My uncle was born in 1944. For years, a family joke was how he would corner people and talk to them incessantly about seemingly irrelevant topics. He was oblivious to the exasperation of those he cornered and was never offended by their expressions of annoyance.
And he had an encyclopedic knowledge of mechanical things, such as cars.
After his death one year ago, we reflected on his peculiar habits and personality. And it dawned on us...he was autistic.
They just didn't have a word for it when he was a kid.
Additionally, this study in South Korea: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/health/research/09autism.html make me think that autism isn't a disorder as much as a normal human condition.
I wonder how many geniuses were actually autistic to some degree. And then I wonder how many geniuses are we losing now because of our need to "treat" autism.
And he had an encyclopedic knowledge of mechanical things, such as cars.
After his death one year ago, we reflected on his peculiar habits and personality. And it dawned on us...he was autistic.
They just didn't have a word for it when he was a kid.
Additionally, this study in South Korea: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/health/research/09autism.html make me think that autism isn't a disorder as much as a normal human condition.
I wonder how many geniuses were actually autistic to some degree. And then I wonder how many geniuses are we losing now because of our need to "treat" autism.