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To: jughandle
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, not a personality disorder. It is also not schizophrenia. Autism exists on a spectrum from mild to severe. It has a number of characteristics associated with the disorder, including language deficits (either a lack of intelligible speech, or difficulty with understanding speech - pragmatism). Autistic individuals often engage in self-stimming behaviors (such as twirling around, flapping their hands or arms, staring at an object they spin around, or jumping up and down). Autistic individuals typically have very limited range of interests. They typically have sensory issues, such as sensitivity to light, touch, sound, etc. They typically are clumsy in their movements or walking gait. Children with Autism will often engage in parallel play, but rarely engage in direct play with peers. Making eye contact is also extremely difficult for those with Autism.

I have reviewed the literature on Autism/Asperger's and violence. There are no studies which indicate that a person with Autism/Asperger's is prone to engage in planned violence, especially not of the nature involved in this shooting. Autistic individuals may at times engage in spontaneous acts of violence, as what you reported with the child of your customer. Adam Lanza's behavior was planned behavior, and is not that seen in persons with Autism.

However, there is a large number of cases of individuals with either schizophrenia or some form of a personality disorder who have engaged in planned violence that mirror what happened in this case. The Arizona shooting, the Mall shooting in Washington State, the Colorado movie theater shooting, and the Columbine High School Shooting all fit that mold.

291 posted on 01/08/2013 8:50:16 AM PST by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
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To: SoldierDad

Thanks for the information, and thank you for devoting your time to these children, not something I could do.


320 posted on 01/08/2013 5:01:45 PM PST by jughandle
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