So confused! Delayed speech - autism and non delayed speech - aspergers

[Suzanne]

According to experts, I have to be autistic, because I had delayed speech etc. I apparently learned to crawl when I was 2 and utter a few words, around this time and learned to read when I was 9 (that not apparent, as it is a clear memory). Yet, I am certainly not autistic in the literal sense. But I can't be an aspie either, according to experts.

I was told as a child that I was stupid and so, my intelligence level, was very low indeed.

I remember seeing specialists because of issues, but they just said I was backwards.

Ok, I am now stressed beyond belief because I do not want to be a fraud.

Please do not say that all I have to do is see a therapist, because that is just not an option ie too far away for an English one - live in France.

 

[Judge]

Ok, I am now stressed beyond belief because I do not want to be a fraud.

For what it's worth, I'm thinking that for anyone to be labeled a "fraud" under such circumstances is most likely to occur from someone who is utterly unable to properly- or professionally make such a determination in the first place.

The only time I hear people grumbling about whether someone is autistic or not usually comes from peers- not professionals. Kind of reminds me of people commenting on because I'm not married, I MUST be gay.

In other words, try not to be stressed by what may amount to only amateur conclusions.

I didn't learn to speak in complete sentences until I was four. Barely said much of anything up till then according to my mother. What does that make me? If I survive to the DSM-6 maybe I'll find out. Until then I suppose I'll just have to accept the ambiguity of it all, along with any number of incorrect assumptions.

 

[The Penguin]

From you reading my post, I sure you know I can relate to this too. There so many things I need to think about surviving in this world. Also with my post Judged By How I Communicate | AspiesCentral.com , I keep thinking about, what do you do with a world like this? Many of us wants help but we live in a world being judged in many ways. Then, there many times I am seeking help and answers and keep leading to a dead end.

I don't consider you a fraud at all.

From my last neurologist appointment , I was told I might be on the autism spectrum. The problem is, might is not an answer. I know one day I want a definite answer.

 

[Warmheart]

Suzanne, you are who you have always been-- kind, caring, bright, sensible, funny, and insightful. A label, or mis-label, does not change or define who you are. Your sparkling spirit shines through your posts here. Even as shy as I am, you are the kind of interesting lady I'd love to meet for tea!

There are many different types of intelligence, and we're just now beginning to discover what some of those might be. Your struggles with communication are what I can relate to. Frustration is normal and understandable. I have no solutions, but I am feeling right along with you, and right along for you. I am wishing you strength. (((Hugs)))

 

[Judge]

If anything, the thing I worry about is living in a society where government is so concerned about cost-containment that they might be willing to push an agenda to limit the number of persons diagnosed to simply fit a very finite budget.

Where one might be labeled a "fraud", not because they actually are, but because government doesn't want to afford the truth and that the public continues to stigmatize it out of ignorance and descrimination.

 

[The Penguin]

If anything, the thing I worry about is living in a society where government is so concerned about cost-containment that they might be willing to push an agenda to limit the number of persons diagnosed to simply fit a very finite budget.

To expand on this, some provinces and states have better budgets than others. Me growing up in Ontario, we have a great budget there. However, when I moved to Nova Scotia, the government haves a poor budget. I heard many people grew up in Nova Scotia moved to other provinces to get help.

 

[Suzanne]

For what it's worth, I'm thinking that for anyone to be labeled a "fraud" under such circumstances is most likely to occur from someone who is utterly unable to properly- or professionally make such a determination in the first place.

The only time I hear people grumbling about whether someone is autistic or not usually comes from peers- not professionals. Kind of reminds me of people commenting on because I'm not married, I MUST be gay.

In other words, try not to be stressed by what may amount to only amateur conclusions.

I didn't learn to speak in complete sentences until I was four. Barely said much of anything up till then according to my mother. What does that make me? If I survive to the DSM-6 maybe I'll find out. Until then I suppose I'll just have to accept the ambiguity of it all.

From you reading my post, I sure you know I can relate to this too. There so many things I need to think about surviving in this world. Also with my post Judged By How I Communicate | AspiesCentral.com , I keep thinking about, what do you do with a world like this? Many of us wants help but we live in a world being judged in many ways. Then, there many times I am seeking help and answers and keep leading to a dead end.

I don't consider you a fraud at all.

From my last neurologist appointment , I was told I might be on the autism spectrum. The problem is, might is not an answer. I know one day I want a definite answer.

Wow I forgot that about you, Penguin! That is my problem, I get so caught up in something that it envelopes me and one is the fear of telling lies! All I have been reading by experts is that aspies are not delayed and I clearly was, but so you too, and there is no doubt in my mind that you are an aspie!

 

[Suzanne]

Suzanne, you are who you have always been-- kind, caring, bright, sensible, funny, and insightful. A label, or mis-label, does not change or define who you are. Your sparkling spirit shines through your posts here. Even as shy as I am, you are the kind of interesting lady I'd love to meet for tea!

There are many different types of intelligence, and we're just now beginning to discover what some of those might be. Your struggles with communication are what I can relate to. Frustration is normal and understandable. I have no solutions, but I am feeling right along with you, and right along for you. I am wishing you strength. (((Hugs)))

Well, how can I not rate: like when it is about me lol I so appreciate your words to me and they truly brighten me up so much. I too have painful shy, on meeting new people, so that makes too of them, however it would have to be coffee because I just hate tea lol

 

[Judge]

All I have been reading by experts is that aspies are not delayed and I clearly was, but so you too, and there is no doubt in my mind that you are an aspie!

I've read the same. Made me wonder about myself in the same regard. But then the "experts" can make all the claims they want to. It doesn't mean they are right when the system is explained in such an ambiguous manner to begin with!

If anything, they don't really seem to know for certain. Which leaves that "door" more than open when it comes to some of us who might not entirely fit the description of someone with ASD or more conventional manifestations of autism. Ok, so we're on the spectrum...it doesn't have to be defined any deeper than that.

Nothing "fraudulent" about it.

 

[Nitro]

Aspies are just auties with a different name.
I enjoy telling people who do not understand autism spectrum disorder I am autistic...It scares them away from me

 

[Judge]

Aspies are just auties with a different name.
I enjoy telling people who do not understand autism spectrum disorder I am autistic...It scares them away from me

Yep. I feel perfectly neutral citing "my autism" or being on the spectrum of autism. Whatever form it may actually be.

It is what it is- whatever society wants to call it.

 

[Nitro]

why is no one on chat room? and am i the youngest?

The chat room can get busy at times

I can't answer your question about age,but all are welcome to participate anywhere they desire.

Welcome to AC

 

[CloudRomy]

I understand that what they call 'high-functioning' autism is very similar to Asperger's and is a diagnostic label given when speech development has been delayed. I think that in the US system of classification these 'labels' have been absorbed into a more generic description of autistic spectrum disorder.

 

[Nitro]

I think that in the US system of classification these 'labels' have been absorbed into a more generic description of autistic spectrum disorder.

Correct from what I understand

 

[Tia Maria]

Hi Suzanne, Others here have already said it very well, & I couldn't agree with Warmheart more (she does have a wonderful way with words to match her aptly named warm heart!). "... kind, caring, bright, sensible, funny, and insightful. A label, or mis-label, does not change or define who you are. Your sparkling spirit shines through your posts here. ..."

She really expressed exactly what I think & feel about you as well. Your innate intelligence also shines through. And you are no fraud, or liar. You are just doing the best you can & searching for some kind of certainty, & peace. Smile, you are so hard on yourself.

We're on a different time schedule here, but I'll PM you later.

 

[AsheSkyler]

My very first introduction to the autism spectrum was ten years ago with a woman fully diagnosed on the Autistic end of things. She regarded Aspies as something of cousins or siblings well before the merging, and had great respect and caring for them since they practically went through the same things she did. She was a very kind and wonderful woman. And I found her quite sensible for disliking chaotic noise, but that's a tangent for another day. My point is, Aspie or Autie, they have very similar appearances, and the community of either should still judge you as a person instead of which symptom boxes you check off.

 

[113]

As far as I know, there are three levels of autism in the new DSM, depending on how much support one needs. Asperger's is analogous to level 1 autism. Level 3 is "classic" autism. I don't think that speech delays define whether someone is on or off the spectrum, so I wouldn't worry about that. It's all "autism" but now classified by different levels of severity.

 

[Kaykay]

I think everything depends on the specialists you see. I learned to crawl at the right age but only did so for a week and then started to walk, my mom says I screamed every inch that I crawled. I learned to talk at the right age but I didn't it's the way they thought I should so I had to go to speech therapy when I was younger and the stuff a learned in school always took me longer to get the basics but once I got the basics it took me nothing to learn the rest (I.e. I was half way through grade one when I learned my alphabet but in grade two I was reading Harry Potter). I am diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder though, but when I was little nobody could agree on a diagnosis so I didn't get one to recently. So I guess it's up to you really to either to accept the diagnosis you were given because it could always just mean high functioning autism or go get retested because my diagnosis is a label they came out with recently that encompasses pretty much everything on the higher functioning end of the spectrum, so you may get a different diagnosis.

 

[Sully]

In Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome he writes that a delay in speech and cognition would be the difference between Asperger's and high functioning autism, but as those delays are overcome the two look the same. So, in other words, at this point in your life the difference between the two is just semantics. For practical purposes high functioning autism and Asperger's are the same thing. I prefer the term Asperger's because it has greater specificity.