Asperger's Syndrome in the Adult Population

Preschoolers turn into high school students, and from there they become adults. What does life hold for the young adult and the aging adult with Asperger’s Syndrome? There is no doubt that gainful employment, marriage, and also parenthood are all part and parcel of the experiences an individual with Asperger’s Syndrome may claim. Granted, she or he will have to work a lot harder to make them come true, but they are indeed achievable goals, if the individual is motivated to reach for them.

This of course opens up the question what is considered normalcy in adult life experiences. For some the litmus test is employment, while others consider it functioning independently in society and even becoming involved in a marriage relationship that further cements one’s relationships in that society. To others this is the wrong way of looking at the way adults interact in society today, and instead the focus for them is on the way the individual with Asperger’s Syndrome feels, when it comes to describing her or his interactions.

Critics of this approach have cited the many problems associated with the subjective consideration offered by the Asperger’s Syndrome patient. After all, if she or he were to have recently been rebuffed by a love interest, will the individuals rate their normalcy and societal integration as highly than they would if a lover had recently accepted them? At the same time, there is also the alarming rate of secondary mental illnesses that seem to come to light in the lives of those with Asperger’s Syndrome. There is bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and also multiple personality disorders that have been diagnosed.

It is hard to tell if these are more prevalent in adults with Asperger’s Syndrome or simply more easily diagnosed since these adults are more likely to seek out physician and counseling help than others. Yet it also begs the question how the term “normal” could be adequately defined so as to pertain to the experiences the average adult has.

The haggling over terminology notwithstanding, there are some recognized traits that do not go by the wayside, even as the child with Asperger’s Syndrome turns into an adult with AS. First and foremost are group interactions. Although adults are a lot more subtle at making their discomfort at that which is different known, there are still situations with an individual with Asperger’s Syndrome is the odd man out. This may then lead to depression in the individual as well as other, related, expressions.

Conversely, those who are in tight control of their Asperger’s Syndrome may turn it to their advantage by becoming an eccentric and instead of generating pity are actually generating envy and become much sought after in social circles. There is no doubt that this approach has its merits and that it has served well for many adults with AS, no matter the degree of the condition. Paired with a job or profession that capitalizes on their area of interest, these individuals will find that many doors open for them; doors which are usually considered closed to so called normal adults.