Asperger syndrome (or autism spectrum disorder) is a neurological and developmental condition that is easily misunderstood. “No two adults with Asperger syndrome are exactly alike,” says Kenneth Robertson, Ph.D.. “In fact, there is a wide variety of ways this condition presents. Some people have certain signs of Asperger’s and others have different indicators. The degree of Asperger’s also varies from person to person.” Here are five signs that you may have Asperger’s, according to experts. Read on and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure signs you’ve already had COVID.
People with Asperger’s have a hard time making friends and understanding social cues, doctors say. “Difficulty socializing and communicating are hallmarks of Asperger’s in adults,” says Dr Robertson. “Generally struggle to make and keep friends; lack insight into what is and isn’t the right thing to say; fail to recognize humor, irony, and sarcasm; have trouble expressing empathy; talk incessantly about a topic without realizing that this is turning people off and they lack awareness of what other people are thinking and feeling.
Trouble speaking and carrying on conversations could be a sign of Asperger’s, doctors say. “Clinicians who interact with people who have Asperger syndrome could not have failed to notice that their expressive and receptive language is almost always far from typical,” say David Skuse, a professor of brain and behavioral sciences at University College London, and William Mandy, a professor in the university’s department of clinical psychology.. “Many people with excellent formal verbal skills and high verbal intelligence quotients struggle to establish context for the topic of a conversation. They overuse figures of speech; they lack the ability to discuss topics coherently, so their conversations tend to fade away.” in unexpected directions; they make overly literal interpretations of idioms and, especially in those who also have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, they struggle to start or maintain conversations.
Adults with Asperger’s have a greater ability to process information, the researchers say. “our studio confirms our hypothesis that people with autism have a greater capacity for perception compared to the typical population,” says Professor Nilli Lavie, from the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. “This can only be seen once the task becomes more demanding, with more information to process. Under the most challenging task conditions, people with autism can perceive much more information than the typical adult… Clearly there are races, as in IT, which can benefit from employing people with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.”
Debilitating anxiety could be a sign of Asperger’s, experts warn. “Most people can experience frustration, stress, or anxiety in everyday life situations,” says Kim Davis, M.S.. “There are people who learn to cope so well that stress or anxiety has little impact on them. But for others, including people with ASD, stress and anxiety can paralyze them to varying degrees. Remember, the situations they create anxiety in one person may not for another.
“Sensitivity to loud noises, certain smells, particular clothing, food textures, and lights or movement is also common.” says Dr Robertson. “These physical symptoms can also extend to motor skills, such as awkward movements, coordination problems and general clumsiness. People with Asperger syndrome can be very sensitive to touch and avoid it whenever possible.”
Ferozan Mast
Ferozan Mast is a science, health, and wellness writer who is passionate about making information backed by science and research accessible to a general audience. read more
