[thoughtomator]

Well, I know people who have similar symptoms which are not part of this disorder, but instead stem from pure self-absorption. So the question is: how do you tell one from the other?

[azcap]

I have one son with Asperger's. The diagnosis is really quite clear for most people with Asperger's because they will have multiple obvious symptoms. To compare diagnosing Aspergers with diagnosing ADD is like the difference between feeling someone's arm and guessing it is a hairline fracture and feeling an arm with broken bone. I know lots of people who are self-absorbed, introverted or rude, but unless they demonstrate the more unique symptoms of Aspergers like repetitive motor mannerisms, extreme sensitivity to light/sound/smell, impairment of facial expression and eye to eye contact, paranoia, rigid adherence to rules, it just means they are self absorbed and rude. Psychiatric disorders with vague and varied symptoms are easiliy succeptible misdiagnosis. Asperger's is not such a case.