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Originally Posted by graciegirl
As I understand it, and I am not an expert, just like any other syndromes Asbergers is complex. Autistic people have a wide range of intelligence, those with Asbergers have higher intelligence than the average population. Autism is too a spectrum disorder with some people unable to communicate verbally at all but others can articulate either verbally or non verbally very well. Autism usually effects a persons ability to socialize or interact with others and many people with Autism are tactically defensive and don't like or enjoy the touch of others. I personally have not read of any autistic tendency that was physically harmful to others. Most people severely affected with Autism have a rather flat personality. Some children with Autism are also mildly or severely mentally retarded and some are in the normal range of intelligence and some are gifted. If a child has Autism and is also gifted that is then called Asbergers Syndrome.
We all very well may associate with people who have a slight amount of Autism as it is a spectrum disorder that affects one out of 88 children born, some slightly and some severely. Having Autism does not rule out that a person cannot also have other forms of mental illness.It takes a team of specially trained mental health professionals to make a diagnosis of the type and severity of Austism and of Asbergers.
One person who posts regularly on here has stated on this forum that she has a form of Autism. She is a wonderful person.
Many of us have grandchildren affected with Autism and when the families are told they have Asburgers too they are happy because that is a positive help in that child learning useful things that can make him or her independent. Asbergers is a form of Autism that in my limited knowledge is not associated with violent or murderous behavior.
But as I said before, sadly having one form of cancer doesn't mean you can't also get another form of cancer and that is the same with mental illness.
I am not an expert, just an avid reader.
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Yes to everything you said. Our family member with the Asburgers Syndrome is a member of M.E.N.S.A. and a college graduate.
He's a male and totally non violent; devout Roman Catholic.
So very helpful to the family whenever or wherever he is needed.
Travels alone, lives alone.
Also, as you've said, and as I've read........Autism doesn't necessarily mean mental illness......although a person could have it.....just like anyone of us can have it.
Both the male above......and the two females (two different family lines) come down from a long line of German ancestors in Baaden Baaden Germany. They had familial relatives "in the past" that also had the same symptoms but were not "LABELED" as such. Mostly uncles.
These two "girls" were labeled back in elementary school........and put in a horticulture class. As I've said, hearts of gold............as you've said, flat personalities. One of the sisters, now in their 40's, writes to me all the time and never forgets a new birth as a gift giving occasion, a greeting card for a proper occasion, or good wishes on any occasion......so I'd say she has good manners as well........just cannot speak. That frustrates me no end and if I were closer I would have tried to help.........long story.
We have other young relatives who were so afraid to have their children vaccinated a few years ago due to the belief that something in the vaccines was causing a rash of autistic children to be born........
Perhaps it's just being diagnosed more......but many of the autistics they show on t.v. do speak and can learn.
One of my neices had "angel man" syndrome......when she was little she would run around flapping her arms. I'll look that up again.
But the ones I know were born in the 1960's and the male in 1946.
WE have friends with Downs Syndrome relatives who always say that they were the family's "greatest joy" in their love of everyone and appreciation for the simple things in life........
True mental illness is NOT retardation or a genetic defect. I always thought of my neices as having a form of genetic defect. I plan to do some research on it......soon. I did observe them from babyhood alongside of my little ones.......and they seemed to lag behind in various things..........but it's more the being unable to TALK that urges me to learn more.
Thanks for sharing Gracie.......