Susan Boyle reveals Asperger's diagnosis

Dec. 8 (UPI) -- "I was told I had brain damage," Susan Boyle said of the childhood diagnosis she has carried with her until now. "I always knew it was an unfair label."

The Scottish singer -- whose 2009 Britain's Got Talent performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" led to a singing career and a memoir -- told The Observer over the weekend that she recently sought the help of a specialist.

"Nobody told me to. I thought I had a more serious illness and couldn't function properly," she said.

Boyle said that she performed well on intelligence tests, but the doctor diagnosed her with Asperger's, a developmental disorder that often impacts social skills and ability to read emotions.

"Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong and I feel relieved and a bit more relaxed about myself," the 52-year-old said.