Reader’s Question

I am a 21-year-old student, and after researching the topic I’ve come to wonder whether I might have Asperger’s Syndrome. I am very much a “loner,” and I find that I must have large periods of time to myself to think and read. I find it very difficult to relate to others. I’m horrific at chit-chat, and I don’t feel I have much in common with others. I can have successful discussions on politics and philosophy because these are two topics in which I am very interested and to which I dedicate the lion’s share of my time and thought. However, I am often accused of being argumentative and intolerant, and of giving “monologues” and talking “at” people. I am not good at making friends or maintaining friendships.

I am an extremely picky eater, and I have never met anyone as picky as I am. I have always felt that this is because I have a strong sense of taste and, especially, smell. I also tend to be very “streaky” in my food choices. For example, I once ate nothing but bagels and Coca-Cola for six weeks. A few months ago I came upon the term “resistant eater,” which seemed to describe my situation well and the definition hinted at the likelihood that such people might have autism or Asperger’s.

I’m told that, as a child, I would break my toys into their constituent pieces in order to study them and arrange them in various ways around my room. I remember also that, on field trips in elementary school, I always photographed things I found interesting — tile patterns, chandeliers, and so on — but my parents apparently thought it was odd that I didn’t photograph myself or others instead.

There are other aspects of my personality that make me wonder. I don’t like having to call people on the phone, and I usually have to write out a rough script before I can do so. I’m a perfectionist, don’t like physical contact with others because it is often unpleasant and I don’t know people’s intentions, and I don’t like to discuss emotional matters or to make eye contact. I have a very good long-term memory. I listen to the same pieces (classical music) and watch the same movies many times in a row, which I think is similar to my tendency to eat only the same small number of things. I am extremely cleanly and have been accused (albeit incorrectly, in my view) of having OCD.

Any thoughts?

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

What we’ve been learning over the past several years is that there is a fairly broad “spectrum” of conditions that reflect varying degrees of developmental delays and idiosyncratic tendencies and preferences. Full autism is at the far end of the spectrum and is characterized by delays in language acquisition and facility, profound impairments in the ability to engage in integrated social interaction, and a marked preference for stereotypic and repetitive behaviors. Asperger’s Syndrome lies along the spectrum and typically does not include significant impairments in language and communication skills or other cognitive functions. Its main feature is the impairment in integrated social interaction. Some features of OCD and some of the autism spectrum disorders share enough in common that it can become difficult to differentiate between them. Also, some individuals who tend to be introverted display certain tendencies and preferences that bear some resemblance to features of the autism spectrum disorders. These include spending a lot more time by themselves or in their own mental world as opposed to engaging with others and being preoccupied with values, principles and philosophies as opposed to more common practical concerns.

Most of what you describe does not sound like either Autism or Asperger’s Disorder. But it’s best to visit with a counselor with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of developmental disorders to get a clearer picture about the nature of your struggles. For further information about Autism and Asperger’s, there are some great website available, such as autismspeaks.org or others you can find via the Open Directory entries on Autism or Asperger’s.