Asperger's Syndrome

[boxers7]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:06pm

I was asked to audition tomorrow for a show in which the character I'm reading for has Asperger's. Does anyone know anyone with this syndrome? I'm spicifically trying to find out how they speak. All the website's I've found have given me bits of info but I'd love to get a "real person" explanation.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:09pm

It pretty much depends on the person, although I'm sure you could maybe type "Asperger's" on YouTube and get some video of someone who has it.

[Katt]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:10pm

I know someone, but I couldn't tell you much about it. What I can tell you is that they are very persistent. If you tell them that they cannot do something, they will ask, and ask, and ask. They don't really understand what no means. They get angry easily also. They also don't understand that people aren't available to them at all times. If you are busy talking to someone, they will come ask something in the middle of your conversation, such as to come play with them, and they can't understand why you can't.

Or, at least that's what I've seen in the boy that I know. Updated On: 4/27/06 at 10:10 PM

[Atrias]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:11pm

My best friend's sister has Asperger's, so I'm around her a lot. Basically...a lot of people with Asperger's speak very loudly, because they aren't as aware of social cues of others. They also may have a tendency to take statements literally, and don't pick up always pick up other's expressions.

What Katt said, as well. I know another girl with Asperger's who constantly asks the same questions because they're the only topics she knows to converse on. In terms of actual *speaking* her register tends to move around, and her voice cracks a lot. Updated On: 4/27/06 at 10:11 PM

[shira467]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:13pm

Same, my best friend's sister also has Asperger's...

It is technically a mild form of Autism.

Socially awkward, lack of social cues, persistence is what I notice most.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:13pm

I believe it's on the autism spectrum, but I think it's a high-functioning form.

[Katt]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:14pm

I don't know how to describe the speaking. Atrias is right, they can get very loud. His voice is kind of understand. It's not very clear.

Basically, people with Asperger's are very socially inept, because they can't register things that people without it can.

[kyguy78]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:39pm

My younger cousin has it. The speaking loudly thing is dead on with what everyone else has said. But it's not like he talks loudly all the time, just when he's trying to get you to pay attention and he thinks he doesn't have your undivided attention. There are also physical tics that go with it as well. Like when he's concentrating on something, he wrings his hands, etc.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:55pm

I used to work with kids who had Asperger's syndome and as someone mentioned, it is on the autism spectrum, however, much higher functioning. Even with the 'higher-functioning,' the funtioning can still be very varied.

I have a non-verbal learning disability and it is closely related to asperger's syndrome. Originally, I was diagnosed with asperger's. People with asperger's have deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. Sometimes, they are very obsessive and can become engulfed (is that a word?) in a particular subject or interest. Often, people with Asperger's have normal IQ's and sometimes, even higher. Someone once related John Nash (Russell Crowe) from A Beautiful Mind. Of course, he has schizophrenia(sp?) but he has a 'beautiful mind'- for math. Often, those with Asperger's will speak exeptionally well- Proper, well spoken english with vocabulary words that you probably never heard of.
Sometimes, people with Asperger's have strange movements and gestures. However, that is much more common in autism.

I don't want to make this like I'm writing a paper so, if you have any specific questions, you may PM me.

Updated On: 4/27/06 at 10:55 PM

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 12:50am

Updated On: 1/23/09 at 12:50 AM

[Behind_the_Spotlight]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:19am

My best friend through high school had it. For years I didn't know anything was different about her. She had a very obsessive personality and sometimes had a hard time seperating her fantasies from the real world, but I figured it was a phase.

As everyone has said, she tended to often get louder than was socially acceptable. She was not very good with social situations, had a hard time telling people's emotions.

I don't know if this was her specifically, but once she told me she had Asperbergers she also told me that things like bright lights or loud noises or rough fabric overwhelmed her, like she had a heightened sense of them. She hated crowds.

Also, she had a violent streak. When she would get frustrated that people weren't paying attention or agreeing with her, she would smack or scratch them. Once my friends and I were kidding around and teasing her, and she got pissed and hit me really hard in the head with a notebook, then screamed at me and walked away, in the middle of a crowded school cafeteria. I have no idea if violence was a symptom of her syndrome or just the only way she knew how to respond, but it was definitely a part of who she was.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:46am

Asperger's is on the autism spectrum. It's definitely on the high functioning end. Many people with this syndrome seem completely typical. High stress situations, loud noises & unfamiliar surroundings can make a person who is more strongly effected react completely inappropriately. They could get loud, cover their ears, crouch to a fetal position or even leave the situation at inappropriate times. At the same time, they could look and sound just like anyone else.

One little girl I work with tells jokes nonstop. She doesn't understand when it is no longer cute. It's usually not all that noticeable.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 3:11am

Updated On: 7/28/08 at 03:11 AM

[hannahshule]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 6:01am

My cousin has Asperger's. He just turned thirteen, and socially he's making progress but he doesn't act nearly as mature as other kids his age. Some things I can tell you about him,
1. He's Brilliant, he got perfect scores on his MCAS, and gets straight A's in school (he goes to a normal school with an aid in some classes)
2. He's very sensitive
3. He gets stuck on things easily. He's gone through phases where he's obsessed with Madeliene (yes the little French girl), trains, and now he's completely absorbed in studying old American ships and the 1700's. He loves History and is always reading bokks on George Washington or Marie Antoinette. But when you talk to him, these will be what the conversation is about, it never really diverges from this.
4. No Filter, this is an important one. He'll just say what he thinks, and he'll say it loudly.

He's a very sweet boy, and he never acts *angry* when he's at our house.
Good luck with the part!

[peach]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 10:34am

I know a child that has been diagnosed with Aspergers. He is a fully functional, sweet and typical child. What I have noticed with him is routine is very important. Example - his dad took a different direction driving to a regular spot once, to avoid traffic, and it did not sit well because that "is not the way you go to get to place B...etc."

Also, things are very literal. Example (and this is kind of cute, actually). There was a picture in a book of a cat - the cat had a feather in his mouth. When the child's sister was asked "What did the cat eat?" she answered "a bird." Of course, right? The little boy said "no silly, the cat ate a feather."

I also notice the child speaks very carefully. Like he is sounding out every word. his vocabulary and spelling skills are pretty amazing for a little kid.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 10:36am

i'm right on the line between pdd-nos and aspergers and consitered "high functioning autism"
you can pm me if you want.

edit: this is the website i give to people who dont have it to help them understand what it is like to have it. maybe it will help you in your role.

http://www.geocities.com/growingjoel/index.html

Updated On: 4/28/06 at 10:36 AM