Einstein, the philosopher.

[Elisi]

A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest- a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty

Albert Einstein

[Daisy]

And Einstein is believed to have been autistic! Food for thought.

[Nana]

Wow ... deep 😳

[Elisi]

Well, he may have not been exactly autistic, but he could well have been Aspergers. I think he had many relationships in his life and also a brilliant sense of humour. But perhaps you have to be on the spectrum to come up with the kind of work he did and the theories which may never be disputed?

[Daisy]

Elisi - a lot of experts don't differentiate between Aspergers and ASD. Mostly people who would have got a diagnosis of Aspergers would be diagnosed ASD (High Functioning). I'm not grinding an axe, just saying. There's no disputing his brilliance even though he was thought to be uneducable! There's still a long way to go to understanding autism, and far too many children go undiagnosed until they get excluded from school or something else goes badly wrong. I've just posted something on FB written be a mother of a 7 year old girl. It will make you weep.

[Nana]

Just out of interest, when were these two illnesses given a name?

[Daisy]

Marmar - I'm not sure - certainly as early as the 1940s, and it may have been earlier. I think (Mr) Asperger identified it and then as research was done it was realised that autism comes in many, many forms and his findings were added to, and a whole range of tests are done to get to a diagnosis.

The jury is still our on what causes it. There can be a genetic tendency, but it can also occur in families where there is no genetic evidence. Certain birth situations might also be involved. We just don't know yet, and I suspect it's a combination of things, because the spectrum of disability is so huge.

[Gemini]

Just out of interest, when were these two illnesses given a name?

. I don't think they are termed as illnesses, Mamar*, but conditions.

[Guest]

Indeed they are conditions and with any condition the spectrum is very wide.

If you draw an analogy with vision, there are a very few people who are completely blind at one end. At the other, there are people with slightly shortsight. And all states in between.

There is a theory that it is an 'extreme male brain' formulated by Professor Baron Cohen. A lot of mathematicians and physicists are probably a little way along the spectrum with their highly logical brains, love of systems and discomfort with many social situations.

It's a fascinating topic and the more we all understand about its different manifestations, the better our understanding of the people who are not neuro typical

[Daisy]

I think what is often not realised is the problems with sensory overload people on the spectrum can have. They can be adversely affected by lights, noise, smells, touch and even taste. I remember when my GS was very young he always wanted to take his clothes off and we now realise that it was a sensory problem. I once held him screaming in my arms for an hour in an airport departure lounge because the noise was more than he could bear. Public loos were a no-no because of the hand driers. Some things you wouldn't even realise or notice until you tried to work out why he was so distressed. But as a toddler he could usually be calmed by singing to him - but only the Wheels on the Bus. Nothing else worked. It is a fascinating condition, it is also frightening, bewildering, isolating for the child and a life-changing, ongoing, unremitting roller coaster for the family.

[Plantaholic]

Thank you for that info. ladies, very interesting.