines, please post a link. I do believe that children with Asperger Syndrome often see the symptoms grow less severe as they age. Perhaps with lots of hard work and a good support structure, some of them people grow to enjoy above average success. It seems entirely unreasonable (and to my mind somewhat cruel) to credit this success to Asperger Syndrome itself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

wpietri 10y ago
Even Asperger thought that his patient/students had unusual gifts as well as issues. In an attempt to keep the then-new Nazi regime from closing down his school (and later, eliminating "defective" children), he suggested they might make excellent codebreakers. Steve Silberman covers that well later in this audio interview with Terry Gross, and presumably in his book as well: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/02/436742377/neurotribes-examines-the-history-and-myths-of-the-autism-spectrum http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/02/43674237...
zerognowl 10y ago
What appears to be Aspergers now is very similar to spending lots of time on the Internet and then trying to interact socially afterwards. It's quite difficult to appear neuro-typical after a surfing session, and for today's kids, Aspergers is the 'New Normal'. Aspergers was even taken off the DSM-5: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/05/autism_spectrum_diagnoses_the_dsm_5_eliminates_asperger_s_and_pdd_nos.html http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_exa...
- i14ng 10y ago
  aspergers was lumped into autism, it wasn't made non-diagnosable. Previously the criteria for aspergers were the same as autism but without delayed language development. Now they decided that distinction wasn't worth singling out with a special diagnosis so it's considered autism regardless of language delay. Those who had aspergers are now considered to simply have autism.
- PlugTunin 10y ago
  If I'm understanding your comment correctly, it sounds like you're insinuating that it's a fake disorder. No offense, but you're grossly misinformed.

wpietri 10y ago

Even Asperger thought that his patient/students had unusual gifts as well as issues. In an attempt to keep the then-new Nazi regime from closing down his school (and later, eliminating "defective" children), he suggested they might make excellent codebreakers. Steve Silberman covers that well later in this audio interview with Terry Gross, and presumably in his book as well: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/02/436742377/neurotribes-examines-the-history-and-myths-of-the-autism-spectrum http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/02/43674237...

zerognowl 10y ago

What appears to be Aspergers now is very similar to spending lots of time on the Internet and then trying to interact socially afterwards. It's quite difficult to appear neuro-typical after a surfing session, and for today's kids, Aspergers is the 'New Normal'. Aspergers was even taken off the DSM-5: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/05/autism_spectrum_diagnoses_the_dsm_5_eliminates_asperger_s_and_pdd_nos.html http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_exa...

i14ng 10y ago
aspergers was lumped into autism, it wasn't made non-diagnosable. Previously the criteria for aspergers were the same as autism but without delayed language development. Now they decided that distinction wasn't worth singling out with a special diagnosis so it's considered autism regardless of language delay. Those who had aspergers are now considered to simply have autism.
PlugTunin 10y ago
If I'm understanding your comment correctly, it sounds like you're insinuating that it's a fake disorder. No offense, but you're grossly misinformed.