There are so many phrases and words used interchangeably to describe symptoms and syndromes, that it can be hard to work out what is being referred to. This article looks at autism and Asperger’s, exploring the links between the two and what this means when working with or looking after someone with autism and Asperger’s.

Rain Man was a powerful film although not everyone agrees it gives a true representation of what it is like to live with autism. It gave a sense of the rewards and challenges of high functioning autism- also known as Asperger’s Syndrome – a diagnosis that you may have heard about.

Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is one a type of autism that often goes unrecognised in childhood, and in adulthood too.

Diagnosis of autism is slowly improving and as a result, children are being diagnosed earlier and getting the help they need. But there is still a lot of work to be done. There are similarities and differences between classic autism, as it is sometimes known, and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Children with AS are often not diagnosed correctly until adulthood but like those children with classic autism, they seem to be in a ‘world of their own’ and disconnected from those around them.

What causes AS?

We are still trying to understand autism and its causes but there is a link between AS and genetics. Some children and adults with AS obsess over unusual things and communication is considerably challenging.

Like the character portrayed by Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, someone with AS can be incredibly talented. Dustin Hoffman’s character was gifted with math, others excel at science, complex thinking process, music and so on. But this is not typical and happens in only a small number of cases.

Whether someone with AS borders on being a genius or not, there are three areas that they struggle with as does anyone with a diagnosis of being of the autistic spectrum;

  1. Socialising and socialisation
  2. Communication
  3. Behaviour range

Scientists specialising in autism, its range and diagnosis say that anyone with AS will have displayed significant symptoms in the first three years of their life. Autism doesn’t get worse with age or develops as the child develops. It is apparent from the earliest years.

How is AS different from classic autism?

Thoughts and research are still developing in this area but there seem to be two main differences between classic autism and AS.

According to research from the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, children or adults with Asperger’s tend to display;

Researchers are now uncovering that the lack of ability to understand the positive impacts they are having socially can result in some children and adults with AS to be depressed. Being locked into their own world with no way of reaching people leads to an isolation that is both physical and emotional.

Re-cap

Children with autism and those diagnosed with AS struggle with socialising, communication and behaviour range but some with AS may also display problems with language delay or a higher than average IQ that can ‘mask’ AS symptoms.

What causes Asperger’s Syndrome?

Slowly, science is making breakthroughs and our understanding of what causes autism and AS is improving.

Asperger’s Syndrome is more common in males than it is in females, although this may be because we are yet to understand the differences in symptoms displayed by girls over boys if they are different.

There are 9 males with AS to everyone one female diagnosed with the disorder and thus, the research so far is based on foetal testosterone levels (higher levels are found in boys than girls) and Asperger’s syndrome.

There are several ways in which the hormone testosterone might play a role in AS. One is ‘excessive maleness’, a finding that the scientific community is dealing with cautiously. If this is the case, say autism specialists, the ethical debate around treatment could leave many more unanswered questions.

There is also a debate that is simmering in the background relating to foetal testing to find out if a child has AS. A similar debate rages around the testing for Down’s Syndrome in the womb with some parents saying that when the extra chromosome was detected, they were advised to abort. Ethically, by testing and aborting foetuses with an extra chromosome, Down’s Syndrome could be ‘wiped out’.

Researchers and medics question whether this is ethically corrupt and that this is not the reasoning behind foetal testing. The same is true with AS, a condition that is not necessarily life-limiting, in the same way that Down’s Syndrome is not.

Likewise, manipulating hormones in the womb is also ethically challenging. Should science be manipulating nature, as some people see it?

But it comes down to the right support, something that our understanding of both AS and autism underpins. Children and adults with AS are not necessarily seeking a cure for their disability but are looking for better understanding and acceptance.

Someone with AS may have an unusual ability for memorising details or can focus on something for hours and hours – in other words, they may have abilities that can transform understanding of puzzling elements in life or find the answers to complex questions in science and beyond.

Re-cap

AS affects more boys than girls and has been linked to the male hormone, testosterone. The how and why of testosterone levels and how it ‘creates’ AS in the womb are yet to be fully understood.

Treatment and Diagnosis

Quite often, teachers and teaching assistants are given a piece of information – Child A is autistic – and from that, they are expected to change how lessons are delivered.

But, say experts, this label contains no information at all. This is because both classic autism and AS are individual to one person. One autistic person is not the same as the next;

Treatment should, therefore, be matched to what the person needs, rather than following guidelines and boundaries.

There is no medication or treatment plan that cures with autism or AS. Many children or adults with AS are treated for ‘add-on’ conditions, such as depression or other mental health issues linked to AS.

Opinions may vary but there are two points on which there is consensus;

As well as treating mental health issues, depending on the gravity of the issues relating to behaviour, cognitive therapies that look to change some behaviours is currently an effective tool. But this is an expensive option and not one on which everyone agrees.

Re-cap

Everyone on the autism spectrum including those with AS, display different levels of ability in being able to communicate, use language and socialise. There is no cure.

The Future

There is still a lot of research that needs to be done before we truly understand what autism and AS is, and how we can help people who have been diagnosed.

But there is little doubt that a key aspect of helping children and adults with autism and AS is awareness, acceptance and understanding. From autism awareness courses to facing off prejudice, we need to understand better how autism and AS really affects people.

Children with AS will often do well in the education system with the right support and will go on to live fulfilling lives, with great careers and form relationships in spite of their disability.

Some people with autism and AS need more help than others and perhaps this is what we need to understand as well as the complexities of hormones in the womb. And so, in one class, you can teach four or five children with a diagnosis of autism and AS, but only one may need extensive help to access learning or understanding the nuances of social interaction.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a sub-type of autism. The autism spectrum means that some people with autism will display different behaviours and levels of language for example, to others. People with AS are thought to be higher on the spectrum, with a higher-than-average IQ and increased social difficulties.

Want to know about autism and Asperger’s syndrome?

ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a disorder that varies widely in severity from one person to another.

One person displaying signs of autism will be very much different from those displayed by another person, also with a diagnosis of ASD. However, there are some commonalities. Everyone with a diagnosis of ASD will have difficulties in three main areas: social communication, social interaction and social imagination.

With difficulties reading people’s emotions or picking up on hints such as body language, people with autism can find social situations overwhelming.  This difficulty can lead to self-isolation or to public meltdowns. Many people assume that those with autism will live lives less-ordinary and that the inability to cope with social functions; many autistic children and adults face bullying, as well as misunderstanding.

However, autism does not stop people from overcoming the challenges of autism. In fact, some people use the strengths of autism to excel in life. Indeed, there are many examples of famous people with autism. Here we highlight some of the best-known people, all facing the challenges of autism in a world that can sometimes be unforgiving and intolerant but striving and thriving anyway.

Albert Einstein

Einstein is proof that being different isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, being different enabled Einstein to develop ideas and theories that are still celebrated and used today. It could be argued that his autistic mind allowed him to reach beyond the boundaries of what others thought.  So, while he is reputed to have struggled with social interactions and lacked tactile sensitivity, his intelligence and fascination with science transformed the way we think.

Mozart

Easily one of the most famous composers in the world, Mozart is believed to have had repeated facial expressions; have incredibly sensitive hearing (particularly to loud sounds) and was in an unintentional constant state of motion; he just couldn’t keep still.  Imagine though if he hadn’t been so sensitive to sound. Would he have been able to bring the subtlety and depth to his compositions that we consider so timeless? Imagine if he had been able to still himself.  Would he have been so prolific?

Daryl Hannah

The blonde, long-haired actress that is probably best-known for her role as a mermaid in the film Splash also has a diagnosis of ASD. Her shyness as a child was misunderstood, and even now, Daryl admits to rocking as a way of comfort when she is faced with situations she finds it difficult to comprehend. Although acting was the magical land to which she escaped, she found coping with the publicity and stardom of being a Hollywood actress almost impossible, refusing on many occasions to attend premiers of her own films. She now shuns the limelight, performing only occasional acting roles. She works happily from her home, protesting with lobby groups who work to address climate change.

Courtney Love

Courtney was diagnosed with a mild form of autism. There is no definition of ‘mild’ autism, as such, but behaviours in her childhood and in her adult life are likely connected with autism, including being excluded from several schools.  She has a strong following, thanks to her musical career.  However, her behaviour can appear erratic and almost dangerous in some situations, traits often exhibited by children and adults with autism.

Dan Aykroyd

The star of Ghostbusters was diagnosed, like many so many other famous people with autism, in his childhood years. However, at the time, there was not a diagnosis mechanism for ASD; thus it wasn’t until his adult years that he received a full and frank diagnosis.  It was Dan’s wife that noticed several obsessive traits, familiar to those with ASD. On her insistence, he saw a specialist and was given the diagnosis. His two main obsessions were ghosts and policemen, which may explain the films he has worked on over the years.

Tim Burton

Again, it was Tim Burton’s wife who spotted the signs of ASD. Married to actress Helen Bonham Carter, it was during research for a role that Helen noticed that her husband exhibited several of the traits.  As a result of the diagnosis, Tim was able to talk about the film and character of Edward Scissorhands as being semi-autobiographical. The feeling of being different and being shunned for this difference is one that never leaves those with have a diagnosis of autism.

Hans Christian Anderson

It may be challenging to believe that someone with such a vivid imagination could be considered autistic.  A common prejudice is that people with ASD tend to logical and fixed in the perspective they hold.  Reading his diaries, however, shows that he had a tendency towards obsession.  He desired things that were often unattainable.  If you speak to those with autistic diagnosis today, they will tell you they recognise some of the themes of their lives in the story of The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid.

Charles Darwin

Obviously living in a time before autism was a recognised disorder, Darwin, like Anderson, has been linked to ASD long after his death.  There were reports from his childhood that he was quiet and isolated.  He was said to be fixated on topics from the sciences.  It is likely that the high sensory input experienced by those with autism, along with an obsessive disposition, allowed Darwin the skills needed to observe nature as carefully as he did. We may never have had such a coherent theory of the survival of the fittest had it not been for Darwin’s autistic traits.

Bill Gates

The co-founder of Microsoft and now the co-chairperson of a significant global foundation, Bill Gates should be considered nothing short of a phenomenally successful man.  Although there has no official confirmation of his diagnosis, there is a general agreement amongst those with ASD that he is on the spectrum.  The evidence they cite is his speech pattern and the way he avoids eye contact.  It is important to remember that the degree of autism can vary greatly.  It is likely that Gates technical brain and powers of concentration may also be a positive aspect of autism.

Steve Jobs

Again, as with Bill Gates, this is a matter of speculation rather than an official part of Jobs biography.  However, Jobs social skills, or lack of them, are well documented.  Equally, he had an obsessive nature, as he focused in one small details.  This led him to some unorthodox modes of thinking, which turned out to be ultimately successful.

Andy Warhol

Another man with an unorthodox mind is the artistic genius of Andy Warhol.  The lead for diagnostics in autism insists that Warhol’s love of repetition and fixation on ideas is evidence of someone on the spectrum.  Judith Gould adds that his concise answers in interviews and some quirky decisions, such as refusing to wear green underwear, can also be used to come up with a diagnosis after his death.  Why would this be important? Well, it increases awareness that autism is less of a disorder than a difference and sometimes that difference can breed genius.

WB Yeats

At school, Yeats was bullied for his disinterest and for his somewhat awkward social behaviour.  It is interesting that the poet is known for his intense appreciation of emotion.  However, one academic points out that his obsession with Maud Gonne may have been a facet of his autism.  Also, if you pay close attention to his poems, there is an intense sensuality, which suggests he experienced the world to an extreme of his senses. Yeats biographer disagrees with academics, as Yeats emotional intelligence cannot be doubted.  However, what Yeats illustrates is that the range of characteristics of ASD makes it difficult to make generalised claims.

Emily Dickenson

There is a notable lack of women on this list.  Women are more difficult to diagnose with autism, as the emotional profile of an autistic woman is different from that of a man.  Therefore, it may be that Yeats sensitivity could hide his autism, as Dickenson’s could too.  Dickenson’s way of thinking was highly unconventional for the time, she was reclusive, she preferred the simple rules that govern a child’s world, and she was fascinated by the scent of flowers.

Stanley Kubrick
Finally, on our list of famous people with autism, is movie director Stanley Kubrick. Born in 1928, autism was not given its name until the 1940s, making a diagnosis of Stanley unlikely during his childhood years.  He was, however, an iconic director, who happened to display many autistic traits. Those that worked with Kubrick noted his poor social skills, narrow, obsessive interest, and inflexibility. Yet, he is widely seen as a genius within the genre of films he directed, mainly because of his obsessive attention to detail.

The message we should take

In April, when we are recognising Autism Awareness Month, it is essential to recognise the value that people with ASD bring to our world.  To be different is often not tolerated.  However, we should show compassion and kindness to people who work at the edges of our society for they enhance our understanding of the world in so many ways.

For those working or living with those with autism, life can be difficult and inflexible, but just as rewarding. Autism awareness courses are a fabulous way of being able to expand our understanding of autism, appreciating that it is both a gift and a curse for some.