Simon Baron-Cohen, the Cambridge University professor who popularized the extreme-male-brain theory of autism, would say that boys’ speech is more egoistic because, overall, boys tend to be less empathic than girls. He backs this up with abundant scientific evidence. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to figure out what they might be feeling comes more naturally to girls. Girls are simply more inclined to read a person’s facial expressions in order to make sure that they are coming across sensitively. Faces tend to be sources of social feedback for girls in ways that they are not for boys. Dr. Baron-Cohen’s research team has discovered that even at birth, female infants will look longer at faces than male infants and prolong mutual eye gazing.Many boys just get perplexed when you try to empathize with them. As an example, I recently had the following interaction with Alan, an eight-year-old:
Alan: In my soccer game over the weekend, the other forwards on my team never passed to me. I was so mad.
Dr. Gnaulati: You were mad because your teammates didn’t pass to you, eh.
Alan: Why are you repeating what I just said? Didn’t you hear me?
This interaction with Alan captures how for many boys, grasping the literal content of their verbalizations matters more than “feeling understood.” [b]Appearing attentive, asking probing questions, and reflecting back what someone is saying may be the empathic glue that cements a friendship for the average female. However, for the average male, following along with and responding to the literal content of what they are saying is what’s deemed valuable. A friend is someone who shares your interests and with whom you can have detailed discussions about these interests.[/b]
http://www.salon.com/2013/09/21/thats_not_autism_its_simply_a_brainy_introverted_boy/
[img] 
[/img]
But it can be the case that the person with autism that they've employed might do something that could lead to the injury of others.It is imperative you stay in employment.
Eh?
I should have added as in working for yourself. Self employment and such like. Keeping yourself busy.
It's kind of clear an announcement of autism at a job interview isnt going to win you the job.
I dont know op's employment record or so. But it can be temptation to do nothing. Which is a bad thing
Clear ? 😉
I just want to say beware of self-diagnosis or being told you've got something by people that don't really know. Ignore the online tests, too, they're just a tool to use alongside other methods.
I was asked if I was an Aspie by a couple of people, was told to do online tests by a doctor, got sent for an assessment, etc. Only to be told I wasn't. Then, a while after, was diagnosed with ADHD.
(This a very condensed version of events!)
Slight upside, that can actually be a downside and a rather steep one at that - Having autism means youre completely exempt from everything work wise. Benefits will be in the region of £20G including housing and other exemptions.(what would be income tax/ council tax, prescriptions and other medical benefits. etc)
in an ideal world yes. assistance is there to provide thos suffering with ASD the ability to live a relatively independent life by provicing funds to pay for services (or allow part time work) to help with things that would normally contribute to overload.
However, we live in aworld where ATOS assess every disabled person. Having a 'hidden' condition is pretty damn diffcult to assess over a 30 minute chat where the nurse does this bit:
Stage 2. Telling other people of your diagnosis and the 'help' they offer by telling you that you dont have it, or implying such that many of the traits and behaviours you feel are normal for everyone.
This is whats happened with my daughter. Diagnosed at 13, awarded DLA and access to other services (bus card, carers benefits etc), then removed 6 months ago as ATOS think she is fully able to function, hold down school, work, and be independent. Obviously she's been cured of autism then?
Still, the appeals process is good fun, ATOS and DWP essentially accuse you of lying at the first and second stages, we've yet to see what the next phase brings.
I was asked if I was an Aspie by a couple of people, was told to do online tests by a doctor, got sent for an assessment, etc. Only to be told I wasn't. Then, a while after, was diagnosed with ADHD.
(This a very condensed version of events!)
I have a similar story. As I've said previoulsy, a NHS diagnosis will only be positive if it has a significant impact on day to day living.
Giving accurate accounts of early childhood is really hard, you only have your perspective, which isn't always correct.
I've been back through the questions, and the autopilot answers I've given compared to the actual reality of what I was like as a kid, before I'd developed masking and coping skills. Vastly different, and it required the help of my mum, who was pretty much in denial about anything wrong with her little boy when I was young.
A formal diagnosis isn't really necessary, Private diagnoses are only for yourself, as a lot of GP's wont recognise it, therefore DWP won't either.
of course, you are who you are, you just now know that you're not a superior being, or an alien, or whatever the stark, out of phase with the world differnce you notice between yourself and others manifested itself in your head. It's just Aspergers, it's a differnt wiring diagram.
However, we live in aworld where ATOS assess every disabled person. Having a 'hidden' condition is pretty damn diffcult to assess
And the process seems designed to make you fail. Either that or it's a postcode lottery.
We recently went through the PIP application. My OH has both diagnosed ASD and a diagnosed physical disability. This manifests to varying degrees; on a bad day it's all she can do to get out of bed, on a good day she's relatively 'normal' but a day of doing stuff can wipe her out for days.
we filled in all the questionnaires (and it's a lengthy old document), had a home assessment (which they cut short by 20 minutes because they were late), then got the decision back including answers they'd made up to questions they never asked, with a disability score of... zero.
Put it to appeal, another lengthy document responding to each reply in the original. Another interview, and a revised score of... zero again.
This is a very condensed version of what happened, the whole process took about six months and by the end of it she was massively stressed and anxious to a point where if we'd pursued it further she'd have been very ill. How they expect people with Autism or other mental challenges to go through this is beyond me.
The piss-boiling thing about it all is, it's not about the money, I'd have understood if she'd fallen just short of the qualifying score, but "zero" is just bullshit. What, we're lying? I've a friend who has similar mental issues and none of the physical issues, and has just been awarded PIP at the higher rate.
^^ this.
it's the big fat zero that hits you.
and you're right, designed so those who are so utterly stressed out, or uotherwise unable to appeal, not appealing, so losing any assistance they once had. Best case is they get family support, worst case is they end up in a box.
Note my comment on male psychiatrists, BPD being a wonderfully mysoginistic diagnosis formed by males.
Hi Tom,
It's not always the point made - but the way you make the point.
J
Still, the appeals process is good fun, ATOS and DWP essentially accuse you of lying at the first and second stages, we've yet to see what the next phase brings.
I think the next stage will be an independent tribunal, who arent held by the governments targets so can rule dependent upon the condition not what the government wants thee dwp to say.
At the first hurdle the dwp with rule against you. This is apparently policy, and not dependent upon the condition itself. A bit like the first offer from an insurance company.
The 2nd is the dwp adjudication officer. Ive yet to see one of these clowns rule against their own department.
Points to note are that the Atos(or whoever now)employ someone who is unqualified to rule on her condition. Certainly no medical degree's and as far as im aware all those employed to make medical diagnosis have not taken the Hippocratic oath, as that itself would prevent a medical profession from ruling in a medical case fully knowing that the diagnosis was false and target driven on company and government orders.
In cases where its a tribunal where the ruling body holds to such oaths the judgement would go in your favour.
During one of my 'interviews' I kindly pointed out that i see such pseudo health professionals that are employed by atos, as being the equivalent of Dr Mengele's assistants.
And should in my humble opinion, share a similar fate.
ATOS are where nurses who can no longer nurse go to die.
ATOS are bastards... worth facing the tribunal IME
[img] 
[/img]
Out of interest. What's the desire/need to obtain an aspie diagnosis as an adult ?
Out of interest. What's the desire/need to obtain an aspie diagnosis as an adult ?
If you're not diagnosed, people can easily discriminate against you, as being a bit odd is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. As Autism is legally defined as a disability, you would be legally protected from discrimination.
Have heard good things about this organisation, you have to pay for membership:
Right, back in from me session. Counsellor asked me some more questions then started the test. I scored high and now have an unofficial diagnosis of Aspergers. She now has to write to the specialist and apply for NHS funding for a further test which will give me an official diagnosis
