Aspergers syndrome

Tell them not to be so naughty.

Fisbey

For goodness sake, don't come here asking for advice on a serious medical condition. Someones health could be harmed if you act on mis informed advice.

Speak to a qualified Doctor.

I have a friend whose son suffers from it and it is a complex condition. Far to complex and serious for this forum.

Regards

Mick

OK Mick point taken - all I'm trying to do is ascertain whether someone suffers from this or not.

OK thinking about it, maybe I f***ed up. I guess it's not my business.

Fisbey,

Aspergers can be difficult to diagnose and their are a number of similar conditions. Of course it is best to seek professional help but in the first instance I'm sure there are some online Aspergers support groups which you could contact for initial advice on what to do next i.e. where to go for professional advice.

Erik

Aspergers syndrome covers many facets of human behaviour and is highly complex. It's also not necessarily a bad thing. There are several positive aspects that can cancel or (in some cases give advantages) over what we call normal.

Although with the way things are going I get the impression that the medical comunity would prefer assign a syndrome (treatable when they find the £££ drug - oh yes I have reastless legs) than accept, an aspect, of normal, diverse, human behaviour.

Please by the above remark, do not suppose that I do not recognise mental illness as a serious condition (I took interferon for 10 months so if you wan't to know about (chemically induced) depression just ask (it's grey with no socks- is the best summary)

FYI happy bunny with socks now

Fisbey,

You will find an excellent discussion here The Infinite Mind is an audio program carried by many National Public Radio affiliates in the US weekly that covers many issues of psychological, neurological and psychiatric interest. I almost never miss it. The last two programs were on Asperger's syndrome. You should be able to access the audio file, which, of course, will keep you glued to the PC for the duration. As Stuart said, the syndrome is not necessarily thought by most to be an illness or affliction. In fact, the program started with the rhetorical question as to whether or not the world would be better off without A. Einstein or Bill Gates, both of whom express many aspects of the syndrome. I believe I myself have some aspects of it, as do many on this forum, I suspect.

Good luck and good learning.

Regards,

Norman

I understand Mick's point about this not being the appropriate place to seriously look into such a matter, but with respect I don't think we should be scared to at least discuss our experiences of Aspergers if we have any. I am close to someone with Aspergers and their reaction to being diagnosed with the condition was tremendous relief, as they finally had an answer for why they were like they are. Everything fell into place from that point onwards and just understanding the syndrome immediately solved 80% of the initial problem for them. It's about coping with life, and not understanding why he couldn't cope was most of what he couldn't cope with - if you see what I mean. There are rules to be followed and consideration has to be given, but that doesn't mean you have to treat them any differently...well, you do... but not in a patronising way, just mindful that if they say they can't do something, then they really mean it. There are degrees of Aspergers, of course, as in everything.
It's nothing to be scared of, or be scared to talk about. This isn't the place for a diagnosis however and it certainly isn't appropriate to delve uninvited into someone elses life, no matter how well intentioned.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time By Mark Haddon.

An excellent book about a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome. One of the best reads I had last year. Winner of the Whitbread book of the year. Rasher, I am sure you would love it. I recommend it highly. I have a signed copy.

I find myself in complete agreement with Mr Parry again (God, I must be getting old). Only a fool would seek (or give) serious medical advice on a hi-fi forum.

Asperger's is not a medical condition. It is a developmental psychological/emotional disorder and is at the higher functioning end of what is termed the 'autistic-spectrum disorder'. Medication, whilst playing a part, is unable to effect a 'cure'. Far more useful is environmental intervention i.e. assissting those who experience the disorder to communicate more easily. It is termed a spectrum as, at one end you have severely disabled autistic persons, and at the other, adult men who stand on railway platforms repetitively writing down train numbers.

Autistic-spectrum disorder is characterised by difficulty in language, communication and impaired ability to think in the abstract. eg, someone so diagnosed may become extremely confused by a sign such as 'dogs must be carried on the escalator' and may become distressed if asked to board an escalator without carrying a dog. Similarly, an expression such as 'raining cats and dogs' may cause confusion. Ability to contextualise may be severly impaired. Often there is difficulty in interpreting facial expressions and inability to recognise voice intonation leading to communication difficulties. A compromised abilty to memorise and predict familiar events often leads to stereotyped, repetitive behaviours such as dangling bits of string in front of the face or sitting staring at a washing machine. Persons with Asperger often collect objects such as ring-pulls or memorise bus timetables etc...

Some or all of these symptoms may be present depending on severity of condition. You will encounter 'Rain man' type disability all the way through to university lecturers diagnosed with the condition. Professional diagnosis is essential to definitely establish whether the condition is present.

Thank you Malky - I cannot see what is wrong in helping lay people to understand a condition, it helps them deal with other people - it may help them to be more tolerant.

People directly involved would be involving professional help anyway and not relying on the goings on on this place. However they would probably appreciate the greater understanding/tolerance shown to them as a result of these discussions.

I (as has been suggested above) also recommend that you consider taking useful advice/input from people more concerned with real people than in selling expensive wasteful noise-boxes.

Mick and Rockingdoc are suggesting that Aspergers should be a Taboo Subject here.

How utterly absurd!

OK thanks for the info - and that's all it is -information.

Jeez.....

What they're suggesting is that it's unwise to seek medical advice on a hifi forum, which seems an eminently sensible suggestion to me. (Though I suppose a hifi forum is not unlike an Asperger's support group, what with all the discussions about whether a 552 is better than a 252 or any other numerical construction.)

By the way, whilst on holiday I noticed an IFA called 'Toy'in Tenby. What are the chances of that happening?

That's fine, what I find somewhat distressing are the judgements made as to my motives, still, not to worry.

Is it worse to get information from Wikipedia or to get information from people on this forum.

For passing information the forum is fine, as long as one treats it with the care that one treats all internet based information.

I am sure the "generic" Rockingdoc (ie my GP) would not appreciate me going into his surgery to find out about Asperger or any other syndrome unless I was directly affected by it - ie close family/friend contact. However if the generic medical person with some info can add some comments on the forum that enlighten without prescribing then we are all the wiser.

Unlike the Holiday Inn Express advert - I do not assume any special expertise just because I read it on the web.

quote:

Originally posted by Derek Wright:
Is it worse to get information from Wikipedia or to get information from people on this forum.

Wikipedia is fine for 'lightweight' information, but since it's not peer-reviewed I wouldn't regard it as a trustworthy source for serious information. For information about Asperger's, I'd go to a specialised site such as www.nas.org.uk.
And if I personally had a troubling medical symptom, I'd go to my GP for advice, knowing that if unsure he in turn would refer me to an appropriate specialist!

Blimey I see why Fritz gets p***ed off with some on here...

quote:

Originally posted by Fisbey:
Blimey I see why Fritz gets p***ed off with some on here...

Yebbut he's a nutter*

*innit

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Toy:
Mick and Rockingdoc are suggesting that Aspergers should be a Taboo Subject here.

How utterly absurd!

I agree, Steve. But look what happened when we had a discussion about Anti-depressants... There's some classic "It's all in the mind, pull yourself together" stuff in there.

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/58019385/m/3152917007/p/1