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Danielismyname
I wish I were a classical nihilist
Joined: Apr 03, 2007
Posts: 6247
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 Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:38 am Post subject: |
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| Sophist wrote: | | But to say most HFAs don't get married while many aspies do, I have some hesitation agreeing to that. |
There's an outcome study on adults with Asperger's and "HFA" (autistic disorder without an Axis-II diagnosis of mental retardation); it states that apart from one outlier, none of the participants in the study were married, nor would they be able to approach someone for a relationship outside of a mechanical context. I've lost the link, but I've posted it enough around here that I can easily find it if you want the proof.
Naturally, this comprehensive study seems to be neglected by many people as it doesn't paint a picture that many people like, i.e., most individuals with Asperger's don't work, most live at home, and most have few or no friends (it's worst for "HFA").
The majority of those with Asperger's won't get married, but many will simply due to the fact that a small percentage still adds up to many people; the extremely small percentage of those with autistic disorder that do doesn't add up to many.
Apart from the 'net, I cannot approach anyone for any form of relationship (and I can barely use the 'net for such), and I'm as "high-functioning" as one with AD comes (so my reality is similar to the outcome study above). |
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srriv345
Velociraptor
Joined: Jul 19, 2006
Age: 21
Posts: 467
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:10 am Post subject: |
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My opinion is that the Asperger's diagnosis is so relatively new that it's difficult to say with any certainty which proportion are married or not. Who can really say how many undiagnosed adults might be out there? AS is most widely known among professionals who work with children, and of course we can't really predict adult outcomes from them. I'm not completely discounting existing studies about adults, but I do think they're highly flawed at this time and that further research needs to be done. I also think there may be a degree of self-fulfilling prophecy at work. If professionals believe that people on the spectrum don't get married, then that affects diagnosis. I actually had this conversation with a psychiatrist. Please note that I've already been diagnosed with AS by a professional.
Her: It says here "failure to develop peer relationships..." I don't think that's true. You have a boyfriend.
Me: Yes, and he has Asperger's too.
Her: But you have a close, long-term relationship.
Me: Yes, but I don't have other friends.
And so on. I'd say there's some serious education that needs to go on among mental health professionals. |
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Danielismyname
I wish I were a classical nihilist
Joined: Apr 03, 2007
Posts: 6247
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:28 am Post subject: |
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Addendum:
My first paragraph intended to say that no one with autistic disorder was married, nor did they have friends outside of a mechanical situation concerning those in the study (my punctuation implies such, but ";" aren't used much).
srriv345,
If we assume the symptoms are the same as those diagnosed; those undiagnosed should follow a similar symptomology, albeit with external circumstances that change the outcome, i.e., understanding people who approach the individual with AD; understanding people who "overlook" the nuances of AS; family businesses that employ their own, indifference to the disorder (not caring about anything but their narrow interest as they live at home, and they have parents who don't mind), etcetera. Professor Attwood touches on this point, that the overall severity of AS doesn't determine its outcome; external factors have a bigger say.
Your anecdote is obviously pointing out a lack of understanding of the disorders by some professionals (this will always exist). |
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srriv345
Velociraptor
Joined: Jul 19, 2006
Age: 21
Posts: 467
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| There are many combinations of reasons why someone might not be diagnosed, I think: external circumstances like you mentioned, possibly level of severity, socio-economic status, gender, professional competence, previous diagnosis, sheer random chance, degree of acceptance among family members and close associates. It's all quite complicated, so I don't think we can make many certain generalizations about adult outcomes at the current time. How many successful adults out there would have qualified for the diagnosis as kids, but have been able to adapt? I have a relative who probably fits this description, and I'm sure he's probably never heard of AS because his life as an adult has been successful. I respect Attwood, but I think it's pretty erroneous to take two groups differentiated by an important factor (diagnosis status) and assume that they must be similar in most other respects. That's an assumption, and I don't necessarily think that's true. That kind of thinking completely ignores the factors which might lead someone to being diagnosed in the first place. It's possible to find employment which is congruent with a special interest, for instance, and those people may be diagnosed at a lower rate. Completely thorough social science can be hard to do, to be sure, so I do understand why current adult AS research is the way it is. Personally I'd be interested in hearing about the post-1994 generation of AS kids does. (I was only 7 in that year myself, but wasn't diagnosed for another ten years.) |
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Smelena
Cure Neurotypicals Now!
Joined: Apr 02, 2007
Posts: 2148
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| srriv345 wrote: | | There are many combinations of reasons why someone might not be diagnosed, I think: external circumstances like you mentioned, possibly level of severity, socio-economic status, gender, professional competence, previous diagnosis, sheer random chance, degree of acceptance among family members and close associates. |
Temple Grandin refers to Silicon Valley as a 'sheltered workshop for the socially challenged'. It would be easier to get through life as an Aspie in a 'computer geek' city.
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. Personally I'd be interested in hearing about the post-1994 generation of AS kids does. (I was only 7 in that year myself, but wasn't diagnosed for another ten years.) |
I'll let you know when my sons grow up - they're 9 and 7.
Helen
_________________
To see my family and my advocacy efforts: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=JR03uSFQf6Y and http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=7-ZBxFYFvuA |
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srriv345
Velociraptor
Joined: Jul 19, 2006
Age: 21
Posts: 467
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| Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Smelena wrote: | | srriv345 wrote: | | There are many combinations of reasons why someone might not be diagnosed, I think: external circumstances like you mentioned, possibly level of severity, socio-economic status, gender, professional competence, previous diagnosis, sheer random chance, degree of acceptance among family members and close associates. |
Temple Grandin refers to Silicon Valley as a 'sheltered workshop for the socially challenged'. It would be easier to get through life as an Aspie in a 'computer geek' city.
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Very true--and that's exactly where my undiagnosed likely-aspie relative spent the bulk of his adult life. |
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