The Truth About Susan Boyle's Medical Misdiagnosis

Medical diagnostics have evolved, and thank goodness for that. Susan Boyle is one of many people who've been misdiagnosed, only to have that original label be incorrect over time. 

Diagnosed as "brain-damaged" after complications at birth, Boyle fought many stigmas as she was growing up. According to The Guardian, "It was the wrong diagnosis when I was a kid," she said. "I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label." 

Her new diagnosis indicates that she is not "damaged" in any way, and simply has Asperger's, a name for a high-functioning type of autism. WebMD explains that Asperger's has no effect on intelligence, but people with this syndrome often struggle with social skills. As for Boyle herself, she welcomes the correct diagnosis but says that it does not define her. "It will not make any difference to my life. It's just a condition that I have to live with and work through." 

However, it's important to note that in 2013, the APA removed the term as a medical diagnosis in the DSM. As Parents notes, "Asperger's Syndrome now falls under the umbrella term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in which patients could be grouped along a continuum from mild to severe."

Susan Boyle shocked the world in 2009 during her appearance on Britain's Got Talent. The now-famous video clip (with over 242 million views on YouTube) takes us back to Susan's jaw-dropping debut. To say that Boyle didn't fit the traditional star/singer mold may be the understatement of the decade, but her flawless performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" quickly took the world by storm. While she didn't go on to win the competition (instead taking second place with a performance that brought tears to judges' eyes, via MTV), Boyle has still had a highly successful career. 

The voice behind multiple albums, concerts, and media appearances, Boyle is also a three-time Guinness Book of World Records holder. She has entries for: Only British female artist to top both the us and UK album charts with two releases, Oldest female at No. 1 on UK albums chart, and Most successful Christmas album in the UK.

Susan Boyle's success is a reminder to us all that no matter what you medical (mis)diagnosis, it's never to late to dream your own dream.