Unravelling the mystery of Autism Spectrum Disorder
April 2, 2015 is the eighth World Autism Awareness Day. Many people have an opinion about what autism is but few get close enough to it to really understand. Its complex features cannot be directly seen but its manifestations are pervasive and often very troubling to those with the condition, to those around them and to those who care for them.
Many in our community have recently watched the movie The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, who was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his portrayal of Alan Turing. The film told the story of Turing, a brilliant British mathematician. Turing had an interest in cryptology and, during the Second World War, worked at Bletchley Park with a team of code breakers attempting to unlock the complex and sophisticated Enigma code, used by the enemy to send messages. They succeeded in breaking the code with the help of a machine that Turing invented. Turing’s machine is now thought of as the first model of a general purpose computer and Turing is considered the father of theoretical computer science.
The movie had an important counter melody to the main theme. It depicted Turing as difficult to work with and also different in the way he lived his life and related to other people. It showed him as being socially awkward and highly focused on his ‘ special project.’ Ultimately he got into trouble with the law because of his sexual activities, which were considered criminal at the time. Convicted of indecency, rather than serve a prison sentence, he opted for chemical castration. A short time later he died of cyanide poisoning. An inquest determined it was suicide.
Turing almost certainly had an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It was not commonly diagnosed until the end of the 20th century so Turing and many others were never formally diagnosed. History, however, describes many famous people who, speculatively, may have had Autism Spectrum Disorders: Sir Isaac Newton ( physicist and astronomer), Albert Einstein ( theoretical physicist), Charles Darwin ( naturalist), Jane Austen ( novelist), Ludwig van Beethoven ( composer and pianist), Bobby Fischer ( chess champion), Andy Warhol ( artist), Jim Henson ( puppeteer), and many others. These people were all extremely gifted and functioned at high levels in their chosen fields. Yet history also documents them as having features suggestive of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Many loved repetition, were socially inept and were difficult to work with.
Not all people with Autism Spectrum Disorders have extreme abilities. Not all autistic people with extreme abilities have high functioning autism. Hans Asperger described his patients as “little professors.” Clinicians use the word “savant” to describe an autistic person with special talents. People with Autism Spectrum Disorders are not rare although they are considerably outnumbered by neurotypicals. They can be difficult to recognize because their “disabilities” are hidden and many are well adapted. They may, however, be noticeable because of eccentricities, social awkwardness, rigid repetitive behaviour and other specific features. To many, they may seem to be “difficult” people yet they may also have incredible talent.
One of the strengths of our country is that we strive to be tolerant of those who are different. As part of this we have seen increasing acceptance of those who are odd and/ or who have mental illness. Autism Spectrum Disorders used to be thought of as psychiatric illnesses but are now considered neurodevelopmental conditions. Tony Attwood, an Australian leader in the field, has suggested a way of rethinking Asperger Syndrome, describing his patients’ features in a manner that focuses on strengths and potential rather than on disabilities. Simon Baron Cohen, in his book The Essential Difference, also emphasizes thinking about the strengths of those with ‘ extreme male brains.’
Do you know someone like this? Do you have a relative, friend, employee or someone else you encounter, who is gifted but also odd, socially awkward, poor at communicating and obsessive about something. How should you think and react to these people? Do they frustrate you or make you want to avoid them? Do they make you want to bully, torment or persecute them? If they do, stop, and think like Tony Attwood. What do they do well? What is their contribution to society? Discover their area of special interest and expertise, for many have one. Most would love to tell you about it or show you what they do. Listen and watch. You may find yourself transported into an amazing world, a place you never knew existed.