Asperger's General Survey

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Hi everyone! I'm sure there's a similar thread to this, but it didn't have all the information I was looking for. I'm doing a research project (eventually will be an infographic mini-exhibit) on AS/HFA and wanted to gather information straight from the source. In some ways I find this more authentic than the articles I can find on the subject. It's really cool because I'm an Aspie and I get to include my personal experience in the research. Please encourage people to respond, since I need a large sample size (at least 200 replies) for this survey to be legitimate. The answers don't have to be long or detailed. Thanks a bunch! Here are the questions (my answers in bold):

Gender: female

Age: 23

Special interest(s): art and music

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? 20

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? for now, it's a blessing.

Do you have family members on the spectrum? Yes, my sister and cousin.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) Yes

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? Not too much. But noisy crowds can give me a headache. I'm hypersensitive to high pitch, buzzing or rattling sounds. Foreground and background noise tend to blend together for me. I keep finding myself having to remove shirt tags.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?
I wish they could understand that while we are different and come off as independent, we still want the same things that they want, and we feel just as much as anyone else. We all want to be loved, understood and valued. If more people recognized this, I think people on the spectrum would be treated better and it would be easier to adapt.

Gender: Male

Age: 21

Special Interests: Psychology, neuroscience, and autism.

How old were you when diagnosed?: 14 years old with Asperger's Syndrome. Previously diagnosed with "non-specific developmental delays" at approximately 2 years old.

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse?: Both. It has advantages and disadvantages.

Do you have family members on the spectrum?: No.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means?: Yes.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they?: Mildly hypersensitive to high-pitched sounds. Also dislike touch unless I initiate it or know it is coming.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand? I'm not behaving the way I do to annoy people. Either I don't know what I'm doing wrong or I don't know how to correct it. Explain to me what the problem is/why it's a problem and suggest alternatives rather than assuming I know and getting angry at me for it.

Gender: Male

Age: 19

Special interest(s): video games,boy scouts, aspergers

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? 12ish

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? I feel it's a curse sometimes....

Do you have family members on the spectrum? Not that i know of.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) YES

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? Loud noises give me chills and make me twitchy. Florescent lights are also a bother. I also have issues with light touch, but harder touching is better.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?
I wish they could understand that while we are different and come off as independent, we still want the same things that they want, and we feel just as much as anyone else. We all want to be loved, understood and valued. If more people recognized this, I think people on the spectrum would be treated better and it would be easier to adapt. (yes I stole yours because that's what I believe too.)

Gender: Female

Age: 27

Special Interests: Cats, classic rock, art, video games

How old were you when diagnosed?: 2 years old

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse?: Both. It has it's ups and downs.

Do you have family members on the spectrum?: An uncle in Maine, as well as my fiancé.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means?: Absolutely.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they?: Sensitive to loud noises, as well as some bitter flavors and textures of some foods, such as onions.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand? I wish that they would understand and accept how different we are in terms of our behavior, and also treat us as equals in any environment, whether it is at home, school, or work.

Age: 42

Special interest(s): Way too many to list. I'm fickle.

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out?
39

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse?
It's mostly neutral, though I do think I'd have chosen a different life path if I don't have it.

Do you have family members on the spectrum?
Yes, my dad and my two sons are also on the spectrum.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means?
Oh yes. But I don't expect them to understand. It's not their problem that I'm different.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they?
Strong smells really bother me.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?
I'm not sure how understanding just "one thing" will help much. But I guess I mostly want to emphasize that it's not anyone's "fault". Stop looking for things or people to blame on and just accept us.

Gender: female

Age: 25

Special interest(s): Music(various types mostly rock and metal), vinyls, cats, plants/herbs/, tea/coffee(really like trying different kinds though I avoid anything starbucks like the plague) psychology/sociology, beer(microbrewery so many kinds to try) and eventually want to learn to make beer, cannabis to smoke as well as researching current info about it, and guess that is all I can think of for now the music and vinyls is probably my main one.

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? 23 I think

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? Neither, it just is

Do you have family members on the spectrum? Not that I know of

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) Maybe, depends on how they would use that information...if it was for the purpose of being considerate about my differences then yes, however if they used it for manipulation or against me some way than no.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? Yes, too much or too loud of noise, sudden noise(though that also has to do with my having ptsd) crappy music they play on the radio, light being too bright, I really hate florescent lighting its not uncommon if I am reading for someone to ask 'how do you read in the dark' and proceed to turn a light on which then makes my eyes hurt because it reflects off the white paper, also large crowded groups can really make me feel like i am drowning or at least trapped. Also I do not know if this relates it might be the same for everyone but there have been instances I smell something that's gone kinda bad or just does not smell all that pleasant and will almost vomit or sometimes actually do so....sometimes though it is things most people don't find unpleasant that can have this effect to like the smell and taste of sour cream gets my gag reflex going and a lot of people slather that crap on their food while I look at them like: .

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?
That perhaps I have some difficulties in communication and am likely not trying to be 'passive aggressive' I am probably just nervous and not sure how to word something....also yes I care, though sometimes it can be hard to reflect everything going on inside me on the outside, doesn't mean its not going on. Sometimes though I wonder if its just better to realize when people give these criticisms it is how they feel maybe in a sense if say my brother says 'hey you're being an a**hole' well perhaps regardless of the underlying reason I still am being an a**hole even if by mistake. I guess my main thing would be I sometimes wish for just a little more understanding and people to be more patient....but then IDK not sure its something that will happen. I mean people know I have autism and then still seem perplexed when I fail at some sort of interaction.

Gender: Male

Age: 53

Special Interests(s): Many. I used to be so much into the weather that I ran up a $600 phone bill in 1971, at age 10.

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out?: I was diagnosed with autism at around age 3, "brain-injury" soon afterwards

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? Both. Most of the time, I'm neutral about it--but when I think about it, I find that it could potentially be more of a blessing than a curse.

Do you have family members on the spectrum? Probably not. I have a distant in-law (the son of the daughter of the sister of my sister-in-law), who has been diagnosed with HFA

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that mean? I don't think it would make too much of a difference.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they?: Not a prominent part of my life. I dislike loud noises. I can't follow two conversations at once. I don't even bother talking if I ever go to a club/disco

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?: That autism is a spectrum, and that it is not a disease, per se. Rather, it is a difference which manifests itself in various symptoms--some of which are irritating, some of which could be debilitating. One is not "broken" when one has autism; one is merely different, not typical neurologically. Just like a vase is not broken unless someone or some thing throws it from wherever it is standing. There are also advantages in having autism--in that a person with autism could potentially see things, in general, from alternative perspectives. Autism does not preclude one from succeeding in the world.

Gender: Male

Age: 60 next week

Special Interests: Politics, the Israel/Palestine conflict/Psychiatry/Dogs.

How old were you when diagnosed?: 59 - previously diagnosed as OCD and general anxiety disorder

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse?: Both. It has advantages and disadvantages. same as you

Do you have family members on the spectrum?: Probably but my mother was but she passed away 17 1/2 years ago. My older brother who committed suicide in 1971 when he was 18 and I was 16 going on 17 would be almost a stereotypical aspie - but nobody knew about it then

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means?: Yes.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? Not as bad as most aspies. I like color, variety and big cities - but they stress me out - I can enjoy them a lot if I have a place to retreat to so I can decompress. Having to face non-routine but ordinary task such as reregistering my car or facing trick or treaters on Halloween can stress me out. I can do almost anything once it becomes routine.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand? Most people with autism have a hypersensitivity which causes us to retreat into our own world. This is not something we chose - we are not being bad - it is a survival mechanism. The other point I wish people would understand is that our lack of empathy is not heartlessness. We love and care about others just as much as anyone else. We are NOT Sociopaths. We simply don't always understand where others our coming from and why what we said or did offended anyone. We are not being heartless - we just don't always get it.

Gender: female

Age: 25

Special interest(s): Books, coffee and psychology

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? 24

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? For me: Neither. It is what it is. I have it, I have always had it and for a large part, it is who/ what I am.

Do you have family members on the spectrum? No.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) For the first part of that, no: because then I would be stereptyped and people would never give me a chance beyond that point. However, I think it would be better if society was better informed about what ASD is, and what it means. However, I don't know if/when that will ever happen.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? I have touch and hearing issues; I hear absolutely everything. Also, if there is a lot of things happening without order, then I become overloaded. My worst experience was when I went to Las Vegas. There was constantly too much going on and I quickly become overwhelmed. I will never go back.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?
That we are still people; we just have a little bit different wiring. Just because we don't fit the NT version of normal does not mean that we are not valid as well.

Are you only looking for responses from people who have a diagnosis?

Gender: Female

Age: 19

Special interest(s): Some stories, maybe writing. Psychology, architecture, and some unspecified theories.

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? 11

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? Both.

Do you have family members on the spectrum? No. But if so, it's already deceased.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) Yes, likely.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? Noises most at the time. Some texture, especially texture within taste. Lights if I'm on a verge of meltdown. I have cold sensitivity (not just in the environment, the food as well.) My sense of smell IS strong, but I have chronic allergy rhinitis maybe or maybe not because of it.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand? To let them know it's not easy to follow their so called rules. To let them understand what I sense. To let them know that I DO FEEL, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO ENVY/HATE/DISLIKE ME BECAUSE THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW HARD THEIR WORLD IS. (Here in this country, if someone is an honor student, they exaggerate expectations. Students think I'll HAVE an easier life, because I'm not like most honor students who are just lucky to have free tuition fees to maintain grades and has to go for a job and all because they are born poor and willing to do anything to finish study; but I don't think so!) To let them know I can be independent; that their interpretation of body language is equals ''seeing who is mature/responsible pose/talk" is WRONG. To at least, to understand that I tried most of my life. That no matter how much exposure I have, I can't be influenced. Even I'm willing to be at, I cannot. No matter how hard I tried to practice it, it always goes wrong. And that they don't help well because they lie or not being straight about everything they're "hinting" at. And so they'll understand that they're not the only one who thinks ARE having efforts of "understanding who are different" or "tolerating".

Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.

Good luck on getting 200 replies.

Gender:
male

Age:
25

Special interest(s):
electronics, bicycles, pokemon

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out?
diagnosed: 25

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse?
it can be either. depends on the situation

Do you have family members on the spectrum?
possibly, but none diagnosed.

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no)
It could, but people who don't like me much could use that information against me.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they?
-any sound over 6 kHz really bothers my ears. The higher the frequency and amplitude, the higher the chance of it causing severe lasting pain and triggering a headache
-I can't filter out sounds. they all just sort of blend together into one big mess.
-I can't stand certain textures. They literally make me feel sick.
-My proprioception is terrible.
-I often use too much force, and break things as a result
-I'm very sensitive to heat. I can often feel other people's body heat from 2-3 feet away
-I find fluorescent lights terribly irritating. Especially how they flicker.
-too much sensory stimuli at once makes me feel dizzy/faint and causes a panic attack

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?
That I don't mean to seem rude, insensitive, etc., I just don't realize what I'm saying is 'wrong' or could be taken as offensive.

Gender: female

Age: 24

Special interest(s): Arriva buses

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? 8 years old. Way too young for a female on the mild end of the spectrum to be diagnosed

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? Curse, curse, CURSE!! !! !! !

Do you have family members on the spectrum? Nope, I'm the only one in my whole family on the spectrum. Nobody has even got any other disabilities either, like Down's Syndrome or even something like dyslexia. They are all NTs

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) Well, yes and no. If AS didn't have so many false stereotypes attached to it that makes it sound so embarrassing, then I might feel a little more comfortable with opening up about it.

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? Noise. I jump very easily, more so than the average person. Everything else I'm just normal with

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand?
I wish more people could understand that I cannot change who I am. I may be able to an extent, but I can't change myself fully and be somebody I'm not. Some people think that I can make myself be less anxious and more chilled. OK fair enough if they are only trying to help, and I will accept any useful advice from them, but I cannot delete my anxieties completely. I will always be an anxious person. It's nothing bad, although some people make it feel like being anxious is a bad thing.

Gender: female

Age: 39

Special interest(s): So depressed at the moment, it's hard to maintain focus on anything. But I mostly like geeky stuff, like the internet, videogames, science, sci-fi, etc. Will tend to hyperfocus on a single game for a few months. One videogame I actually started a forum about some years ago (Devil May Cry).

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? 39

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? Curse, to be honest. I wasn't a lovable, engaging child and so I got no understanding or positive feedback. My older brothers couldn't stand me. I had a couple of talents, but my depression and ADD ensured they went to waste.

Do you have family members on the spectrum? I strongly suspect my dad is, but not anyone on my mum's side that I can tell

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) Yes

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? Noise is the main one, by miles.

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand? That just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I have no or few emotions. The opposite, if anything.

Gender: male

Age: 31

Special interest(s): haven't had any in a couple years thanx to OCD medication

How old were you when you were diagnosed/found out? never diagnosed but mom told me she thought I was when I was 18 after I graduated high-school. I'm pretty sure I have it.

Do you view ASD as a blessing or a curse? neither

Do you have family members on the spectrum? no

Do you think life would be easier if people knew you had an ASD and actually understood what that means? (yes/no) not really at this point in my life

Do you have sensory issues? If so, what are they? bright light & heat & humidity

If people could understand one thing about autism better, what would you want them to understand? not sure