Singer Susan Boyle Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome

Singer Susan Boyle has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, the U.K.'s Guardian reports.

Boyle, 52, says it was a "relief" when a Scottish specialist diagnosed her about a year ago. "Some articles have said I have brain damage," she tells The Guardian. "It's been something else. ...I have always known that I have had an unfair label put upon me."

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Asperger's affects people's social skills and ability to communicate. "I struggle with relationships," Boyle says. "I never know if people are genuine. I would say I have relationship difficulties, communicative difficulties, which lead to a lot of frustration. If people were a bit more patient, that would help."

Boyle became famous after her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" on Britain's Got Talent in 2009. She was treated for exhaustion shortly afterwards.

 "Asperger's doesn't define me," Boyle says. "It's a condition that I have to live with and work through, but I feel more relaxed about myself. People will have a greater understanding of who I am and why I do the things I do."