Asperger's Syndrome

[ColdFront77]

For information about Asperger's Syndrome:

http://www.aspergerinfo.org/ASCharacteristics.htm | http://www.isn.net/~jypsy/index.html


Einstein and Newton 'had autism'

Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton may have suffered from a type of autism, according to experts.


Researchers at Cambridge and Oxford universities believe both scientists displayed signs of Asperger's Syndrome.

Many people with Asperger's are often regarded as being eccentric. They sometimes lack social skills, are obsessed with complex topics and can have problems communicating.

This latest research suggests that Einstein, who is credited with developing the theory of relativity, and Newton, who discovered the laws of gravity, had these traits to varying degrees.

According to the researchers, Einstein showed signs of Asperger's from a young age.

As a child, he was a loner and often repeated sentences obsessively until he was seven years old. He was also a notoriously confusing lecturer.

Later in life, the German-born scientist made intimate friends, had numerous affairs and spoke out on political issues.

'Passionate'

However, the researchers insist that he continued to show signs of having Asperger's.

"Passion, falling in love and standing up for justice are all perfectly compatible with Asperger's Syndrome," Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge, one of those involved in the study, told New Scientist magazine.

"What most people with Asperger's Syndrome find difficult is casual chatting - they can't do small talk."

The researchers believe that Newton displayed classic signs of the condition.

He hardly spoke, was so-engrossed in his work that he often forgot to eat and was lukewarm or bad-tempered with the few friends he had.

If no one turned up to his lectures he gave them anyway talking to an empty room. At the age of 50, he had a nervous breakdown brought on by depression and paranoia.

However, others believe these traits can be attributed to both men's high intelligence.

'Socially inept'

"One can imagine geniuses who are socially inept and yet not remotely autistic," said Dr Glen Elliott, a psychiatrist at the University of California at San Francisco.

"Impatience with the intellectual slowness of others, narcissism and passion for one's mission in life might combine to make such individuals isolative and difficult."

He told the magazine that Einstein was regarded as having a good sense of humour - a trait not seen in people with severe Asperger's.

Professor Baron-Cohen said the findings suggested that people with the syndrome can excel if they find their niche in life.

"This condition can make people depressed or suicidal, so if we can find out how to make things easier for them, that's worthwhile."

[breeze]

Tom, this gentleman with Asperger's tells a very good story
of his perceptions, also.

Reading it helped my understanding of Asperger's Syndrome:

http://www.aspergerssyndrome.org/

[ColdFront77]

Thank you very much, Annette. Hopefully this thread doesn't get removed like the last one.

I think opening this thread with the article about Einstein and Newton was a good idea.

[weatherlover427]

Since the last thread was lost, I might as well re-post...

I also have Asperger's Syndrome and mild autism. I was diagnosed with it at the age of 14 in December of 1996. It has affected me in many ways, and I notice some of the affects of the disorder daily. I make car noises, I have poor hygiene, I have a bad short term memory (REALLY bad ), etc.

I had to have a special plan for my education (aka an IEP) because my needs were very different. I had to sit in the front of the class, get extra time on tests, get extra help from the teachers if necessary, etc. These needs continued into my intermittent college experience, along with the fact that I also had a notetaker there.

[ColdFront77]

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at the age of 21 in September of 1998, two years, three month after I graduated high school. My immediate (7 of us) and [large] extended family knew I had something, but during my childhood and teenage years there was no way we could know for sure what or if I really had a diagnosis of any kind.

It is difficult for me to initiate conversations with people. It is much easier for me to communicate with others via IM, PM, e-mail and of course here at Storm2K. I have met a few people with AS online and it at least appears that they don't find it as difficult conversing with others, as I do. These online contacts have been a help, but there aren't any teenagers or those between 20 and 40 in my neighborhood; as they aren't allowed to live here. I do get along with those over 60, as my parents are in there mid-late 60's and mid 70's.

At times, my short term memory is below average, however, some things I do tend to remember and ends up in my long term memory or I may have trouble remembering something that happened in the very recent past, but remember it hours or days later.

I imitate the music to programs (and some other programs on other networks), mostly on the Fox News Channel, as well as commercials. I only do it when alone, in the same room as my parents.

Sometimes I bang my head before I fall asleep, white I am sleeping and/or right after I wake up. Over the years (not any more since he moved out and then I moved from MA to FL), my brother has told me that I would move my legs/kicking my feet while banging my head, as well. I believe I do it more often/do it more often when something is on my mind the next day; but perhaps I do it at the same intensity no matter what.

[msbee]

coldfront and Joshua
Thank you so much for sharing inofrmation about Asperger's and for being so candid about the symptons you both experience.
You were diagnosed at 14 and 21. How is a confirmed diagnosis actually made and why could it not be made earlier?
Is there a difficulty in diagnosing in young children?

[weatherlover427]

There was no real confirmation of the disorder until the early to mid 1990s here in the US. That is why; even though many still suffered from it, it wasn't well known or recognizable until a name and symptoms were associated with it in the early 1990s.

[msbee]

thanks Joshua

[weatherlover427]

no problem. Glad I could help

[ColdFront77]

You're welcome, msbee. Thank you as well.

That's right, Asperger's Syndrome was first diagnosed in Europe in 1944 and finally in the United States in 1994. Over these nearly ten years it has been difficult to diagnosed AS in children, although that has been changing in the last few years.

My parents read an article about the syndrome in a NewsWeek magazine in a waiting room at a doctor's office in Massachusetts.

[weatherlover427]

Here is another AS link I was just given by an online friend of mine:

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html

[GulfBreezer]

Joshua and Tom,
I just want to echo msbee's appreciation of your candidness. Knowledge is power and the more people learn about Aspergers, the less afraid of the unknown they become. I find those articles and websites very informative and interesting!!

[weatherlover427]

You're welcome Sandi, glad I could help. I plan to con tribute more in the coming days.

[ColdFront77]

You're welcome, Sandi.

When I bumped up the "lost Asperger's" thread a number of times in the last days of it's existence, it was getting a bit more activity then when it first started out. It looks like it will stay active. One of the "different topics," in a good way.

Josh, I have been on the "Online Asperger's Syndrome Information and Support" ("O.A.S.I.S") website over the last few years. It is really an informative site for the diagnostic criteria of Asperger's. It's a great link for the first page of this thread.

[weatherlover427]

Glad I found that link for you (and others) then, Tom. I found it to be very informative for myself as well. I learned that I fit many if not nearly all of the conditions listed there. So that is what I have.

[ColdFront77]

Me too, Josh.

Hope to see more discussion in this thread so it doesn't get buried and disappear again.

[JTD]

This forum was incredibly moving. May your life be full of happiness ColdFront and Josh.

[ColdFront77]

Thank you very much, Jason.

I am happy as can be with annoying feelings just about every day. Some indifiduals with Asperger's Syndrome work, the ones I have met online currently work part time or have worked part time and some even are attending or have graduated college.

It is easy for someone to say you can work and/or go to college (and major in meteorology) with a condition.

We don't have the same make up in general, as it is, thus the same goes for those with conditions, such as Asperger's Syndrome, but even more so with it being a social condition.

[ColdFront77]

I found the old thread several days ago, by going page by page through the pages in this forum...

Original Asperger's Syndrome thread

I am sorry for starting this thread after being confident enough that it no longer existed.


-- and --


This may be an interesting read:

Asperger's Syndrome and Non-Verbal Learning Disorders: Descriptions, Differences, and Similarities

[weatherlover427]

I found the old thread several days ago, by going page by page through the pages in this forum...

Original Asperger's Syndrome thread

I am sorry for starting this thread after being confident enough that it no longer existed.


-- and --


This may be an interesting read:

Asperger's Syndrome and Non-Verbal Learning Disorders: Descriptions, Differences, and Similarities

I fixed the URL for you. The old one makes you have to log in.