What is the easiest way to explain aspergers to someone who has never heard it before?

I agree @proud snowflake! Autism presents very differently in men and women

I explained to him…

‘Autism is a condition that affects the way I talk and act with other people aswell as see and hear everything around me.’

…I furthered with…

‘I can get confused by the faces that people make, the way they say something and can find lights too bright and sounds too loud.’

I know that there is much more to it than that, but he is only five-years old. The truth, is that the NAS sum it up nicely themselves with…

‘Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them.’

… but try telling a child that! Though he is very bright for his age, I wanted to avoid using long words such as ‘developmental’ and ‘communicate’.

Aspergers (or Autism) is a medical condition. It's something that's part of a person, and it has an impact on them which is different for everybody that has it. It's not an illness as it can't be cured.

At that point skip the generics and go straight into the specific challenges that the person with Asperger (that the five year old) faces, as that's more personal and easier to relate to, and will also avoid describing generic traits that may not apply.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Superhero-Brain-Explaining-Autism-to-Empower-Kids-254524531673085/

Yessss!!

I started thinking a few years ago that it was strange people didn’t seem to be getting so angry about the environment as me and that people were just telling me to ignore things and I couldn’t understand how people were just ignoring things.  It was quite a revelation to find out just how different peoples senses are.  In the past I’ve walked with my fingers in my ears as discreetly as possible so people didn’t call me weird, and worn a hat pulled down as much as possible to help with brightness and so much information.  I watched a video last week showing the difference in someone with autism walking down the street and someone without.  No wonder other people haven’t got angry or tired out by everything.  

Former Member - it is more than just glasses as it is someone's senses are different (Touch, Taste, Smell, Vision, Hearing as well as Space and Balance).

Then there is the processing of these that can be sometimes different (The cat in the hat is a cartoon character wearing a black/white striped hat but it could also be a small cat sat/led in a Top/Bowler hat).

The best analogy I've heard is that people with Autism/Aspergers wear a different set of glasses to everyone else. We all view the same world, but those with Autism/Aspergers perceive and experience it in a different wayx

Much love <3

I find that so inaccurate. I for one am nothing like Sheldon Cooper. Most autistic people I know - particularly girls such as myself - are nothing like him. He's a caricature. A fictional sitcom character shouldn't be a benchmark for a condition like autism. It's just perpetuating stereotypes. No offence.

It's like everything has been turned up to 11 - sounds, smells, touch, light plus everyone is talking a language you don't completely understand

"Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory" 

That really is the best example that most people would understand

Great, thank you! I especially liked the part when you mentioned about ‘utilising our strengths then we can excel’. I can appreciate the positive message behind it. 

There has been some great suggestions so far! It is so interesting to know how you all interpret your autism.

Is there anyone else on the forum that wants to contribute? Do not be shy.

I always look at life as a whole where everyone is different:-

As someone getting to grips with my lifelong condition as well as getting others observations:-

We have strengths (like superheroes) which includes seeing things differently, hearing things differently, smelling things differently, etc.

We also have weaknesses that can be used against us (taking things literally, trusting, honest) - Sensitive to everything around us.

When we are utilising our strengths then we can excel at what we are doing but our weaknesses are like say a fish being unable to swim in the air and outside the water. Superman and Kryptonite spring to mind but that is for older children.

Have a look on you tube for child friendly videos on the condition.

This is great, thank you!

It means that we communicate on a different level and get ‘really’ interested in certain things. Not sure that my 5 year old daughter would understand this though. I’ll rethink tomorrow when I’m not so tired.

Your casino analogy is interesting. I can certainly see what you mean. Thank you!

For me it's like living in a casino - everything is too loud, too bright, too smelly, to unpredictable, too many people etc. etc. - and any kind of interaction where the outcome is not 100% guaranteed is incredibly stressful along with massive anxiety trying to deal with everything that I can't control.