Expert: Paul Johnson - 4/24/2010

Question
Hi,
 Is it possible to have a very mild form of autism that isn't as full blown as having all the symptoms of aspergers? I only ask because I see some of the symptoms in myself.
  Ever since I was young I was always shy child. I had trouble giving eye contact, introducing myself, and initiating conversations. I did most of this since I was shy. When I started school I would be so anxious I would end up crying for the first few hours. I was able to make friends like normal kids, but it isn't like i was a social butterfly.
   As I progressed, some of my social anxiety still lingers. I was able to give eye contact it just wasn't a natural thing. My mom would often remind me to do things that my other siblings would just naturally do. I also had bouts of obsessions with certain topics. Like in 5th grade when i was getting a puppy, most of what I talked or researched had to do with puppies. I was not just focused on the dog, but it was a main concern. Then in seventh grade I began to research twins. I would learn all this info on twins and tell my social studies teacher. Don't think I just talked about it all the time, it was more of an interesting thing to me.
 Recently in ninth grade we were assigned a research paper, which I picked twins for. I felt the need and interest to go very in depth and my paper wound up being 30 pages wen most kids were 10 pages.
  I also think it is pertinent to share that I have a moderate form of OCD since They grade that is being treated with antidepressants. My main symptoms presented with obsessions over school work. They are currently under control
   I also have been told that I am a bit insensitive in situations. I let out a quiet giggle in movies where a person has just died or another tragedy. I don't do this because I find it funny, it just happens. I am also very logical and can rationalize situations into having a solution I find appropriate that most would reject.
  I don't think I have aspergers, but do feel I possess low grade symptoms  It just seems like I lacked and eventually taught myself social norms. Like eye contact, shaking hands, saying socially appropriate things, and so on. So, what do you think about my behavior, could it be related to aspergers syndrome?
     Thanks for your help,
          Meghan

Answer
Hey Meghan,

Thank your for your personal and interesting question.

You did not leave your age as I am left to infer a few things about you. The things that are stated in your question basically answers your question.

Like most adults that are diagnosed as an adult there were so many things that you did to intuitively adjust and cope with social demands and the sensory needs. You speak about making adjustments. Naturally the better you are able to adjust and cope the lest likely you will think of your self as having a disorder; That would be a contradiction.

Conversely there were something that occurred in your life in reaction to others that has caused you to contemplate your placement along he Autism Spectrum of Disorders. You now see your self as maybe yes but at a milder form. However if you consider the spectrum literally that would only mean that you are on the high end of the Autism scale.

The most relevant criteria for you to consider, is the one that has the greatest implication politically: Does your ASD symptoms allow you to avoid notice as being different from the general population of non-Autistic individuals or Neurotypicals. If the answer is yes, your ASD is too high functioning for an Asperger's diagnosis. Allegedly people like Steven Spielberg and
Bill Gates would fall into this category because they exhibit ASD type behaviors and thoughts like us, but their actions does not interfere with their functioning in human interactions.

Lastly I think the reason you are asking is becuase you have begun to notice some issues or concerns in your life that make you think about a classification for your behaviors. If this is true a clinician might conclude this as evidence of a disorder and give you a diagnosis of A.S.