People speculated to have been autistic

A number of famous people have been speculated to have been autistic or Asperger's. This speculation is done by some autistic people, parents of autistic children, webmasters, journalists, and autismprofessionals. However, there are members of all the above groups who have disputed the speculation.

Historical figures who displayed behavioral patterns associated with the autistic spectrum

Note: This is a speculative list. It includes people who died before the work done by Hans Aspergerand Leo Kannerin classifying autism spectrum disorders. It is based on reported behaviors rather than any clinical observation of the individual that may or may not have been accurate.

• Hugh Blair of Borgue, 18th centuryScottishlandowner thought mentally incompetent, now studied as case history of autism.
• Henry Cavendish, 18th centuryBritish scientist. He was unusually reclusive, literal minded, had trouble relating to people, had trouble adapting to people, difficulties looking straight at people, drawn to patterns, etc. His behaviors are enough like Autism or Asperger's to be mentioned in several mainstream sources.[1][2][3]Still alternate theories suggest his behaviors merely implied unusual bashfulness, childhood traumas, or possibly an anxiety disorder
• Albert Einstein: See analysis further on in article.
• Glenn Gould, Canadian pianist and noted Bachinterpreter. Behaviors including his liking routine to the point he used the same seat until it was ruined. He also disliked social functions to the point that in later life he relied on the telephone or letters for virtually all communication. He also had an aversion to being touched, had a different sense of hot or cold than most, and would rock back and forth while playing music. These behaviors or sensations are like many with autism spectrum disorders.[4][5]
• Benedict Joseph Labre- Catholic saint. Behaviors include tendencies toward hermiticism, being deemed unsuited for life in a community, and certain other eccentricities. Possibly more connected in a historical than medical sense as several Catholic centers for autism are named for him.
• Michelangelo, Italian Renaissanceartist: Speculation by Dr. Arshad and Professor Fitzgeraldbased on his inability to form long-term attachments and certain other characteristics. Note: Professor Fitzgerald himself apparently called it "purely speculative."
• Isaac Newton- See analysis further on in article.
• Ramanujan- In an article listed in the References section on this page. Behaviors were savant abilities and social disorders.
• William James Sidis- 20th centurypolyglotwho supposedly could learn a language in one day. He was a committed atheist from age 6 but was nevertheless an avowed celibate because he felt women were a distraction. He displayed a fascination with hobbies similar to the way some Asperger's do. He had little interest for art, few real social connections, and reportedly had hyperlexia.
• Andy Warhol, American Artist, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald [6]and Dr. Judith Gould [7].
• Blind Tom Wiggins- Autistic savant.
• Ludwig Wittgenstein- started speaking at the age of four. He was unsuccessful at school and disliked being there. He said understanding other people was like understanding a foreign language he did not know. He visited the United States and was offered rye bread and cheese for his first lunch, then ate that repeatedly during the whole visit. Despite the above, he was a brilliant philosopher.[8]

Einstein and Newton

Image:GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg

Albert Einsteinand Isaac Newtonmay have had Asperger's syndrome, but a definitive diagnosis is currently impossible as both scientists died before this condition came to be known. Albert Einstein's brainhas been preserved. As physical features of the brain connected with autism become better known it may become possible to tell whether or not Einstein has those features.

The case that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were autistic

Professor Simon Baron-Cohenof the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, and Ioan Jamesof Oxford University both believe that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton had personalities consistent with Asperger's syndrome [9]. Professor Michael Fitzgerald, of Dublin's Trinity College believes that Einstein, Newton and others may haves shown signs of Asperger's syndrome.. [10] This tends to involve difficulties with Social skillsand preoccupation with complex subjects like music, which Einstein also did. Fitzgerald claims we should accept and tolerate eccentricsas they frequently have positive contributions to make.

Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton both experienced intense intellectual interests in specific limited areas. Both scientists had trouble reacting appropriately in social situations and had difficulty communicating. Both scientists sometimes became so involved with their work that they did not eat. Newton spoke little and was frequently lukewarm or bad-tempered with the few friends he had. If no one attended his lecture he still lectured to an empty room. When he was 50, Newton suffered a nervous breakdown involving depressionand paranoia.

Image:Albert Einstein 1947.jpg

Einstein's career was devoted to complex mathematics. In the article "Autism, Genius, and Greatness" on the Autistic Advocacy website, Frank Klein claims ?(Einstein?s) autistic traits, and his near-certain place on the autistic spectrum, are well-known in the autistic community? [11]. Klein believes Einstein was typical of capable autistic people as he was logical and analytical though socially awkward and needed daily solitude, and that, being extremely "perseverative", he could give more time to a problem of interest than any normal person could have. Klein suggests that autistic people "have an affinity for objects (tangible or otherwise) rather than people," and that the object of Einstein?s attention was physics. Klein feels further it is good that Einstein had not been subject to misguided therapy or intervention. Such intervention Klein feels, could have hindered him in developing his unique abilities in mathematics and physics.

People claim that Albert Einstein was a loner as a child, was a late speaker and repeated sentences obsessively up to the age of seven. As an adult his lectures were confusing. He needed his wives to act as parents when he was an adult; factors people claim make him "obviously" (or at least stereotypically) autistic. He was also the stereotypical "absent-minded professor"; he was often forgetful of everyday items, such as keys, and would focus so intently on solving physics problems that he would often become oblivious to his surroundings. In his later years, his appearance inadvertently created (or reflected) another stereotype of scientist in the process: the researcher with unruly white hair. Albert Einstein's brainwas removed at autopsy and studied. The Sylvian fissurewas truncated or absent, (sources differ). Abnormalities of the sylvian fissure may be associated with autism. [12]

The case that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were not autistic

By contrast, Dr. Glen Elliott, a psychiatrist at the University of California at San Francisco, is unconvinced that either scientist had Asperger syndrome [13]. "One can imagine geniuses who are socially inept and yet not remotely autistic," he said. He believes geniuses can experience social difficulties without being autistic. He believes geniuses can develop narcissism, and become passionate over their work and mission. They can also become impatient when others cannot understand easily what they understand. Further, Glen Elliott believes that people with severe Asperger's syndrome do not have a good sense of humouras Einstein reputedly had. In any case Glen Elliott only claims that Einstein could not have had what he sees as "severe Asperger's syndrome". If this is true it does not preclude the possibility of Einstein having had different autistic traits or a different type of autism. By contrast 'Wrong Planet' states that those with Asperger?s Syndrome frequently are unusually gifted in humour, especially in doggerel, puns, satireand wordplay[14]. Others also are unconvinced and believe the two scientists? personality quirks could have been caused by their high intelligence. Some Einstein biographers such as Albert Einstein in the World Wide Websay that he actually did well in school, and the belief to the contrary is only a myth based on a difference in grading policy.

High-functioning autists may be considered "little professors", but that doesn't mean all eccentric professors are autistic. One of the signals that a person is autistic is that they are "mind blind", that is, have difficulty inferring information about the intentions of others. - A person does not have to show every possible autistic characteristic to be considered autistic.- Einstein's views on politics were sensitive and sophisticated.

Speculated contemporatory figures

• Bill Gates- Temple Grandinstated in her essay Genius May be an Abnormality that, "It is also likely that Bill Gates has many Asperger's traits" [15]. A news article titled Would you have allowed Bill Gates to be born written by Arthur Caplan, PhD. states, "Gates is widely reported to display many personality traits characteristic of a condition known as Asperger's syndrome ... While I certainly do not know if Gates has Asperger's, his difficulties in social settings are nearly as legendary as his genius, so it's possible" [16].

Controversy

This speculation is controversial. Some people claim these people only represent very mild cases. Some alleged famous autistics may only have a few autistic traits - not enough for a diagnosis. It has been claimed that it is simply not possible to diagnose the dead, so nothing can be said about speculation over historical figures.

People who believe the assertions have responded to the criticism , saying there was no knowledge of autism at the time these people were alive, so the fact that autistic people were undiagnosed does not mean they were not autistic; it simply means their autism was not known.

See also

• List of autistic people
• List of autism-related topics
• List of people believed to have epilepsy
• List of notable people identified as probably syphilitic
• List of fictional characters on the autistic spectrum
• Simon Baron-Cohen(who suspected Richard Borcherdsis on the autistic spectrum)
• Michael Fitzgerald(who suspected Ludwig Wittgensteinthe philosopherwas on the autistic spectrum)
• Christopher Gillberg(who also suspected Wittgenstein was on the autistic spectrum)
• Norm Ledgin(who suspected Thomas Jeffersonthe US President was on the autistic spectrum)

External links

• Peter Howson(Asperger's syndrome)
• Darius McCollum(Asperger's syndrome)
• Are Bill Gates and Albert Einstein on the Autism Spectrum?
• Vernon Smith(Asperger's syndrome)
• Neurodiversity.com
• Famous Aspies from MyAutis.com
• Misdiagnosis and dual diagnosis of gifted children
• Psychological Misdiagnosis of Gifted and Talented Children
• The Gifted Visual Spatial Learner
• Undiagnosing Gates, Jefferson, and Einsteinby Jonathan Mitchell

References

• Articles reporting Baron-Cohen and James' suggestion that Einstein and Newton showed autistic traits:
  • Einstein, Newton, and Asperger SyndromeMary Kugler at About.com presents a brief overview of the question
  • Einstein and Newton showed signs of autismfrom the New Scientist
  • Einstein and Newton 'had autism'
• Autism, Genius, and Greatness

from Autistic Advocacy

• Cortical Sulcal Maps in Autism
• Asperger?s Syndrome
• Why a Dash Of Autism May Be Key To Successfrom Autism Today

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