Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 Jill: > Isn't it funny that they always talk about how many boys are diagnosed...and then to come here and read all the posts written by women? Sorry if this has already been discussed, but doesn't it seem much more likely that girls are simply underdiagnosed? We can't all be showing up here? Any opinions? Just wanted to add that it seems now that more and more girls are diagnosed as well, especially adult females who seek evaluation themselves after recognising themselves in descriptions of AS. Very common among females is to not be believed by one's friends or family even WITH an official dx, because one's difficulties may be more subtle, hidden and compensated for. Usually, others have absolutely no idea how much energy it takes to somewhat uphold the illusion of being 'normal'. Many Aspies get burned out before even reaching midlife from this constant exertion. But I also believe being female makes it a LITTLE less difficult to develop social some measure of social skills, communication, empathy etc - IF one bothers to make the effort - than being a male Aspie, who are often twice handicapped in those areas by having a male brain structure (smaller corpus callossum and often lacking language centers in the right hemisphere) and being Aspie on top of it. The participation on forums may therefore not be representative of real prevalence since it is quite possible that females Aspies are more likely to enjoy and be proficient at online communication. (Gross generalisation, of course, with many exceptions of, for example, highly empathic, social and/or linguistically skilled male Aspies, and females Aspies with as much difficulty in those areas as any male.) Inger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 Jill: > Isn't it funny that they always talk about how many boys are diagnosed...and then to come here and read all the posts written by women? Sorry if this has already been discussed, but doesn't it seem much more likely that girls are simply underdiagnosed? We can't all be showing up here? Any opinions? Just wanted to add that it seems now that more and more girls are diagnosed as well, especially adult females who seek evaluation themselves after recognising themselves in descriptions of AS. Very common among females is to not be believed by one's friends or family even WITH an official dx, because one's difficulties may be more subtle, hidden and compensated for. Usually, others have absolutely no idea how much energy it takes to somewhat uphold the illusion of being 'normal'. Many Aspies get burned out before even reaching midlife from this constant exertion. But I also believe being female makes it a LITTLE less difficult to develop social some measure of social skills, communication, empathy etc - IF one bothers to make the effort - than being a male Aspie, who are often twice handicapped in those areas by having a male brain structure (smaller corpus callossum and often lacking language centers in the right hemisphere) and being Aspie on top of it. The participation on forums may therefore not be representative of real prevalence since it is quite possible that females Aspies are more likely to enjoy and be proficient at online communication. (Gross generalisation, of course, with many exceptions of, for example, highly empathic, social and/or linguistically skilled male Aspies, and females Aspies with as much difficulty in those areas as any male.) Inger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 Kate: >Does " ambidextrous " count as " left-handed " ? I'd say it does, since you use both. :-) Inger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 Kate: >Does " ambidextrous " count as " left-handed " ? I'd say it does, since you use both. :-) Inger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 > But I also believe being female makes it a LITTLE less difficult to develop > social some measure of social skills, communication, empathy etc - IF one > bothers to make the effort - than being a male Aspie, who are often twice > handicapped in those areas by having a male brain structure (smaller corpus > callossum and often lacking language centers in the right hemisphere) and > being Aspie on top of it. Along with what Tony Attwood said, I agree. I think there probably are just as many women who are Aspergers but it's not always as easy to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 My daughter and son had similar difficult behaviors but the schools are more tolerant of girls bursting into tears and running to a quiet corner or bathroom than they are of boys who do the same. Also the school did not take my daughters threats to kick people or stomp on their feet seriously but they tried to expell my son for the same behavior. I think that 'sweet little girls' get more tolerance when acting up because they aren't seen as a threat as much as boys are. On 3/31/06, mikecarrie01 <mikecarrie01@...> wrote: > > > But I also believe being female makes it a LITTLE less difficult to > develop > > social some measure of social skills, communication, empathy etc - IF > one > > bothers to make the effort - than being a male Aspie, who are often > twice > > handicapped in those areas by having a male brain structure (smaller > corpus > > callossum and often lacking language centers in the right hemisphere) > and > > being Aspie on top of it. > > Along with what Tony Attwood said, I agree. I think there probably are > just as many women who are Aspergers but it's not always as easy to see. > > > > > > > > > FAM Secret Society is a community based on respect, friendship, support and > acceptance. Everyone is valued. > > Check the Links section for more FAM forums. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 Very interesting article about seeing more women recognizing themselves as having AS. I'm another one. I just figured it out a few months ago with the help of a very good friend, Raven. Information is the best help for me now, although I also feel overwhelmed, and almost wished I didn't know. Analyzing my situation in a new light, I realize practically my whole immediate family is affected. It began with my nephew Tyler, he's 15, and in an arts program, playing drums. My niece, Michele, Tylers' sister, also has AS, but all the attention and therapy is on Tyler. Tyler has always had the more aggressive, violent, behaviour. Michele is very artistically talented also, and is very quiet and withdrawn like myself. I believe my late mother, who recently past away had AS also. It sure explains a lot of her behaviour, that none of us could figure out. My two brothers, and both my children, who are now adults also are affected. I believe there are just as many females affected as males. I think the effects of AS may be different for both, due to the differences in male and female brains. It's seems to be different in different varying degrees for everyone. It's how we as individuals cope with it, and how soon we find out about it. My long journey has just begun, there's never enough time. Interesting revelation for me the knowledge of the energy usage to survive everyday life, it's exhausting, I need a nap. Except if I fall asleep, it won't be a nap. I can't ever get enough sleep. I'm happy to be part of this new found society, I need all the help I can get. Thankyou. Di Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 Hi welcome. > > Very interesting article about seeing more women recognizing > themselves as having AS. I'm another one. I just figured it out a > few months ago with the help of a very good friend, Raven. > Information is the best help for me now, although I also feel > overwhelmed, and almost wished I didn't know. > > Analyzing my situation in a new light, I realize practically my > whole immediate family is affected. It began with my nephew Tyler, > he's 15, and in an arts program, playing drums. My niece, Michele, > Tylers' sister, also has AS, but all the attention and therapy is on > Tyler. Tyler has always had the more aggressive, violent, behaviour. > Michele is very artistically talented also, and is very quiet and > withdrawn like myself. I believe my late mother, who recently past > away had AS also. It sure explains a lot of her behaviour, that none > of us could figure out. My two brothers, and both my children, who > are now adults also are affected. > > I believe there are just as many females affected as males. I think > the effects of AS may be different for both, due to the differences > in male and female brains. It's seems to be different in different > varying degrees for everyone. It's how we as individuals cope with > it, and how soon we find out about it. My long journey has just > begun, there's never enough time. Interesting revelation for me the > knowledge of the energy usage to survive everyday life, it's > exhausting, I need a nap. Except if I fall asleep, it won't be a > nap. I can't ever get enough sleep. > > I'm happy to be part of this new found society, I need all the help > I can get. Thankyou. > Di > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 My niece, Michele, > Tylers' sister, also has AS, but all the attention and therapy is on > Tyler. Tyler has always had the more aggressive, violent, behaviour. > Michele is very artistically talented also, and is very quiet and > withdrawn like myself. I believe my late mother, who recently past > away had AS also. It sure explains a lot of her behaviour, that none > of us could figure out. My two brothers, and both my children, who > are now adults also are affected. I see this as a microcosm of why women have had it less recognised than men. Think about it - same as how youth problems often get noticed more in the loudly disruptive kids than the quietly suffering ones. Men have more often been in disruptive social positions that were noticeable on the outside. Shame on science for concluding there really was a 4 to 1 imbalance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Just to let you know, I have a boy and a girl. Di My niece, Michele, > > Tylers' sister, also has AS, but all the attention and therapy is on > > Tyler. Tyler has always had the more aggressive, violent, behaviour. > > Michele is very artistically talented also, and is very quiet and > > withdrawn like myself. I believe my late mother, who recently past > > away had AS also. It sure explains a lot of her behaviour, that none > > of us could figure out. My two brothers, and both my children, who > > are now adults also are affected. > > > I see this as a microcosm of why women have had it less recognised > than men. > > Think about it - same as how youth problems often get noticed more in > the loudly disruptive kids than the quietly suffering ones. Men have > more often been in disruptive social positions that were noticeable on > the outside. Shame on science for concluding there really was a 4 to 1 > imbalance. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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