Faking Autisum

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Since everyone with Autism has different symptoms, how do you know that they are faking it Not everyone with autism has one special interest, some have incredible low IQ.

I once remember someone with serve autism in high school, and one of my "mates" used to say he just pretends to be autistic to get attention. I used to think bigotry like this was unacceptable and people with disabilities would be more sympathetic - I guess not.

And finally - trust me, no one wants to be autistic, since when to you here Mark Zuckenberg being cooler than Tom Cruise - I've never heard anyone say this. I guess people who do pretend on purpose must be crazy.

I will also add, what cash benefits do you get? You would have to fake a pretty severe case to get anything if your lucky. And finally instead of personal stories, where is the evidence and statistics for this happening?

I can't imagine faking it. For high functioning ASD it would be difficult to fake some of the stuff as a lot of it is internal.

BUT... I do keep finding my mind going round in a loop that goes something like this...

..what if I only THINK I have ASD because I'm some sort of mad hypochondriac who's obsessing over it and I'm twisting my memories to make it look like I have it? And somewho subconsciously skewing my test answers to give me the result I want?
...but then the actual act of obssessing over it could be seen as an autistic trait?

See, this is why I want an "official" diagnosis from an "expert" so I can try and stop my head from spinning.

It's also caused by parents.

A parent may fail to get the diagnosis for their child and still say that their child actually has a disorder on the autism spectrum.
The reasons? An attempt to excuse their bad parenting, in many cases - they believe that the child is at fault rather than themselves, when the child is in reality completely neurotypical. This kind of parenting may eventually lead to other disorders as the child becomes an adult, though...



Some kid in an online game claimed that he was being an ass because he couldn't help it due to his Asperger's Syndrome. I called him on it and the rest of the game room cheered, but it usually turns into a flamefest resulting in both myself and the offending party being kicked/banned. I have gotten into the habit of asking where and when they got diagnosed, since generally people who actually have a disorder will be able to name those details (if they're online and capable of typing).

Based on the original post, you are probably faking it too.

I don't see why someone would willingly fake it.

It took me more than 10 years to even acknowledge I had it, post diagnosis.

I can see why someone would want to fake Asperger's:

1) See how special I really am?
2) Now I can be a loner because then I'm being true to myself.
3) I have an excuse for slacking.
4) But I'm really a secret genius like Einstein.

It all makes sense to me. The problem is that real Asperger's usually means:

1) But I want to be normal.
2) I'll have to work hard to get friends and to fit in.
3) I fear that I won't make it in life.
4) Continual depression and anxiety

They want our super powers...
1) hyperfocus
2) controlled obsessive tendencies
3) the ability to make any social situation awkward instantly

There are things I love about being an aspie, especially my mad lateral thinking and partially photographic memory.

But there are so many things that are awkward, that have held me back. An NT with this IQ would probably have a PhD or something by now. While I'm by no means as badly off as many others, my tendency to go on spending sprees and my inability to focus on something unless I'm really interested do get in the way quite a lot... I have to really work hard to be able to work hard, if that makes sense. It's so tiring.