[Rachel Bronwyn]

I know I'm going to get shat on for this but I get a little miffed when I see anyone lacking social skills being diagnosed with Asperger's. Asperger's is an austism spectrum disorder and is characterized by autistic behaviours accompanied by poor social skills. Being socially clueless is just that - being socially clueless. It alone is not a syndrome or disorder.

Asperger's pertains to many elements of a person. The original description was physical clumsiness and lack of empathy towards peers while posessing verbal communication skills. Sinse the work of Dr. Hans Asperger, the syndrome has recquired restrictive and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interest, significant difficulties in social interaction, and sometimes atypical use of language in order to give a diagnosis of Asperger's. Physical clumsiness is of less interest to most diagnosticians though it is often the case.

People constantly tell me "I think your boyfriend has Asperger's and/or ADHD." It drives me fucking crazy. Yes, he exhibits symptoms of both disorders. No, he doesn't have either. We have had him assessed. He is quirky. He's eccentric. Ehxibiting a single symptom of a disorder does not equate to having it though!