My oldest son has Asperger's as well, and while I struggled my whole life with learning, he was able to skate by in education with no difficulty whatsoever .
So, I have to conclude that I have some learning disability as well, while he does not.
She's correct. However, that doesn't mean that people with AS can't also have learning disabilities. I have dyscalculia and dyslexia as well as Asperger's. Some think there may be a link between ASD and things like learning disabilities, other neurological conditions and mental illnesses, and others argue there is no link at all.
hi xudo, you are using the US/DSM version of learning disability which means 'a specific disability in some part of learning which is very different to your actual intellectual capacity' [hope ive made sense,ive had my night meds].
'learning disability' in the UK only refers to what the US call intellectual disability, dyslexia,dyscalulia and so forth are refered to as learning difficulties here [UK].
aspiegirl75,if you were in the UK you might have learning difficulties if you struggled in education,but its different to having the UK definition of learning disability-which means your IQ is under 70 and you have the functioning and mental capacity to match, the OP and a few of us replying to him are from the UK which is why there is a bit of confusion as most people on here are american.
heres an example as to how aspergers or autism is not a learning disability-
mencap;a charity for people for with learning disability do not support autists with aspergers,they only support autists who have an additional learning disability.
social services learning disability teams for example will only support people who have LD and functioning/mental capacity to match,this is why aspies can only get into the social services system via the mental health team,or an additional team [is there one for physical and sensory?] i think there are in some places and aparently some places in the UK have an autism team, unfortunately not rolled out everywhere though.
the definition of aspergers/high functioning autism is simply 'autism with an IQ over 70'.
When she said it, I got rather defensive and said that contrary to popular belief I am NOT retarded, and I've been called that and a LOT worse on various forums over the years.
i have the UK definition of learning disability and i am not retarded,i hate being refered to as it because i am not mentally slow i just cant handle information like other people, i process much much less,get overloaded easily by information,have a low vocabulary,and struggle to understand other peoples every day language without my online dictionary and thesaurus handy,i also struggle with basic functioning from toilet training to eating to speaking to regulating my behaviors plus i am blissfully unaware of other people around me which is a throw back both to my severe autism and my mild learning disability.
i also need both significant verbal and physical help with personal care, i have to have people do most tasks for me as i struggle to cope with so many things and and i cant use public transport because of my behaviors so i have a motability car;another aspect of learning disability [and classic autism].
however...i am not retarded,i see freedom in being who i am, i dont feel limited i feel free to be me and free to do what i want i dont feel i can be stopped.
'retarded' is an outdated american definition which is why it is now called intellectual disability in the US.