Why are there few females with Aspergers?

[aimeeandbeatles]

I read in various sources that females are less likely to be diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Why do you think this is? Biological? Cultural? Radioactive Monkeys?

 

[GuitarHero]

there are Just As MAny. they'RE Just GenerAlly More shy

 

[.Shane.]

I think there's at least one that posts to this very forum.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Biological.

[google]Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain.[/google]

 

[Tomoyo]

I don't think scientists have discovered the cause of Asperger's yet, and I don't think there's a scientific explanation for it yet. At least, if there is a scientific explanation, my classmates and the people at their labs were very ill-informed since I had to sit through a presentation about some study on Asperger's syndrome every few weeks in high school.

There is a female-only version of Asperger's (Rett's Syndrome) with slightly different symptoms though.

 

[SG-17]

That and it is possible it is just a made up disease so that the drug companies get more money from prescriptions, just like ADHD.

 

[GuitarHero]

That and it is possible it is just a made up disease so that the drug companies get more money from prescriptions, just like ADHD.

ThOse diseases only need a beating ,nOT pillS

 

[silver 2039]

That and it is possible it is just a made up disease so that the drug companies get more money from prescriptions, just like ADHD.

ThOse diseases only need a beating ,nOT pillS

I second this.

 

[Traitorfish]

That and it is possible it is just a made up disease so that the drug companies get more money from prescriptions, just like ADHD.

Yeah, erm, you haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about, do you? Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, is neither a disease- "Syndrome" kind of gives it away, don't you think?- nor is it treated with any form of medication. Next time, perhaps, you should bother to learn something about the subject at hand before opening your mouth, kay?

And, to everyone except SG-17, I'm sorry if that appeared harsh, but my sisters has Asperger's, so I don't appreciate people like him spewing uninformed nonsense like this. It's hard enough for people in her situation without people like him making it worse.

ThOse diseases only need a beating ,nOT pillS

I second this.

And you two aren't even worth wasting breath on.

 

[GuitarHero]

And, to everyone except SG-17, I'm sorry if that appeared harsh, but my sisters has Asperger's, so I don't appreciate people like him spewing uninformed nonsense like this. It's hard enough for people in her situation without people like him making it worse.

okay. Well, my chilhood shrinks all said I was ADD, but I showed 'em all that they were full of bullsh*t with my later school performance, so I'm kinda biased against all that psychobabble. Maybe your sis actually has a legit syndrome, I guess I don't know enough about to make an opinion about her.

But I still thinkl that a lot of autism, aspoberger's, etc... diagnoses are a result of lazy therapists who are eager to just write a prescription and get the hell home. I'm going to unsubscibe now, I've said all that I want.

 

[Brighteye]

Syndromes that are not disease states are barely worth the trouble to identify. May as well stick with calling someone shy.
Sure, Asperger's describes an identifiable end of a spectrum of characters, but I regard it as a person's character, no more and no less.

 

[Traitorfish]

okay. Well, my chilhood shrinks all said I was ADD, but I showed 'em all that they were full of bullsh*t with my later school performance, so I'm kinda biased against all that psychobabble. Maybe your sis actually has a legit syndrome, I guess I don't know enough about to make an opinion about her.

But I still thinkl that a lot of autism, aspoberger's, etc... diagnoses are a result of lazy therapists who are eager to just write a prescription and get the hell home. I'm going to unsubscibe now, I've said all that I want.

ADD and Asperger's don't really compare. The behavioural problem associated with Asperger's are really rather specific, and are primarily social, and so are not easily confused with simply being badly behaved, as, in some cases, ADD may be.
And, as I said, Asperger's is not and can not be treated medically, and can, in fact, require rather extensive attention from therapists, which kind of blows the "lazy therapists" argument out of the water.

Syndromes that are not disease states are barely worth the trouble to identify. May as well stick with calling someone shy.
Sure, Asperger's describes an identifiable end of a spectrum of characters, but I regard it as a person's character, no more and no less.

Try having to deal with someone with Asperger's every day and you may change your mind.
Asperger's is not merely a set of personality traits, it represents a fundamnetal difference in the hard wiring of the human brain. With training and therapy, those with Asperger's can partially overcome social and behavioural issues- which are far more than simple shyness- but for that to occur, it is necessary to identify and understand the syndrome. Merely ignoring it simply serves to put undue stress on both those with Asperger's and their family, teachers, classmates, etc. as well as making it hard for them to overcome their problems and find either academic success or worthwhile employment.

 

[Arwon]

I didn't know we had so many mental health professionals on this board.

Go figure.

 

[Narz]

Biological mostly.

The massive chemical pollution in the bodies of pregnant women effect males more than females. Hence increases in austism, aspergers & other diseases and also miscarriages.

Probably nurture has something to do with it (boy babies get less petting/affection than girls) also but less so than environment.

 

[Brighteye]

Try having to deal with someone with Asperger's every day and you may change your mind.
Asperger's is not merely a set of personality traits, it represents a fundamnetal difference in the hard wiring of the human brain. With training and therapy, those with Asperger's can partially overcome social and behavioural issues- which are far more than simple shyness- but for that to occur, it is necessary to identify and understand the syndrome. Merely ignoring it simply serves to put undue stress on both those with Asperger's and their family, teachers, classmates, etc. as well as making it hard for them to overcome their problems and find either academic success or worthwhile employment.

What might personality traits be other than fundamental differences in the wiring of the brain?
Has anyone shown that Asperger's sufferers have grossly odd brain morphology?
With training and therapy anyone can partially 'overcome' aspects of their character. Of course we need to understand a person's character before we try to change it. That should be part of being a family member or teacher without having to rely on syndromes.

 

[Arwon]

Where did you get your psychology degree from, Brighteye?

 

[Perfection]

They just go undiagnosed and become crazy cat ladies.

 

[Pannonius]

That's all a load of crap made up by some "doctors". Back in the old days, these "syndroms" didn't even existed.

 

[Brighteye]

Where did you get your psychology degree from, Brighteye?

I think that your point is too subtle for me. What exactly are you saying about why there are so few females with Asperger's?

 

[Kozmos]

Made up voodoo disease. I fit in quite well with the symptoms of Aspergers yet I am a perfectly abnormal member of society.