"Outgrowing" Aspergers?

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Ever since I was diagnosed at 7, I've been told "You have aspergers mildly [nickname]!" and "You're high functioning!". I'm 12 now, and am told "You don't have aspergers atall now! You've outgrown it!" all the time by my parents and even my primary school headteacher the once (it's complicated).

Is it even possible to "outgrow" aspergers? Or are they just saying this?

The answer is NO! What is more then likely happening in your case is that you've learned to hide it by acting. But believe me, it's still there.

Yes, in a sense high-functioning autism (Asperger's Syndrome, AS), which is by definition a developmental condition, can be compensated for such that overt symptoms are no longer apparent, especially with support and good coping skills. (Tony Attwood et al. have discussed this as well - check his book &/or website).

When I am stressed, my sensory sensitivities are far more evident, for a related example. Some adult Aspies (who were Dx'd as children) can present quite normally. Importantly, diagnosticians can only assess what is observable and reportable. And, if any given behaviour is not problematic, then it is of no consequence in terms of treatment. In fact, some AS traits can be advantageous when applied properly, as successful AS adults can adaptively learn.

I am in my 50s and I was told basically the same thing in January 2014 when I sought a diagnosis of adult Asperger's Syndrome (before I learned that there isn't really such a thing in the United States). My diagnostician said "[c]ongratulations! You appear to have resolved whatever AS characteristics you had as a child[,]" and declined to diagnose me as having AS.

I tried to lead her along through the logic of my screening-test results, the other diagnoses of AS factors, my lifelong characteristics and family comments, the fact that she had tested me with a multiphasic test which hasn't been assessed or approved for testing adult AS, and that my initial, emotional reactions to many things and situations are classic AS, but are merely masked after a life of accidental self-directed learning through movies (a technique known today as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which includes some DVD videos of better-behavior learning). She wouldn't reconsider.

Have I "outgrown" my AS? No, because my initial, emotional reactions are still there. Most of the time, I am able to mask them with better behaviors and understanding, but not always. My ability to mask is not a cure. It isn't outgrowing the core problems of my mild AS.

I blame Autism Speaks's campaign to "cure Autism now." The national dialogue is slanted, and diagnosticians and many other professionals believe only what their superiors and trade journals tell them. In other words, they don't do their own research and reading, and resort to believing the loudest proponent in the room.

Hooray!

Yes, I do know what you mean - - Our personalities, of course, are engrained and do not really change over time. Just being in society means we adapt, much like moving to another cultural setting. In terms of a diagnosis though, there is no single definitive marker for AS, unlike e.g., step infection, so there is reluctance to identify any difference unless it is prohibitive to basic functioning.



Just wanted to add - totally agree with you on this!! ! Geez, their approach is scary at least, yes?

You've done really well, Diagnosed. Of course, always remember to consider that your AS can be advantageous, no matter how it all seems at any given moment. There are times when I really struggle inside, but I keep my perspective. We have to believe, yes?

Of course my aspergers can be to my advantage! It allows me to focus on things, since I'm REALLY into what I'm into - and I'm smarter than average as well. I can relate to those older to me, it all just comes packed in with lots of bad stuff as well! I don't mean to be rude, if my tone sounds such.

Sure, current diagnoses are all about observations, and patient (and/or the patient's parents) complaints and histories. But, I disagree that observed masking is evidence of the removal or reduction of a neurological disorder, only its apparent nature (like making a room look cleaner and bigger by painting it stark white while its size stays exactly the same). AS and ASD genetic research suggests that there is more to the disorders than mere learned behaviors, masked or not.

As for Autism Speaks and its activities, I admit that I threw that fact in my comment for a little red meat. But, it shows that diagnoses are too often arrived at by politico-professional consensus which has little to do with science.

^THIS^

My ability to mask peaked in my twenties, I dont have the energy or motivation to bother anymore. My autism is the same as it ever was, but I know I appear more disabled now because I just cant hide it.

Me, too! But, I suppose I can mask, I just choose not to do so for very long anymore.

I'm with these two *Points up*

I also want to add that I think masking is unhealthy and not good for "us" or "them." I think the world would be a better place if people all stopped lying about themselves all the time and trying to fit in.

These people do not understand what AS is. They are treating AS like a behavioral disorder and saying that because the behaviors seem to have disappeared, the disorder is now gone. This is just wrong. AS is more accurately described as a sensory processing disorder, which leads to some correctable behaviors; the disorder is not the behaviors.

There are a lot of professionals out there today who were trained on, or are being trained on, out-dated material which is actually really mean and biased in a lot of ways. You will probably be dealing with the problem for the rest of your life, so you should study up now so you don't fall into the trap of believing their slow poison.

The good news is that if you're doing well enough at 12 that your behaviors are close enough to being inline with what people expect that they say you're not disordered, you'll probably do alright with finding work and living on your own as an adult. You still have 6 years to learn to cope before real life hits and knocks the wind out of you.

I am sure it will come back when you are stressed or having a bad day.

I have not outgrown it. I can hide it well enough to go to college, work with others, and get through my day but I make modifications and accommodations in my life, get some support, and people know I am different, especially socially. We can learn to adapt, but it never just goes away.

Nope, Aspergers is a neurological condition which stays with you for life. It's possible for some people to have had autistic traits when they were young children which faded as they got older (like in Type 3 hyperlexia), but they never had autism/Aspergers in the first place.