[Air-L] do we all have asperger's?

[RTMahon at aol.com]

Seems there are at least two primary issues at work here.  First, is  the use 
of Asperger's in a clinical setting.  The expert witness in the  case cited 
below was not talking about individuals who use computers being  prone to AS, 
or computer use constituting AS.  Let's not get into  ecological fallacy, 
right?  In my reading she was talking about computer  use being a possible 
manifestation of AS.  This requires matching the  individual to his or her context and 
specific behaviors.  When is the  computer used, how long and for what 
purpose?  I have worked with  individuals in clinical settings who have Asperger's 
and the diagnosis in my  experience is a useful tool for critically examining 
and changing  behavior.  The use of a computer to play a single game and only a 
 single game or to look at one or two websites only might be useful 
information  when making a diagnosis or assessment.  The social isolation that results  
from computer use, meaning a lack of face to face interaction with other  
individuals, may exacerbate or sustain difficulties connecting with other people  
or expressing empathy.  Again, that depends on the individual, and does not  
mean that all individuals who use computers have or may have Asperger's  
syndrome.
 
Secondly, its seems like folks are touching on normative behavior on a  
number of levels.  Asperger's is sometimes characterized by unusual use of  
language, inability to 'filter' social unacceptable language, or is  considered a 
form of Autism.  Each of these characterizations incorporate  ideas about 
normative behavior.  Interestingly, Pervasive Developmental  Disorders like Autism 
have become so common in some settings that the 'disorder'  itself has become 
normative.  This raises a whole host of issues about the  validity and utility 
of these diagnoses, but does not really relate in any way  to general 
statements about computer use as normative.
 
It sounds like some of this may be a defensive emotional reaction  to 
feelings or insecurities about daily computer use.  Where is the  context?  Where is 
the self-critique?
 
Ryan Mahon

 



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