In the last few years, many adults with social communication issues have read about Asperger syndrome, taken a few online tests, and self-diagnosed themselves with the disorder.  In fact, I got a note from just such an adult today:

I'm 50 and suspected I had aspergers all my life cause I dont relate good with people [sic] and I have a lot of the symptoms but when i wanted to get tested for it, the psychiatrist talked to me for about 5 minutes and told me i didnt have it, and never tested me for it, but if i take an online test i pass it every time, any suggestions?

While taking tests online may not be a valid substitute for a full evaluation, the truth is that there are few professionals out there with significant experience in diagnosing adults with Asperger syndrome.  And while not every adult who believes he or she has Asperger syndrome is correct, it's likely that many are.  John Michael Carley, Director of GRASP.org (a support organization for adults with Asperger syndrome) takes it a step farther, saying "if you think you have Asperger syndrome, you probably do."

For adults with symptoms of (or similar to) Asperger syndrome, finding a diagnosis and a group of like-minded individuals can be enormously liberating.  By the same token, however, self-diagnosis can severely skew statistics - and can make the disorder appear to be less significant than it is.  What's perhaps worse, the term "Asperger syndrome" is starting to diverge from a diagnostic category, and to become more of a statement of personality and style.

Asperger syndrome, in fact, is not the "Geek Syndrome" (as described in a famous article in Wired Magazine).  All people with AS are NOT brilliant, technologically savvy, creative and intriguingly eccentric.   Some people with AS have a hard time with numbers, enjoy reading fiction, and engage comfortably with a wide range of people.  Some, on the other hand, are living with serious and debilitating symptoms that make it difficult to find or hold down a job, or even engage in ordinary daily life.

Is self-diagnosis a good idea for individuals who can't find a satisfactory professional evaluation?  How should self-diagnoses be announced to families, friends or employers?  Is self-diagnosis a helpful or problematic approach to understanding social/communication difficulties in adults?

Share your thoughts!

Did you self-diagnose with Asperger syndrome?  Share Your Story Here!

More About Asperger Syndrome in Adults

• Adults and Asperger Syndrome
• Is It Asperger Syndrome?
• How Do Experts Diagnose Asperger Syndrome in Adults?
• Top Ten Reasons for Adults to Seek an Asperger Syndrome Diagnosis

Join the Autism at About.com Conversation in the Forum or on Facebook!

Self-Diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Sunday, December 26th, 2010 at 11:10:16.

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I've worked hard to make Christmas work for my child with autism.  We rehearsed greeting family, saying thank you for gifts, smiling, hugging...  but I just KNOW my sister will raise her eyebrows across the room to her husband whenever Sam says or does anything strange...  and I KNOW my mother will want to have a "talk" with me in the kitchen about how things are going and whether Sam will ever be like other kids.   And while I don't think Sam's cousins will pick on him, it's likely they'll just ignore him, or tell him to go away.  Of course, things could be worse...  but I'm dreading Christmas with the extended family!

Are you anticipating a Christmas like this one - or living through one?  What do you do to make it work for you and your immediate family?

Autism and Christmas: Please Share Your Thoughts! originally appeared on About.com Autism on Friday, December 24th, 2010 at 08:55:59.

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I've worked hard to make Christmas work for my child with autism.  We rehearsed greeting family, saying thank you for gifts, smiling, hugging...  but I just KNOW my sister will raise her eyebrows across the room to her husband whenever Sam says or does anything strange...  and I KNOW my mother will want to have a "talk" with me in the kitchen about how things are going and whether Sam will ever be like other kids.   And while I don't think Sam's cousins will pick on him, it's likely they'll just ignore him, or tell him to go away.  Of course, things could be worse...  but I'm dreading Christmas with the extended family!

Are you anticipating a Christmas like this one - or living through one?  What do you do to make it work for you and your immediate family?

Autism and Christmas: Please Share Your Thoughts! originally appeared on About.com Autism on Friday, December 24th, 2010 at 08:55:59.

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Sometimes this holiday time of year can get fairly hectic and overwhelming. If you are feeling that you'd like a little extra support or just need to share with others who understand ADHD, please feel free to connect in our ADD/ADHD Discussion Forum.

Our Forum is an online community where people can come together from all over to ask questions, interact, and seek support from others who understand what it is like to live with ADHD as a parent, spouse, partner, sibling, or individual with ADHD. It is also a place where you can share your thoughts and ideas about what works in your family or for you as an individual, providing support to others in the process. Our online community is a place of respect, caring, and education about ADHD.

Click on ADD/ADHD Discussion Forum to visit our community.

_{Photo © Michelangelo Gratton}

Online ADHD Support Group originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, December 20th, 2010 at 22:40:06.

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Sometimes this holiday time of year can get fairly hectic and overwhelming. If you are feeling that you'd like a little extra support or just need to share with others who understand ADHD, please feel free to connect in our ADD/ADHD Discussion Forum.

Our Forum is an online community where people can come together from all over to ask questions, interact, and seek support from others who understand what it is like to live with ADHD as a parent, spouse, partner, sibling, or individual with ADHD. It is also a place where you can share your thoughts and ideas about what works in your family or for you as an individual, providing support to others in the process. Our online community is a place of respect, caring, and education about ADHD.

Click on ADD/ADHD Discussion Forum to visit our community.

_{Photo © Michelangelo Gratton}

Online ADHD Support Group originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, December 20th, 2010 at 22:40:06.

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What is it about the holiday season that can be so much fun, yet so disruptive at the same time? Holidays are filled with family, love, and celebration, but they can also create quite a bit of stress - particularly for kids and adults with ADHD.

Tips for Coping with Holiday Stress

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Coping With Holiday Stress originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, December 20th, 2010 at 22:37:25.

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What is it about the holiday season that can be so much fun, yet so disruptive at the same time? Holidays are filled with family, love, and celebration, but they can also create quite a bit of stress - particularly for kids and adults with ADHD.

Tips for Coping with Holiday Stress

_{Photo © Photos.com}

Coping With Holiday Stress originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, December 20th, 2010 at 22:37:25.

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I used to really question programs set up especially for kids with autism.  The "special" days (or nights) during which ONLY kids with autism and their families would come to the zoo, skate at the skating rink, or eat at the diner.

Yes, it's easy for everyone - and it's relatively inexpensive for all.  Families with kids on the autism spectrum can go out and have fun without the added burden of curious stares, judgemental peers or worried staff.  They might even meet a few people with similar circumstances.  Meanwhile the staff of the zoo, the skating rink, the diner, etc., need no special training; all they really need to do is ensure safety, answer questions, and avoid staring.

What's wrong with that kind of a program?

Honestly, there's nothing wrong at all - except that the program, while it provides access, is utterly non-inclusive.  In essence, the message is "sure, you're welcome to partake in our offerings - so long as you do so when no one else will be disturbed or confused by your child."  And while access is a terrific first step, it leaves the person with autism - as well as his or her family - in the margins of society.

Today, I understand that access, while it isn't inclusion, is much more than most families with autistic children hope for (and much more than most community organizations offer).  And I do understand that, for many people with autism, full inclusion may be impossible under certain circumstances.  If you don't have the ability to sit still for more than a minute or two, you can't realistically attend a concert or play with a typical audience.  If you don't have the ability to communicate non-verbally, it's tough to include you on a serious sports team.   And if you're terribly sensitive to sounds, smells and tastes, full inclusion at a gourmet restaurant may not be worth the effort.

Despite all the challenges, though, many children, teens and adults with autism ARE included in a wide variety of activities.  Talented educators and coaches figure out what it takes to make their offerings work for individual people on the spectrum - and they "just do it."

We've done a lot of searching, and hit a lot of brick walls, but we've found many such talented and/or dedicated individuals and opportunities.  We've found instrumental instructors willing to take a few extra minutes to come up with creative strategies for teaching our son to play clarinet.  We've found a tennis coach who really doesn't care whether kids in the "junior" tennis group have advanced conversational skills.  We've discovered museum exhibits, drama classes, swim instructors and art teachers who - intentionally or not - find a way to make a teen with autism welcome, supported and successful.

Have you taken advantage of accessible programs for people with autism - such as special nights at the museum, special showings of movies, special afternoons at the skating rink?  Have you gotten involved with inclusive programs that make your child (and you) a part of the general program?  Share your experiences, and tell us why it worked (or didn't work!).

• Get Out, Explore and Have Fun: The Book from Lisa Jo Rudy
• Autism, Museums, and Inclusion
• Best Sports for Kids with Autism
• Teach Your Child with Autism to Use Playground Equipment
• How to Help a Child with Autism Take Part and Make Friends
• Autism Parenting in the Community

Community Inclusion v Access: What Works? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Monday, December 20th, 2010 at 20:02:20.

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I used to really question programs set up especially for kids with autism.  The "special" days (or nights) during which ONLY kids with autism and their families would come to the zoo, skate at the skating rink, or eat at the diner.

Yes, it's easy for everyone - and it's relatively inexpensive for all.  Families with kids on the autism spectrum can go out and have fun without the added burden of curious stares, judgemental peers or worried staff.  They might even meet a few people with similar circumstances.  Meanwhile the staff of the zoo, the skating rink, the diner, etc., need no special training; all they really need to do is ensure safety, answer questions, and avoid staring.

What's wrong with that kind of a program?

Honestly, there's nothing wrong at all - except that the program, while it provides access, is utterly non-inclusive.  In essence, the message is "sure, you're welcome to partake in our offerings - so long as you do so when no one else will be disturbed or confused by your child."  And while access is a terrific first step, it leaves the person with autism - as well as his or her family - in the margins of society.

Today, I understand that access, while it isn't inclusion, is much more than most families with autistic children hope for (and much more than most community organizations offer).  And I do understand that, for many people with autism, full inclusion may be impossible under certain circumstances.  If you don't have the ability to sit still for more than a minute or two, you can't realistically attend a concert or play with a typical audience.  If you don't have the ability to communicate non-verbally, it's tough to include you on a serious sports team.   And if you're terribly sensitive to sounds, smells and tastes, full inclusion at a gourmet restaurant may not be worth the effort.

Despite all the challenges, though, many children, teens and adults with autism ARE included in a wide variety of activities.  Talented educators and coaches figure out what it takes to make their offerings work for individual people on the spectrum - and they "just do it."

We've done a lot of searching, and hit a lot of brick walls, but we've found many such talented and/or dedicated individuals and opportunities.  We've found instrumental instructors willing to take a few extra minutes to come up with creative strategies for teaching our son to play clarinet.  We've found a tennis coach who really doesn't care whether kids in the "junior" tennis group have advanced conversational skills.  We've discovered museum exhibits, drama classes, swim instructors and art teachers who - intentionally or not - find a way to make a teen with autism welcome, supported and successful.

Have you taken advantage of accessible programs for people with autism - such as special nights at the museum, special showings of movies, special afternoons at the skating rink?  Have you gotten involved with inclusive programs that make your child (and you) a part of the general program?  Share your experiences, and tell us why it worked (or didn't work!).

• Get Out, Explore and Have Fun: The Book from Lisa Jo Rudy
• Autism, Museums, and Inclusion
• Best Sports for Kids with Autism
• Teach Your Child with Autism to Use Playground Equipment
• How to Help a Child with Autism Take Part and Make Friends
• Autism Parenting in the Community

Community Inclusion v Access: What Works? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Monday, December 20th, 2010 at 20:02:20.

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A group of highly-regarded researchers at UC Davis's CHARGE (Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment) conducted a multi-year study to determine whether effects of air pollution are likely to have an impact on the incidence of autism.  Today, they have published findings that suggest an association between autism and proximity, during the third trimester of pregnancy, to freeways.  It's important to note that the study does NOT provide any insight into what specific pollutant, if any, could be responsible for a higher rate of autism.

Here is the abstract from the report:

Background: Little is known about environmental causes and contributing factors for autism. Basic science and epidemiological research suggest that oxidative stress and inflammation may play a role in disease development. Traffic-related air pollution, a common exposure with established effects on these pathways, contains substances found to have adverse prenatal effects.

Objectives: To examine the association between autism and residence proximity, during pregnancy and near the time of delivery, to freeways and major roadways as a surrogate for air pollution exposure.

Methods: Data were from 304 autism cases and 259 typically developing controls enrolled in the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) Study. The mother's address recorded on the birth certificate and trimester specific addresses derived from a residential history obtained by questionnaire were geo-coded and measures of distance to freeways and major roads were calculated using ArcGIS software. Logistic regression models compared residential proximity to freeways and major roads for autism cases and typically developing controls.

Results: Adjusting for sociodemographic factors and maternal smoking, maternal residence at the time of delivery was more likely be near a freeway (≤309 meters) for cases, as compared to controls (odds ratio (OR), 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-3.45). Autism was also associated with residential proximity to a freeway during the third trimester (OR, 2.22, CI, 1.16-4.42). After adjustment for socio-economic and demographic characteristics, these associations were unchanged. Living near other major roads at birth was not associated with autism.

Conclusions: Living near a freeway was associated with autism. Examination of associations with measured air pollutants is needed.

This study is by no means the first to associate autism with pollution or toxins.  Pesticides, pet shampoos and emissions from coal burning  plants have all come under scrutiny.  What makes this study particularly significance is the quality of the researchers, the size and scope of the study, and the fact that the numbers were adjusted for several possible confounding factors (socioeconomic and demographic status).  This might suggest that an earlier study which linked higher socio-economic levels to autism may relate more to location than to genetics - though of course the study did not look at this issue, and my thoughts about it are simply speculation.

More Articles on Causes of Autism

• Low Birth Weight Raise a Baby's Risk of Autism?
• Causes of Autism: Recent Findings
• Autism, Genetics and Spontaneous Mutation
• Are Older Parents More Likely to Have Autistic Children?

Study's Conclusion: Living Near a Freeway Associated With Autism originally appeared on About.com Autism on Friday, December 17th, 2010 at 07:08:11.

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