Aspergers in Adults

Aspergers does not only occur in kids and teens, but is also diagnosed in adults.

The causes of Aspergers have not yet been fully clarified, although a genetic component is likely. To make the diagnosis, tests are performed to assess social ability, fluctuations in attention, attention to detail, communication, and fantasy.

Although Aspergers has often been considered a disorder, it may be better to describe it as a personality style because of the fact that the people who have it tend to be social loners.

Adults with Aspergers can have a variety of characteristics, some of the more common ones include:

• A-rhythmic speech or abnormal speech rhythm

• Average or above-average intelligence

• Can sometimes appear to have an inappropriate, immature or delayed understanding of sexual codes of conduct

• Clumsy or exaggerated gestures when talking

• Difficulty with high-level language skills (reasoning, problem solving, being too literal)

• Difficulty with social communication

• Difficulty with social interaction

• Diminished empathy for others

• Extreme focus on a particular interest or hobby

• Facial expressions are flat

• Flat or monotonous voice

• Great attention to detail

• Has one-sided eating habits

• Having a hard time reading other people or understanding humor and metaphorical use of language

• Highly sensitive to criticism

• Inability to see another person's point of view

• Lack of emotional control, particularly with anger, depression, and anxiety

• Lack of empathy

• Lack of social imagination

• Lacks "common sense"

• Lacks sensitivity to nonverbal cues and social codes

• Little or no facial expression

• Love for routines

• May experience difficulties in partnership

• May live a withdrawn life

• Motor clumsiness

• Neurotic habits or tics

• Not emotional

• Not taken seriously or misunderstood in face-to-face situations

• Not well able to read another's facial expression

• Oversensitive to particular sounds

• Perfectionist

• Problems engaging in "small talk"

• Problems with distribution of responsibilities especially in a marriage

• Rigid day or week schedule (repetitive patterns)

• Rigid social behavior because of an inability to spontaneously adapt to a myriad of social situations

• Skeptical and reluctant to change, may have difficulty changing from one activity to another

• Strict adherence to routines which can lead to anxiety when something unexpected happens

• Strong interest in arcane subjects (either scientific, occult or trivial)

• Talks too much – or talks too little

• Tends to avoid eye contact

• Verbal expression can appear to be highly sophisticated

• Very honest

Treatment for Aspergers coordinates therapies that address core symptoms of the disorder, including poor communication skills and obsessive or repetitive routines. While most clinicians agree that the earlier the intervention, the better, there is no single best treatment package. Aspergers treatment resembles that of other high-functioning ASDs, except that it takes into account the linguistic capabilities, verbal strengths, and nonverbal vulnerabilities. A typical program generally includes:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy to improve stress management relating to anxiety or explosive emotions, and to cut back on obsessive interests and repetitive routines
• Medication, for coexisting conditions such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder
• Occupational or physical therapy to assist with poor sensory integration and motor coordination
• Social communication intervention, which is specialized speech therapy to help with the pragmatics of the give and take of normal conversation
• The training of social skills for more effective interpersonal interactions

There is some evidence that as many as 20% of children with Aspergers "grow out" of it, and fail to meet the diagnostic criteria as adults.

Living With Aspergers: Help for Couples

Good Jobs for Aspergers Teens

Question

What are some good jobs for a high schooler with Asperger's who can't work with the general public, for example, can't work traditional retail jobs, etc.?

Answer

If your Aspergers teen cannot function in a fast-paced job like McDonalds or a Movie Theater, then here are some other job options:

1. Babysitter

2. Building maintenance (e.g., painting, replacing light bulbs) in an apartment complex, hotel or office building

3. Corn detasseling

4. Elderly care

5. Finding insects and worms to sell to the local bait shop

6. Game tester (you get paid to play video games)

7. Handcrafts (e.g., wood carving, jewelry making, ceramics, etc.)

8. Janitor jobs (e.g., mopping, sweeping, cleaning)

9. Landscaping work

10. Lawn and garden work

11. Lawnmower repair

12. Life guard

13. Newspaper route delivering the local newspaper

14. Pet sitting/grooming

15. Plant care (e.g., watering plants in a large office building)

16. Pool cleaner

17. Pooper scooper

18. Refuse and recyclable materials collector

19. Re-shelving library books

20. Restocking shelves (e.g., grocery or department store)

21. Small appliance repair

22. Working as a farm hand (e.g., bailing hay)

23. Working in a recycling plant (e.g., sorting jobs)

24. Working in an animal shelter (e.g., cleaning cages)

25. Working in a warehouse (e.g., loading trucks, stacking boxes)  

Highly Acclaimed Parenting Programs Offered by Online Parent Support, LLC:

==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's

==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism

==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance

==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook

==> Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book

==> Highly Effective Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

____________________

Do you need the advice of a professional who specializes in parenting children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders?  Sign-up for Online Parent Coaching today.

____________________

Aspergers Adults and Self-Medication

Question

My son is 22 and self medicates with marijuana, he has tried prescription medication but doesn’t like the side effects. He is living at home at the moment (has had a few attempts at living away from home). How do I handle this? He says he wants to give up, but will do it his way and wants no involvement from me. However, I cop the brunt of his rage when he hasn’t had his marijuana. Would appreciate any advice…

Answer

Self-medication is the use or abuse of drugs and/or alcohol in an attempt to relieve physical and/or emotional problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, emotional pain, bipolar disorder, Aspergers, etc.). Self-medication is a temporary fix, because it treats the symptoms of the problem, not the problem itself. When young adults with Aspergers use drugs other than those that health-care providers prescribe, the underlying problem goes untreated – and possibly worsens! Unfortunately, self-medicating is often nothing more than short term gain WITH long term pain.

Cannabis is the second most common drug used to medicate unwanted symptoms associated with the Aspergers condition, for example:

• anger management problems

• controlling feelings such as depression, fear or anxiety

• high intelligence, and sometimes too smart for their own good

• inability to listen to others

• inability to think in abstract ways

• inflexible thinking; lack of empathy

• lack of managing appropriate social conduct

• repetitive routines provides feelings of security

• specialized fields of interest

• stress when their routine suddenly changes

• visual thinking

Having said this, we should consider the research on “marijuana use” rather than simply offering opinions about the pros and cons.

THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, increases serotonin when smoked in low doses (similar to SSRI antidepressant, such as Prozac). But at higher doses, the effect reverses itself and can actually worsen depression and other psychiatric conditions. Researchers have observed an antidepressant effect of cannabinoids and an increased activity in the neurons that produce serotonin. However, increasing the cannabinoid dose beyond a set point (which is difficult to determine) completely undoes the benefits.

The antidepressant and intoxicating effects of cannabis are due to its chemical similarity to natural substances in the brain known as "endo-cannabinoids," which are released under conditions of high stress or pain. They interact with the brain through structures called cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Studies demonstrate that these receptors have a direct effect on the cells producing serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that regulates the mood. However, since controlling the dosage of natural cannabis is difficult (particularly when it is smoked in the form of marijuana joints), using it directly as an antidepressant is very risky. And in most cases, the well-meaning cannabis ‘user’ slips into the ‘abuser’ over time (since this drug is addictive), thus crossing the line into ‘depression-aggravation’ rather than ‘depression-alleviation’.

We’ve talked about depression so far, but it should be noted that the same holds true for anxiety. Small doses of cannabis alleviate anxiety (temporarily), but exacerbate feelings of anxiety in larger doses. In addition, the same holds true for other illegal drugs (e.g., the use of cocaine would be a temporary “fix” at best, only to worsen symptoms in the long run).

Another complicating factor for young Aspergers adults who use/abuse cannabis is a little known phenomenon called “amotivational syndrome.” This presumed psychological condition is believed to be a direct result of regular cannabis abuse and leaves those affected with a reduction in (a) motivation and (b) capacity for the usual activities required for achievement and success in today's world. Some young adult ‘Aspies’ are, by default, slightly-to-mostly “unmotivated” to take on adult-like responsibilities anyway. Thus, when “amotivational syndrome” is added to the mix via marijuana abuse, the adult’s eventual independence and self-reliance is even more compromised.

It is possible for an experienced marijuana smoker to titrate and regulate the dose to obtain the desired acute effects, and at the same time, minimize undesired effects. Thus, the question becomes: “Do the advantages of self-medication with marijuana outweigh the disadvantages?” Clearly this is personal question that only the pot smoker can answer himself or herself.

It should be noted that smoked marijuana is not a medicine since it has failed to pass the scientific trials needed for it to go to market. As a result, marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance as defined by the Controlled Substances Act. Therefore, abusers run the risk of legal problems in addition to emotion and health problems.

What can parents do (assuming they want to be proactive about stopping drug abuse)?

First, educate yourselves completely about drugs and drug abuse.

If your son's drug use has been purely recreational, you may only need to clearly state your position regarding abstinence and then closely monitor his behavior. If your son is more deeply into substance abuse, seek the advice of a behavioral health or substance abuse professional.

Don't show any emotions of anger or fear, and don't lose your good poker face -- but do send a strong message that drug and alcohol use is not acceptable. Don't lecture, be clear, and keep your message short and to the point.

Restrict or eliminate use of the car, take away cell phones, etc., until your son is committed to being "clean and sober."

Find out where your son is getting the money to purchase drugs (e.g., your ATM card, wallet, money you give for an allowance, lunches, gas, etc.). Don't be surprised if you find he is stealing from you or others to finance his drug use.

Purchase urine-screen kits to use at home and test your son randomly. If he refuses the screens, tell him the following: "If you choose to use drugs, you'll choose the consequence – you will have to live elsewhere."

If your son continues to use drugs, follow through with this consequence.

This sounds like tough love – because it is. Understand this very clearly: If you are allowing your son to use illegal substances in your home – or if you are using your money to purchase the drugs for him, YOU run the risk of legal ramifications as well. Explain this to your son by saying, “You’re not the only one who could get into trouble with the law if you get busted with pot– it could affect me too!”

Launching Adult Children With Aspergers: How To Promote Self-Reliance

Inappropriate Responses from Aspies

The trouble is this: Aspies (i.e., people with Aspergers) can't lie if asked a direct question – they suffer from complete honesty. In addition, they often take other’s statements very literally. It's often remarked by neurotypicals or NTs (i.e., people without Aspergers) that Aspies respond in an inappropriate manner, but what does that actually look like? Here are some examples of “social mistakes” made by Aspies:

NT: Look, here’s a picture of my baby.
Aspie: Woo, he looks like Orville the Duck, doesn’t he?

NT: Does my butt look big in this dress?
Aspie: Yes it does, but no more than usual.

NT: So, how would you like your eggs?
Aspie: Unfertilized.

NT: Did you notice how I've kept my youthful complexion?
Aspie: Yeah, so I see ...all spotty.

NT: I've changed my mind...
Aspie: Excellent, so does the new one work better?

NT: Say, haven't we met before?
Aspie: Yes, I'm a nurse at the VD clinic.

NT: Sweetheart, do you think I'll lose my looks as I get older.
Aspie: With luck, yea.

NT: How many people work in your office?
Aspie: About half of them.

NT: Isn't my baby beautiful?
Aspie: That's a baby?!

NT: (Waiter) Table for how many?
Aspie: Yes.

NT: (Store Clerk) Will there be anything else?
Aspie: Why? Wasn't this enough?

NT: (Teacher) Why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
Aspie: You told me to do it without using tables.

NT: (Teacher) George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now do you know why his father didn’t punish him?
Aspie: Because George still had the axe in his hand?

NT: Are you chewing gum?
Aspie: No, I’m Michael Smith.

NT: (Customer) I want to buy a dress to put on around the house.
Aspie: Yes, Madam. How large is your house?

NT: I've got a surprise for you, honey. I brought a friend home for dinner.
Aspie: Who wants to eat friends?

NT: (Girlfriend) May I hold your hand?
Aspie: No, thanks. It isn't heavy.

NT: Do these stairs take you to the second floor?
Aspie: No, you'll have to walk.

NT: How are you?
Aspie: How am I what?


* All in the name of fun - don't be offended :)