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Learning to live with autism in families
The author of "Finding Kansas: Living and Decoding Asperger's Syndrome" Aaron Likens, made a stop at On My Own on Tuesday as part of his Southwest Missouri speaking tour. Likens spoke for nearly two hours to more than 75 people about what it's like to live with an autism spectrum disorder.
Asperger's is regarded as an autism spectrum disorder, with no known case and no cure. Autism spectrum disorders all involve problems with social skills and communication. However, Asperger's is classified as one of the milder conditions -- one in which treatment can help individuals learn how to interact more successfully in social situations.
According to information from the Mayo Clinic children with Asperger's typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics.
Likens said he showed many of these signs during his childhood but was not diagnosed until age 20.
Likens used his own experience to point out how living with Asperger's guided his social interactions and development as a child.
He exhibited obsessive behavior. In kindergarten and first grade, he became obsessed with the weather. He watched it, studied it and talked about it constantly. His teacher and classmates were his best audience.
He got a good laugh when he said recess offered him a chance to get a full 30 minutes of the teacher's time so he could give the teacher the current weather conditions, as well as short- and long-term forecasts.
When he was a little older, Likens began using behaviors to get out of trouble.
" Living life unfiltered on the autism spectrum" caused problems in school, he said, and he ended up being home schooled.
Since Likens spent his early childhood in Indian-apolis, Ind., he became very interested in motor sports and almost made it to the big time but never quite got there. He now lives in St. Louis.
Likens defined racing as "that activity or interest that a person is obsessed with or just won't shut up about." Likens is still involved in racing but he spends much of his time traveling and speaking about Asperger's, which is unusual because social interaction is generally difficult for those with Asperger's.
They struggle with eye contact, expectations of others and use what Likens called aliases to help facilitate social interactions. He said he uses an alias -- role playing -- when he presents a program. He did not at all appear like the normally shy, quiet and reserved person he describes himself to be.
As with his other presentations, Likens told the audience some of the things he hears most at book signings. One of the most common statements he hears is, "Don't worry about it, they'll grow out of it."
He stressed that is not the case with Asperger's. It is a life-long disorder.
Likens also took time to answer questions.
One attendee asked if Likens had difficulty processing information, to which he responded, "More than one thing is hard" to concentrate on. Another person wanted to know if Likens had trouble interacting with other people who had Asperger's. He said he sometimes did because he "wanted to say the right thing" to them.
Members of the audience appeared receptive to the presentation.
Marna Imhoff of El Dorado Springs said she thought Likens did very well. Imhoff's teenage son, Nick has Asperger's and she was amazed he stayed for the entire presentation.
Social interaction is her son's "biggest barrier," Imhoff said, and like others with Asperger's, often gets bullied in school.
Nick said he enjoyed everything about the presentation and wanted to get the CD Likens offered. He borrowed a pen to get Likens' autograph.
Event organizer Amanda Fisher said the turnout was "great" and she was excited "everyone wants to be educated" about Asperger's and autism.
Likens said he enjoys giving the presentations.
"The busier I am, the more people are being reached," he said.
Over the last three years Likens has given more than 380 presentations to more than 12,000 people. He has been from coast to coast and as far north as British Columbia, but most of his presentations take place in Missouri, he said.l