Hello,

has anyone heard about "theory of mind" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind) and whether they are lacking in any area of it, or theirs is unaffected, despite having an adult diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome?  In my assessment 2.5 years ago it was claimed that I had good theory of mind and that this was the reason I couldn't have Asperger's.  This was based not on psychological assessment over a period of time, during which I could be properly assessed, but one single assessment.  However, I was given labels of: OCD, obsessional behaviour, hypersensitivity, rigidity of behaviour, social cognitive issues and chronic generalised anxiety.  It was stated that I had overlap with some autistic spectrum traits, but the fact that I was viewed as 'engaging', 'having humour' and apparently had 'sound theory of mind' meant I could not be given a diagnosis of Asperger's.

Having read the posts of others, it is crystal clear to me that not all autistics fit the stereotypes (or even all the classic traits), many do make eye contact, and amazingly (!) they do actually have humour and can even (shock horror), hold conversations .

Some of you may have read previous posts in which I've talked about females with AS and the fact that they display traits differently, are much more able than boys to learn behaviours over time and mask traits.  This is where I have apparently excelled, even though it is a 'fakeness' I employ, it works too well, and has fooled the professionals.  I just want some anecdotal evidence to back me up when I see an AS expert next month.

I have a list as long as your arm full of traits I have, that fit being on the spectrum, and instead of looking at the bigger picture, they just found lots of little labels for various of those traits instead.  I feel professionals can sometimes be the dumbest of dumb.