Aspergers Checklist
We recently discovered this Aspergers Checklist which gives a good level of detail into diagnosis of Aspergers. One of the interesting things it mentions is that Aspergers Syndrome is particularly difficult to diagnose in younger children and toddlers. It includes a number of factors which would not normally be used in the diagnosis of adults but can be used in children due to the lack of visibility of other symptoms ( behavioral and personality symptoms).
These include:
- Metabolic screening – Using blood and urines test to understand the metabolism of food.
- Magnetic resonance imaging – These use detailed imagery of the brain to detect abnormalities
- CAT scan – Using X-rays to detect structural issues with the brain
- Genetic testing – Abnormalities within the genes are detected through the use of blood tests.
- Hearing tests using the Audio gram and Typanogram.
- Electroencephalogram – which measures brain abnormalities
As well as the above physical tests there are also the traditional behavioral checklist which can refer to such as looking for these characteristics:
Inflexibility
InflexibilityAttachment to routines, often cause disturbances if changed. Someone with Aspergers is generally not very adaptable to change.
Lack of social skills
Difficulties in developing close friendships, having meaningful or deep conversations as well as tendency to isolate.
Limited emotional intelligence and irrational emotions
It is common for people with AS to have a very low sensitivity to the emotions of others. They have difficulty understanding both their own emotions as well as the emotions of others. That being said, it can also be common for extreme emotions to be expressed with very minor triggers.
Difficulty engaging in conversation
Talking about a subject obsessively as well as well as lack of eye contact during the conversation are big tell tale signs of AS.
Repetitive rituals and behaviors
This can be observed in the engagement of repetitive rituals such as body movements, habits and behaviors. Examples of this include hand flapping, twirling or obscure methods of play.
Impaired Motor skills
There is a delay or impairment of motor skills such as playing catch, riding a bike, tying shoelaces. Although not exclusive to AS this can often be an effect of the disorder. Often clumsiness or the inability to realize the boundaries of ones bodies.
Although this is not an in depth Aspergers checklist it does give a few major points to look for. If you are looking for a more rigid tool for diagnosis you might want to check out the Asperger Test developed by Simon Baron-Cohen.
I want to know more about the score and how you arrrive at it.
My 34 year old brother might have this. Would like to learn about aspergers.
I am a step mother to a 13 year old boy with Aspergers. I have been a part of his live for 5 years now. We just got a medical diagnosis from a psychologist about 2 months ago. I am at my wits end. His odd behaviors and rigidity with any change is becoming worse. When comes home from his mother’s visit from the every other weekend, he doesn’t talk and just wanders around kind of lost. I no longer feel like I have any relationship with him. This makes me very sad. It is also a very tense living situation. Please anyone with suggestions or advice. He is on an anti-depressant and ADHD medication now. He is not as withdrawn with others but more so with me. He wants to argue with his brother and dad over the simplest requests. Nothing makes sense to him. He is not practical.
Regarding your 13 yr old step son: I have found that anti-depressants do not help much for ASD. they didnt help me because i wasnt depressed. i was overwhelmed by too much change. Remember, the change from mom’s house to your’s may be just as overwhelming when he goes to stay with her. Im not sure how to/or what to suggest on that except to put your heads together with the mom and you and your husband to see what may help him the most…..I can assure you it is difficult to figure out what to do with all the information that we Aspies collect. There is an article that speaks of the Asperger’s mind as in high gear all the time. As in, too fast and sees too much for our age. In actuality we dont know how to process all the information we are intaking. Most people habituate to the “noise” around them or the “visual clutter” we tend not to. for me i see everyting and notice if you shoes are clean or dirty comparred to last time or if you hair is combed or fixed different, and i hear almost everything that is going on around me. difficult to sleep at night as any sounds awaken me etc. ill be praying for you situation. mostley remember melt-downs are not anger against you but frustration of being overwhelmed and not able to communicate what is going on in our brains…. love him and let him know by your actions your care. WE apies can learn. im much better now than in my teens and early 20s….im 56 now….
Thank you so much for this. All it really needs is love and gentleness and understanding.
Neurotypical age 45 female very much in love with an Aspie Male 47 for last 9 years.
It took him until the age of 30 to move out of his parents house. He also was still a virgin. His first serious girlfriend took his virginity. Along with all all his trust he had ever invested in a NT Female. He went and married her.
The marriage only lasted a year. He carved out a very Aspie safe world for himself the last 14 years.
I can only get him to be close to me for a month than he with draws for at least 6 months. I am educating myself as much as possible and refuse to give up.
I wss official diagonosed with Adult ADD at the age 43. I have shared my struggles with him. Hoping that would bring him some comfort that I am different to.
To Liz, please don’t give up on him. He, like I, lost any and all trust in relationships.
When the two of you get together. Do things or go places that are quiet, few if any other people.
I like camping, wildlife, fishing(just to be alone with the outdoors), i take my camera and take pictures, i seem to have a keen eye for interesting subject matter. I see things others ignore, I appreciate what nature has to offer.
Take your visits slowly, do not try to encroach on his space unless he lets you know its okay. He will.
He will not verbally say how he feels for you, however, in his way he will show you with his devotion, small acts, etc.
Show him you are there for him, it will take time for him to trust enough to fully open up.
I myself, took 12+ years to decide I would try one more time. Unfortunetly that decision has ended anymore attempts by me. Ended so much worse than the first person I dated.
He will need to feel the water, so to speak. You may or may not have noticed him talking about things he enjoys to do, etc. bits at a time.
Aspies like quiet, few ppl, and only those he knows.
Give nature a try.
Hiking is a good start.
My best wishes for the two of you.
I just took the test and scored a 39. Oh my. This would explain so much about how my life has unfolded over the last 4 decades.
I always knew something was different about me. Never quite fit in. Never can hold a job for more than 7 years. Eye contact is painfully difficult with others. Even with family members. I’m hyper-aware of details and it seems to intensify even more with age.
I’m quite content to be alone….even for days and days. Change is very difficult for me. I feel like I always have to be in the driver’s seat. I must always do things my way, as if my way is the ONLY way.
I’m not just a perfectionist, but seem to be hyper-perfectionistic. Something that would take others days or weeks to accomplish may take me years.
I also seem to be obsessed with numbers, patterns and presently, with chess.
Hello,
Since I was a child I had problems due to my lack of social skills, difficulty engaging in conversations, repetitive rituals and behaviors, etc, etc. Three years ago I started to suspect that may have Asperger and as a result I started looking for information about Asperger. I did the test in the page and I clearly got a positive result.
I think people with Asperger may struggle in most of the jobs due to inflexibility and lack of social skills. I currently have an IT job but due to the constant changes in the routine and the social skills I need to have to communicate with customers I´m getting exhausted… I mean, I may look for another IT job that requires fewer changes in my routine and less contact with customers… I´m thinking in programming…
In addition, sometimes I think to start a second career like psychology. Since I was a child I was a good observer and I usually do good profiles of people with by observing them. However, I´m not sure if a person with Asperger may have the skills to become a psychology due to the lack of social skills and in some case empathy.
Please let me know your thoughts about it.
Regards,
Miguel
“Limited emotional intelligence and irrational emotions
It is common for people with AS to have a very low sensitivity to the emotions of others. They have difficulty understanding both their own emotions as well as the emotions of others. That being said, it can also be common for extreme emotions to be expressed with very minor triggers.”
This is a spot-on description of what autism *looks like* to someone who thinks they already know us. This false sense of superiority was created by medical misinformation and is perpetuated (still) by those who lack the patience or empathy to understand us. The myth that autistics have no feelings or lack empathy is incredibly destructive whether you have a diagnosis or not; all it requires is one person who thinks they know better ignoring the real you in favor of their own misconceptions.
Will you please reconsider the message of that section? Please think of what autistics really need others to understand to minimize the potential for them to cause us further harm. What would it take to impress upon them that we are actually human and deserving of compassion just like everyone else?
No wonder school was so difficult for me. And now, 45 years later, I’m still marked by the same comment I had in pre-school. She has trouble making friends. Well, it’s all starting to make sense. No one would guess that I have Aspbergers because I can talk somewhat easily and don’t seem shy at all. But my ability to pick up social cues, extreme sensitivity to noises, and poor ability to make friends and keep conversations going are sure signs. I also get derailed easily and really enjoy alone time. But I sure wish I could connect with people better. There were times in my life when it was much easier to connect with people, but now it’s just really difficult.
Can you please send me the symptoms list from website?
I can’t seem to get it to print for me—perhaps you can send as email attachment…many thanks
I have been observing a teen with this diagnosis and the activity makes me ooze love towards the person. As described there is a lack of eye contact or conversation and twitching and startling. It occurs to me that classical music (Baroque) will satisfy the need for patterning, regularity, metricity and rhythm; and will encourage movement, helping the subject to relax the awful tension. Baroque music is useful in study as it helps with focus.
Mozart is Classical and the exquisite harmony may be extremely beneficial. This is why it is recommended for listening during pregnancy.
I wondered if Ballroom dancing might be useful to help this teen relax and learn to communicate.
My niece says I have this and we are looking for a diagnosis. I am 53 years old so I’m not sure what we can do aboutmit but I need to do something