Were Einstein, Newton Autistic?

Yahoo! News ^ | 5/1/03 | Reuters

[drjimmy]

This is the first time I have seen Asperger Syndrome mentioned on FR.
Asperger Syndrome usually gets brought up eventually on the "there's no such thing as ADD/ADHD" threads, once people who have actual experience with those disorders chime in and the discussion turns to autism spectrum disorders. My 13-year-old son has Asperger's, and because of his lack of social skills I continually have to remind him of the difference between being smart and being a smartass!

[Rabid Dog]

It is painful - to the person who has it and to the family members impacted by it. But my son has brought me much joy and much appreciation for those that must struggle against "the norm".

[Loyalist]

You've hit the nail on the head.

Psychologists and social scientists have imposed a regimentation of the public school system which not even the 19th century Prussian bureaucracy (who developed the model) would have dared attempt.

[Malsua]

I have some wierd things that I do today. My feet rub together on their on. Just happens when I'm laying down in bed ready to doze off. It's weird.

I think we all have some self-comforting behaviors. I almost always jiggle one foot like crazy whenever I cross my leg. One of my kids always tosses his head from side to side before drifting off to sleep. And what about thumb-sucking? I could go on and on...

As a note, when I think about it, it stops. Shrug man, it's really bizarre. I'm not concious of it.

[Travis McGee]

Thank God that some folks chimed in on this thread who have a clue. I thought it would be all braying jackasses. Thank you both.

[Rabid Dog]

Each kid is very different - my son is a voracious reader and a "stat" kind of kid. He loves word play. We keep him away from T.V. - otherwise he would be a bowl of lime jello by now.

Just as a general heads-up. These kids are very gullible and are easy prey for bad guys. They are also easily manipulated because they don't have the social "antennae" required to detect bad intentions.

[RLK]

"What most people with AS find difficult is casual chatting -- they can't do small talk," he added.

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I don't like small talk and trivialities. Many people bark like a trained seal and want social interaction on that basis. It's all right in a seal for a while, but boring in people.

[truthkeeper]

My dad may have a touch of it and I'm pretty socially clueless myself. Like take for instance - right now!

I guess my poor Tanny was doomed...both sides of the family are loaded with anal-retentives.

[KansasCoed]

I, for one, am so thankful to see that so many brilliant people with autistic traits are REPUBLICANS!

[truthkeeper]

My husband said, "Look at those army guys! They're pretending to be legos." Derrick said, "No, dad. I just didn't put them away right."

Now that made me smile. How cute!

[Rabid Dog]

Yeah, delineating the difference between being smart, being a "know-it-all" and being a smart ass is an ongoing discussion around this house and has been for the last 12 out of 14 years.

[drjimmy]

Thank you. Oddly enough, despite the braying jackasses that frequently pop up to declare that all mental problems are caused by bad parenting and that a good spanking is the cure, I have found a lot of comfort at FreeRepublic. I have probably talked more about my son's condition on this website than to many of my friends; I think in part because of the safety of anonymity.

My son recently read Temple Grandin's book "Thinking in Pictures" and wrote a report on it, which probably gave his teachers more of an insight into his condition than all of the teacher conferences we have had to hold over the years.

[truthkeeper]

I am so sorry for your pain. I cannot possibly tell you how much I have learned from my grandson...not that it is not painful at times. Still, how truly blessed I am to have him in my life.

[Travis McGee]

"...all mental problems are caused by bad parenting and that a good spanking is the cure..."

It's an uphill battle, ain't it?

Grandin's name and her book came up in a few of the references I cited. This A.S. diagnosis is new in our family. Not the problem, just the diagnosis! Just finding out about A.S. has been a tremendous help; it has been the code key which has unlocked many secrets.

[goodnesswins]

YES!!!! What you SAID!!!

[truthkeeper]

My son recently read Temple Grandin's book "Thinking in Pictures" and wrote a report on it, which probably gave his teachers more of an insight into his condition than all of the teacher conferences we have had to hold over the years.

A brilliant woman. Her insight into autism is amazing. Isn't her Ph.d in animal husbandry? Also, did she write that book "Life on Mars," or something like that? I hear it's very good...I can't quite track it down.

[Travis McGee]

We are on the same wavelength. Thanks.

[Rabid Dog]

Since you have all the right books, I presume you know that there are often comorbid issues - like OCD and/or ADHD. Also, don't be afraid to try medication or switch doctors. We went through 1/2 dozen of them before we found a combo that worked.

And then there is the issue on who to tell and what to tell...

[Liberal Classic]

This is an interesting post, because it reminds me of my good childhood friend. He was extremely bright and competitive, but also extremely disorganized and tended to get frustrated by details. His clothes were always in disarray, and his school notes were a complete jumble of loose leaf papers and scribbled notes. He was even worse at social situations than I was, which is saying something. I often became the butt of jokes, but sometimes social nuances that I could catch would go right over his head. The thing that caught my attention to your post was when you said you banged your head on your crib. My friend also would smack his head against his desk or some other convienent hard surface when something bad happened, such as when I outscored him on a science exam. After asking his parents they said it was something he did as a child.

I have a temper, but he could fly into a positive rage. He always came up with good ideas and was excellent at thinking on his feet, but would get mired in pratical details that would frustrate him. I was often times easily embarassed and awkward, but new social situations just seemed to baffle him. However, he was my best friend for some years, and we could open up to each other. He always had facinating ideas on the tip of his tongue, and was interesting to daydream with and make up new games. I have always been considered intelligent (a small conceit) which is why he said he liked me. I could understand him, he said, and in his arrogance once told me I was his only friend would could match wits with him. With me he had no trouble talking for hours, but I don't think he was comfortable with new situations.

I do not believe I was as brilliant as he was, but in retrospect I think I had a dose of horse sense he lacked. I don't know if he was an Asperger's child, but it sure sounds like it. It's odd that being gifted on the one hand leads to trouble on the other. I wonder what happened to him, since my family moved away as I entered high school. The last thing I heard is he had been commissioned as an ensign in the submariner corps. Semper Fi, Kenneth, wherever you are.

[truthkeeper]

Great post. Loved that little O. Henry at the end, too.