Singer Susan Boyle reveals she has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism

New York Daily News ^ | 12/08/2013 | BY DAVID HARDING

[SeekAndFind]

Susan Boyle revealed she has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.

The Scottish singer who shot to worldwide fame in 2009 with her jaw-dropping performance on "Britain's Got Talent" was diagnosed last year, but has now decided to reveal her news publicly for the first time.

Speaking to the Observer newspaper, Boyle said, "It was the wrong diagnosis when I was a kid.

"I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong and I feel relieved and a bit more relaxed about myself."

Asperger's has an impact on social and communication skills. It also hinders the ability to form relationships and behave appropriately in certain social

[Sacajaweau]

A good person trying to do good things. Her heart is sure in the right place.

[Cyber Liberty]

I guess that would explain the cat and the Tourette’s things.

[McGavin999]

Her voice is absolutely incredible. I hope she finds comfort in the diagnosis and I hope the doctors can help. God sure does some strange things, He will take a perfect talent and put it into an imperfect body. I guess it’s to remind us to look deeper at things because we might miss his hidden treasures.

[svcw]

She seems to be a very sweet person, and she can belt out a nice tune.

[svcw]

Tourette’s is not asperger’s.

[mjp]

It was the wrong diagnosis when I was a kid.

The modern conception of Asperger syndrome came into existence in 1981 and went through a period of popularization, becoming standardized as a diagnosis in the early 1990s.

[silverleaf]

You have got to be kidding.

I knew she had aspbergers from the first time she performed.

[RegulatorCountry]

The drive to utter perfection in a single pursuit takes an unusual person. It takes monomania, near obsession, a singular drive. It takes somone unconcerned or even unable to register the disapproval of others. That describes high-function autism to a tee. So-called Asperger’s Syndrome.

[basil]

I hope she can continue singing-—I kept her performance on my desk top, and every once and a while, I listen to it again.

[SamAdams76]

The drive to utter perfection in a single pursuit takes an unusual person. It takes monomania, near obsession, a singular drive. It takes somone unconcerned or even unable to register the disapproval of others.

Which is something the world could probably use more of. I don't see why we have to label it as some kind of condition or social stigma.

[grania]

Susan Boyle is in THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE, a family-oriented Christmas movie. Her acting is fine, and of course her singing is incredible. What a wonderful inspiration this movie will be to anyone who has been diagnosed with Asberger's!

What a wonderful Christmas Candle to extend to people who share her ailment!

PS: I'd recommend seeing the movie. It's a classic.

[Cyber Liberty]

Thanks. I was certain somebody would come along and fix me on that.

[RegulatorCountry]

Everything has to be a pathology because that requires more state intervention and more pharmacology. They were merely eccentric musical prodigies or scientific geniuses or gifted artists with personality quirks up until a few decades ago. Now it means more money and more control.

[SuziQ]

I knew she had aspbergers from the first time she performed.

I thought the same thing. She says she had been mis-diagnosed as a child as having brain damage. Remember, they didn't have any other sort of slot in which to put kids with that syndrome, so her just receiving the diagnosis last year doesn't surprise me.

[lee martell]

Your reply is very well put, and I happen to agree with you. Many of our best entrepenuers fit that category as well, they do not fear failure, they do not feel embarrassment the way most people do, they may be averagely talented people but with extraordinary tenacity and focus. I could use more of those same qualities in my own life.
Some have speculated that Joan of Arc and Michaelangelo were both high functioning Aspergers individuals.

[Bobalu]

My best friend from Jr High had aspergers.

He could understand anything except how to properly deal with other people.

He looked an awful lot like Maynard from the old "Dobie Gillis" TV show.

I remember we were all marched to the cafeteria one day for an IQ test.

When the results came back our teacher said two members of the class had scored above everyone else...it was me and my asperger buddy.

Everyone was shocked because they all assumed my friend was retarded.

Everyone I have met who had aspergers was extremely smart in some way.

The greatest mind of the 20th century (IMO) had aspergers.

Alan Turing

On computable numbers, with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem.pdf

[silverleaf]

autism is not made-up and it was not invented by the pharma industry.

anyone who lives with an aspie recognizes others on the spectrum. it doesn’t make them unlovable, unloving, unproductive or anything else- but it does make them different, sometimes in difficult ways.

[FreeAtlanta]

My wife says I have it. Not sure what she means by that, but maybe she is right. I do tend to get lost in my projects.

[silverleaf]

I think back in her day there was a stigma to be avoided, as if autism was a form of “mental illness” or “retardation”

Much less stigma now, and younger kids are getting diagnosed in order to get the services and interventions they need.