# Is Asperger syndrome real?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-asperger-syndrome-real/474288>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 24, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-asperger-syndrome-real/474288 "2008-11-24T18:11:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Batboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Batboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batboy)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-asperger-syndrome-real/474288/61 "2008-11-29T19:23:48Z")

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Ah, my little asterisk was because I was going to talk about the whole ‘pragmatic/semantic disorder’ type stuff. ‘Pulling your leg’, or ‘Getting on top of things’. Missed the edit window now though.

And of course I meant that your engineer may remain UNdiagnosed. Note to self - ‘Read’. 🙂

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-asperger-syndrome-real/474288/62 "2008-11-29T19:41:22Z")

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**Spectre** and **1010…** both make the valid point that the diagnosis requires significant impairment in function (disability) and that of two people with the exact same processing functionality one may be trying to exist in an environment well suited for their functionality and not experience any impairment (may even benefit from that processing style), and one may be trying to exist in a different environment and be significantly disabled.

Hence part of the problem of the elasticity of the label.

Yet there is no completely objective measure to test with. Social function is something that only can exist within a context. A disorder of social function cannot exist in isolation of a community and an attempt to function. The limitation of a true objective standard is intrinsic to the condition.

In the border zones the label is difficult in the hands of the best and most specialized clinicians; by those untrained and self-applying it is just astrology.

The bottom line is to remember that these labels exist to help ease our communication and thinking - as shorthand. They are artificial boxes by which we classify the variety of the human condition; not _who_ each individual _is_. Naming the thing gives us no magical power over it. At best it helps us understand a marginal bit more - that is all.

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**Author:** ![Batboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Batboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batboy)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-asperger-syndrome-real/474288/63 "2008-11-29T19:56:02Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Social function is something that only can exist within a context. A disorder of social function cannot exist in isolation of a community and an attempt to function. The limitation of a true objective standard is intrinsic to the condition.
> 
> In the border zones the label is difficult in the hands of the best and most specialized clinicians; by those untrained and self-applying it is just astrology.
> 
> The bottom line is to remember that these labels exist to help ease our communication and thinking - as shorthand. They are artificial boxes by which we classify the variety of the human condition; not _who_ each individual _is_. Naming the thing gives us no magical power over it. At best it helps us understand a marginal bit more - that is all.

I wish I could’ve put it like that. 🙂 ‘Shorthand’ is just the word I was clutching for.

It’s almost like the ‘Is this a question?’ question.

Q. Is Asperger’s real?

A. If I have it it is.

I’d just like to add that I think a professionally diagnosed and self diagnosed person are probably pleased with their diagnoses for very different reasons in many cases.

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