(no subject)

[owlectomy]

"It is not uncommon for me to hear high-frequency noises that go unnoticed by most people. I can sometimes hear the buzzing of the lights, TV, and other things, especially if I'm trying to fall asleep or it's quiet."

(from a K5 story on Asperger's).

I just found this slightly odd considering that for as long as I can remember I believed that everyone could hear the buzzing of the TV and lights...

Comments

Asperger's...

[meaghanchan.livejournal.com]

I got up last night, at around 2 in the morning, because my computer's sleep noise was driving me crazy. It's a very quiet, very high pitched computer buzz- and, unless I'm actively using the computer in such a way that I don't notice it (playing CIV III) I always notice it... It's very weird. I was listening to a story about Asperger's on NPR yesterday, and they were saying that, like ADHD in the early 90s, since Asperger's got added to the DSM IV in 1996, it's being diagnosed in record numbers, and the number is increasing every year. Whether this is because a whole lot of people have this, and it only got recently diagnosed, or because this is the new catch-all "what's wrong with me" diagnosis isn't clear...

I dunno.
I mean, I believe that it exists, but I also think that this country has this growing attitude of blame-something-other-than-yourself... Can't concentrate? It's ADHD. Have trouble dealing with people? It's Asperger's... Maybe, but on some level, we have to take responsibility for our own actions and behavior. Just watching Colonial House, I keep thinking about how unless you were severely physically or mentally disabled, you had to do the work. I mean, it's called a puritanical work ethic for a reason, am I right?

Bah. Sidetrack.
Just listening to that report on NPR, and I don't know whether this is medical student's syndrome or what, you have to ask the question, "huh, wonder if I have that?". I guess I came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter. I've gotten better at dealing with people over the last 4 years by being forced (or forcing myself) to do it. Random roommates will do that for you; so will TAing a class of 30 college freshman. So will forcing yourself to go out with friends when you just want to stay inside.

I don't know if I make sense.

Re: Asperger's...

[takumashii.livejournal.com]

Nah, I totally agree.

I just found it amusing that some of the weirdnesses about myself seem to be associated with each other. I think that people probably are too quick to label as a "syndrome" a collection of weirdnesses that tends to come in a specific cluster...which often are too mild to significantly impair your ability to function.

It's not that I don't try to force myself to go out with other people, you know? It's just... really hard.

Re: huh

[jenstclair.livejournal.com]

That is weird, because I can hear that too. My Dana gives off a buzz when I have the backlight on, and the lightbulbs around the room (we use flourescents (sp?) also buzz.

And every once in a while, I hear *something* that I haven't identified yet. It drives me nuts!