• Welcome to Autism Forums, a friendly forum to discuss Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, High Functioning Autism and related conditions.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Private Member only forums for more serious discussions that you may wish to not have guests or search engines access to.
    • Your very own blog. Write about anything you like on your own individual blog.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon! Please also check us out @ https://www.twitter.com/aspiescentral

Hey. Woman recently diagnosed with SCD, here

royinpink

royinpink

Well-Known Member
Hey,

I was diagnosed just recently at 26 with SCD (and depression, which wasn't news). I teach English in Hong Kong. I began to suspect I had Asperger's after reading up on it because of two students I have on the spectrum. I found the RAADS-R test online and scored 142. Now my father also suspects he has it.

I'm not sure the diagnosis is correct. I fit into all the categories that make me 'difficult' to diagnose--female, adult, gifted--because I've learned to cope (sometimes not in the best way, but a way that passes for normal...usually). I also still don't get what justifies separating SCD from ASD. It seems ill-founded to me. I won't go into too much boring detail here about diagnosis though.

Otherwise, I majored in Linguistics, have an interest in philosophy, and desperately wish I were doing more fulfilling things and could get my life together.

That's all for now. Hi guys.
 
Last edited:
Just wanted to add, for those who may not be familiar with SCD:

It stands for Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder, and it's new in the DSM-V, where Asperger's and PDD-NOS both got folded into ASD. It's basically the social and executive functioning aspects of ASD with absent or below-clinical levels of other stuff. The psychologist said that formerly people would be "over-pathologized" by the label Asperger's or diagnosed with the vague PDD-NOS and can now have this diagnosis. That said, people who were diagnosed with either of those under the DSM-IV are supposed to keep the diagnosis of ASD.
 
royinpink said:
Just wanted to add, for those who may not be familiar with SCD:

It stands for Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder, and it's new in the DSM-V, where Asperger's and PDD-NOS both got folded into ASD. It's basically the social and executive functioning aspects of ASD with absent or below-clinical levels of other stuff. The psychologist said that formerly people would be "over-pathologized" by the label Asperger's or diagnosed with the vague PDD-NOS and can now have this diagnosis. That said, people who were diagnosed with either of those under the DSM-IV are supposed to keep the diagnosis of ASD.
Click to expand...

Interesting! That's the first I've heard of it, and your definition resonates with me. If I were to go to a specialist nowadays, I could see myself getting tagged with SCD. Unless I didn't complain about anything and used my social skills, in which case they wouldn't be able to tell.

I've found enough common ground with the people here at AspiesCentral that I've embraced the Asperger's label. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is not a pathology! :) It was particularly educational for me to learn about sensory issues and sensitivities.

I like that I can accept how I'm wired. Being able to live according to my own values has eased my depression. I'm a unique person like anyone else, but I know I'm definitely not a neurotypical!
 
Daniel said:
I've found enough common ground with the people here at AspiesCentral that I've embraced the Asperger's label. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is not a pathology! :) It was particularly educational for me to learn about sensory issues and sensitivities.

I like that I can accept how I'm wired. Being able to live according to my own values has eased my depression. I'm a unique person like anyone else, but I know I'm definitely not a neurotypical!
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't mind the label! There are so many commonalities with the former Asperger's--at least for me--and books and forums are still dedicated to that, so I've yet to see the value of being distinguished as SCD. I hope learning more will help me cope with the depression as well. I certainly feel I understand myself (and other people) better when I read up--for instance, how I cannot communicate in the same 'language' as therapists.
 
Welcome Roy :)

Thanks for bringing SCD to our attention. It's always good to learn about any changes to the way those on the spectrum are diagnosed. I'll have to keep an eye out for news regarding it.

This forum is a definitely a good place to help you piece together your own understanding of yourself. Feel free to share more of your stories, and ask any questions you may have.

Also, I recommend taking a look at the recommended resources library:
Resources | AspiesCentral.com

I especially recommend this book for women on the spectrum:
Aspergirls: Empowering Females With Asperger Syndrome | AspiesCentral.com
 
Thanks for the resources! I'm almost finished with The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome and I'll probably move on to Aspergirls next.

Here is an article I found on SCD from a researcher at Boston University: Evidence Weak for Social Communication Disorder
She pretty much sums up what concerns me about the new category:

"Second, there doesn’t seem to be any evidence for the existence of a disorder that is genuinely independent of autism and SLI. Yes, there are children who, by the time they reach school, no longer show any restricted or repetitive behaviors and whose social communication impairments are mild enough that a clinician would say they no longer meet criteria for autism (though they clearly once did).

"...But the histories of such children reveal that they would have once met criteria for these other disorders. From the perspective of how to treat these children, it would be better if they retained their historical diagnoses so that they would be eligible to receive the evidenced-based interventions that address the social, communication and residual language problems that they still have."​

The psychologist told me that it didn't matter that I was over the ASD cutoff for restricted interests because I am 'gifted' and gifted people can be, you know, 'eccentric' and interested in weird stuff. Likewise it doesn't matter that I rock back and forth because my mother didn't notice (or more likely, remember--I've always tried to hide it) it and it must be a "nervous tic". I feel like all the symptoms I had that didn't fit got explained away...
 
Last edited:
royinpink said:
Thanks for the resources! I'm almost finished with The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome and I'll probably move on to Aspergirls next.

Here is an article I found on SCD from a researcher at Boston University: Evidence Weak for Social Communication Disorder
She pretty much sums up what concerns me about the new category:

"Second, there doesn’t seem to be any evidence for the existence of a disorder that is genuinely independent of autism and SLI. Yes, there are children who, by the time they reach school, no longer show any restricted or repetitive behaviors and whose social communication impairments are mild enough that a clinician would say they no longer meet criteria for autism (though they clearly once did).

"...But the histories of such children reveal that they would have once met criteria for these other disorders. From the perspective of how to treat these children, it would be better if they retained their historical diagnoses so that they would be eligible to receive the evidenced-based interventions that address the social, communication and residual language problems that they still have."​

The psychologist told me that it didn't matter that I was over the ASD cutoff for restricted interests because I am 'gifted' and gifted people can be, you know, 'eccentric' and interested in weird stuff. Likewise it doesn't matter that I rock back and forth because my mother didn't notice (or more likely, remember--I've always tried to hide it) it and it must be a "nervous tic". I feel like all the symptoms I had that didn't fit got explained away...
Click to expand...
I'm glad you brought that up. I had a read about SCD, and wasn't sure whether I agreed with it entirely; though of course I don't understand it as intimately as a specialist should.
 
royinpink said:
Hey,

I was diagnosed just recently at 26 with SCD (and depression, which wasn't news). I teach English in Hong Kong. I began to suspect I had Asperger's after reading up on it because of two students I have on the spectrum. I found the RAADS-R test online and scored 142. Now my father also suspects he has it.

I'm not sure the diagnosis is correct. I fit into all the categories that make me 'difficult' to diagnose--female, adult, gifted--because I've learned to cope (sometimes not in the best way, but a way that passes for normal...usually). I also still don't get what justifies separating SCD from ASD. It seems ill-founded to me. I won't go into too much boring detail here about diagnosis though.

Otherwise, I majored in Linguistics, have an interest in philosophy, and desperately wish I were doing more fulfilling things and could get my life together.

That's all for now. Hi guys.
Click to expand...
Hello, and welcome. I would say that it sounds like you are doing OK. Besides, you have the rest of your life to do whatever it is that you are missing. Enjoy the ride.
 
Peace said:
Hello, and welcome. I would say that it sounds like you are doing OK. Besides, you have the rest of your life to do whatever it is that you are missing. Enjoy the ride.
Click to expand...
Well, people say that. Maybe it's an issue of being underemployed (hardly unusual for someone in their 20s, I suppose, but I am increasingly lagging behind my peers), which can be a contributing factor in depression, or so I read. I am good at scraping by well enough that people don't notice, but privately being so extremely exhausted and stressed every day, not making friends, not being able to organize myself or get motivation--stuff like that. It was a big factor in being unable to succeed in college or apply to graduate school. Now it means I need extra mentoring at my job, therapy, etc. Maybe small in comparison to problems others have, but a big deal to me I guess.

I will say that getting the diagnosis and reading up is helping immensely, though. I finally understand conflicts with my boyfriend and misunderstandings with my therapists better. Hopefully things will continue to look up.
 
royinpink said:
Well, people say that. Maybe it's an issue of being underemployed (hardly unusual for someone in their 20s, I suppose, but I am increasingly lagging behind my peers), which can be a contributing factor in depression, or so I read. I am good at scraping by well enough that people don't notice, but privately being so extremely exhausted and stressed every day, not making friends, not being able to organize myself or get motivation--stuff like that. It was a big factor in being unable to succeed in college or apply to graduate school. Now it means I need extra mentoring at my job, therapy, etc. Maybe small in comparison to problems others have, but a big deal to me I guess.
Click to expand...

A great thing I took away from identifying as an Aspie was that I had to give up comparing myself to my peers, especially by age. I would see someone my age with a great job and beat myself up for not doing what they did or having what they had. Now I see that I'm on my own journey, and that comparing myself to and defining myself by others is a losing game--and a sure route to depression! I'm only just now, at 34, learning how to accept myself for who I truly am.

I was also underemployed for a long time, so when I hear about my colleagues buying houses and going on expensive vacations, I still have to remind myself that I'm on my own path, and their actions have nothing to do with my life.

By the way, I loved Linguistics and Philosophy in university! (I majored in Communication Studies, and I gravitated towards the Humanities courses.) I took a great Philosophy of Language class that went through Kripke, Wittgenstein and Chomsky.

After getting my Bachelor's Degree, I ended up going to a college (what Americans call 'Community College') for a two-year Business Marketing Diploma program because I felt like I needed some more practical skills. I had terrible interview skills and little work experience, but a part-time job in retail helped me come out of my shell. Took years of patience and a lot of work on myself to figure out how to get jobs!
 
royinpink said:
Cool! Do you have any areas that interest you especially? Mine are pretty obscure (Peircean semiotics) but I would love to learn more.
Click to expand...

I'm interested in philosophy in general. My favourite is Soren Kierkegaard. (Love the name Soren too.)

I'm interested in linguistics in general. I write poetry which (to me) is speaking using particularly chosen specific words and at the same time saying something meaningful while having it all fit into a coherent creative whole which moves people.

I think linguistics and philosophy play a role in my poetry. At least I like to think it does.

I'm
 
Damn! I almost made it without messing up. I'm not familiar with what you say. But I do love words and word origins. Also the way words sound and the way vowel sounds go together in poetic sentences etc.etc.etc.
 
Hello Royinpink,

welcome to AC, nice to meet you,

I seen you said you were an English teacher in HK, what grade level do you teach? i know a few students who are in school there (Law Ting Pong) one being a student on the spectrum (I know I am old enough to be his mother, but I get along well with any age of aspie)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Threads

Top Bottom