(no subject)

I've been invited to a lecture on Asperger's syndrome. This is as good a time as any to talk about a relevant peeve.

A few years back, I announced here on LJ that I probably have Asperger's. I don't say this often, yet on two of the occasions that I did, an Aspie got offended at me for claiming to be one or even to have evidence of it. They thought I was cheapening their diagnosis.

I understand their annoyance. I do respect psychology as a science and the dedication it takes to get a PhD. My four years of college included several psych courses, but I didn't even minor in it, so anyone to call me a psych expert would be generous.

Nevertheless, everything I've learned about Asperger's sounds like me. I even correctly surmised that someone online had it; he said, "You read me like a book." Mind you, I'm not normally good at reading people... as is typical of Aspies.

Most likely, the three psychologists I visited in childhood hadn't really heard of Asperger's yet (my last visit was in 1998). One suggested I had developmental apraxia, which was enough to get me extended time on standardized tests even without a full-fledged diagnosis. Beyond that, they had no labels for me, not even ADD (or "ADHD without hyperactivity," whatever it's officially called now).

I could start seeing a professional again in order to hear him or her say I have Asperger's, but why would I? This late in life, it's not worth the money or the time. I wouldn't get treated or cured if I could.

So please don't begrudge me a shorthand way of describing how I think and act. It works well.