Talented Scottish singer, Susan Boyle, was recently reported to have Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism. Experts are saying that she is just a part of a whole generation of people who have not been diagnosed early on and have lived their whole lives not knowing why they are just a little bit different from the people around them.
The National Autistic Society (NAS) in Scotland have named them "the invisible generation," a group of older people who like Susan Boyle were unaware of their undiagnosed conditions. Robert Macbean of NAS had this to say about those who were misdiagnosed or undiagnosed early on in life: "A good experience leaves you understanding yourself, understanding what has been happening to you and also allows you to develop your own coping strategies. Unfortunately not everyone gets that experience. Some people, if they manage to get a diagnosis, it is after years of waiting and quite often they are left at the end with a leaflet and as they leave they are told 'don't worry about having a label'. That's all the support they get."
The most common symptoms of Asperger's are problems with social relations, language proficiency and physical activities. They find abstract concepts difficult and could need some help distinguishing facial and non verbal cues in communication. Because each case varies from person to person, it cannot be said if Susan Boyle or those with similar situations as her may need 24-hour care or just a little nudge in the right direction.
Macbean is quick to say though that people with Asperger's can still go on to have normal and even successful lives. Indeed, one needs only to look at Susan Boyle and all that she's accomplished to see that nothing can stand in the way of a person who has a talent to share to the world.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
