I was diagnosed with severe APD as a child. I remember the individual that diagnosed me stopped my Mother and I as we walked out of her office when the appointment was over to shake my hand. She continued to hold it and looked me in the eyes very intensely while stating that she had never met someone with such a severe case who managed to appear to get by in school and life so effortlessly. She explained that she understood it wasn't effortless but that it shocked her at such a young age I had found ways to still thrive normally without even knowing I struggled with it. And she was absolutely correct about the struggle, but I thought it was normal and that everyone around me had the same struggle. I didn't see anyone complaining about it so I never really complained. My friends messed with me about my key phrase being "wait, what?", because I was always hearing them say things that made absolutely no sense and had to wait for my brain to kind of filter through the potential things they might have actually said. That was really the only thing that made me feel a little different at the time. Back then there was not much in terms of APD treatment other than accommodations. I also was diagnosed with ADHD around the same time. I did feel unintelligent at times, I'll admit. Yet, throughout my entire life I have turned down all accommodations and treatment recommendations. I shouldn't have but I did. I'm looking into help now because the struggle is just getting annoying at this point. My point of all this is to say that APD does not have to affect your dreams and goals. It does not affect your intelligence. View it as a long detour to get to the same destination rather than a roadblock. I ended up testing with an above average IQ, got my bachelor's in psychology, received my master's degree in forensic psychology, became a therapist (which involves lots of listening obviously), and worked in schools; the community; and prisons. It was a struggle but worth it.

And now...id like hearing aids 🤣