Susan Boyle Reveals Her Life Was Changed After Aspergers Diagnosis

A stock photo of Susan Boyle Getty Images | Bethany Clarke

“Britain’s Got Talent” star Susan Boyle opened up about being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, saying that the diagnosis helped her deal with becoming famous overnight.

She became a viral star about a decade ago on the show when she sang, “I Dream a Dream.”

“I was all set to quit the show,” Boyle told Nine News this week, saying that the fame was about ready to make her quit. “You’ve got a lot of pressure and a lot of different things going at once. It is difficult.”

In 2012, she was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a form of autism.

“That was just a relief for me, though, because for years I thought I had something a bit more serious, you know? So that took it off my shoulders a bit,” Boyle said, adding that she believed she had “quite serious brain damage.”

“[With] Asperger’s you just have to make people aware that sometimes you have to go at a certain pace, don’t be too bombarded with things. At the very beginning I was too bombarded,” she explained.

A young boy watches Britain's Got Talent contestant Susan Boyle on You Tube on April 21, 2009 in Glasgow, Scotland. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The 58-year-old added: “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everybody has something. I mean, a flaw, if you like. But you shouldn’t be ashamed of it. It’s something that you bring out in the open in the hope that you help other people. I like to feel I’m the voice for people who have been the underdog, and I wanted to try and prove myself.”

Boyle said she is trying to make a comeback, saying she will tour the United Kingdom.

Scottish singer Susan Boyle sings the song 'I Dreamed a Dream' in 2010. Casper Christoffersen/AFP/Getty Images

“I just want to keep entertaining people,” she added. “Making albums. Touring. I’m as happy as anything.”

According to WebMD, Asperger’s sufferers are “just as smart as other folks, but [they have] more trouble with social skills.”

“Today, Asperger’s syndrome is technically no longer a diagnosis on its own. It is now part of a broader category called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This group of related mental health issues shares some symptoms. Even so, lots of people still use the term Asperger’s,” says the website.

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Website Autism Speaks says that some symptoms include restricted interests, difficulty with some social situations, attention to detail, focus and persistence in some things, difficulty with communication, anxiety, and depression.

Susan Boyle in another stock photo. Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

“The tendencies described above vary widely among people. Many learn to overcome their challenges by building on strengths,” the site says.