Girl of 10 diagnoses herself with Asperger's after reading book

Rosie King realised she had difficulty in identifying facial expressions and making friends like the character she was studying. The book Little Rainman: Autism - Through the Eyes of a Child is designed to educate siblings through a child named Jonathan describing his feelings.

Rosie's six-year-old brother Lenny was diagnosed with Asperger's four years ago and their parents Richard, 43, and Sharon, 38, were keen for her to understand his perspective.

As she and her mother turned the pages of the book by Karen Leigh Simmons and came to a section on Asperger's, Rosie suggested: "I think this might be me." Mrs King, 38, a school lunch supervisor, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said: "We couldn't believe it. It all started to make sense.



"We always knew Lenny was autistic, since he was diagnosed when he was really young. Their behaviours are completely opposite to one another, Lenny barely says a word and is very awkward around people, and lacks any social intent, whereas Rosie has always been highly sociable. She could be a little peculiar, but more than anything we thought she was just a very sociable and happy child."

Rosie was officially diagnosed with mild Asperger's Syndrome thee months ago after a year-long process. The condition is an autistic disorder which can cause communication and emotional problems.

Rosie said: "I like having Asperger's, it makes me different from other people and gives me a great imagination."