People speculated to have been autistic

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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 autism professionals. Such speculation is controversial and there are members of all the above groups who have disputed the speculation.

1 Historical figures who displayed behavioral patterns associated with the autistic spectrum
2 Speculated contemporary figures
3 Einstein and Newton
- 3.1 The case that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were autistic
- 3.2 The case that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were not autistic
4 Controversy
5 See also
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Historical figures who displayed behavioral patterns associated with the autistic spectrum

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

Hans Christian Andersen author of "The Princess and the Pea" and many other children's stories. Identified by Prof. Michael Fitzgerald in The genesis of artistic creativity: Asperger's syndrome and the arts
Béla Bartók, 20th Century Hungarian composer. Speculated by Tony Attwood at a conference in New York in October 1999 [1].
Hugh Blair of Borgue, 18th century Scottish landowner thought mentally incompetent, now studied as case history of autism. The book Autism in History: The Case of Hugh Blair of Borgue, written by R. A. Houston and Uta Frith, speculates that Hugh Blair was autistic.
Henry Cavendish, 18th century British 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.[2][3][4] 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 Bach interpreter. 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. Gould was speculated to have Asperger's by Dr. Timothy Maloney and Dr. Peter Ostwald [5][6].
Thomas Jefferson, the US President: Speculation by Norm Ledgin who wrote a book titled Diagnosing Jefferson
James Joyce, Irish Writer and author of Ulysses, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald and Antionette Walker in 'Unstoppable Brilliance'[7].
Michelangelo, Italian Renaissance artist: Speculation by Dr. Arshad and Professor Fitzgerald based 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.
Moe Norman - Canadian golfer [8]
Srinivasa Ramanujan - In an article listed in the References section on this page. Behaviors were savant abilities and social disorders.
Alan Turing 1912-1954 - Pioneer of computer sciences. He seemed to be a math savant and his lifestyle has many autism traits about it. Speculated by Tony Attwood at a conference in New York in October 1999 [9] [10].
Michael Ventris, English Architect, who deciphered Linear B, suggested by Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen in his book "The Essential Difference"
Andy Warhol, American Artist, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald [11] and Dr. Judith Gould [12].
Blind Tom Wiggins - Autistic savant. Speculated by Dr. Oliver Sacks [13].

[edit] Speculated contemporary figures

Bill Gates - Temple Grandin, PhD. stated in her essay Genius May be an Abnormality that, "It is also likely that Bill Gates has many Asperger's traits" [14]. 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" [15].

[edit] Einstein and Newton

It has been speculated that Isaac Newton had what is now considered Asperger syndrome.

Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton may 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 brain has been preserved. As physical features of the brain connected with autism become better known it may become possible to tell whether Einstein has those features.

[edit] The case that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were autistic

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, and Ioan James of Oxford University both believe that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton had personalities consistent with Asperger's syndrome [16]. Professor Michael Fitzgerald, of Dublin's Trinity College believes that Einstein, Newton and others may have shown signs of Asperger's syndrome. [17] This tends to involve difficulties with social skills and preoccupation with complex subjects like music, which Einstein had. Fitzgerald claims we should accept and tolerate eccentrics as 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 depression and paranoia.

It has been speculated that Albert Einstein was on what is now considered the autistic spectrum.

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” [18]. 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.

In a paper titled An Inside View of Autism, Temple Grandin said, "I had the opportunity to visit some of Einstein's relatives. His family history has a high incidence of autism, dyslexia, food allergies, giftedness, and musical talent. Einstein himself had many autistic traits" [19].

People claim that Albert Einstein was a loner as a child, was a late speaker, starting only at 2-3 years old, 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. When Albert Einstein's brain was removed at autopsy and studied, researchers found that his Sylvian fissure was truncated. Abnormalities of the Sylvian fissure may be associated with autism and speech problems. [20].

Finally, in the words of Albert Einstein: [21]

"My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities. I am truly a lone traveler and have never belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with my whole heart; in the face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of distance and a need for solitude..."

[edit] 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 [22]. "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, can develop narcissism, and can 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 humor as Einstein reputedly had, although little research has been done on the subject, and much anecdotal evidence shows that people with Asperger syndrome can have a very well developed sense of humor, especially in the area of word play. In any case, Glen Elliott only claims that Einstein could not have had what he sees as "severe Asperger's syndrome". Even 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, satire and wordplay [23]. Also, Viktoria Lyons and Michael Fitzgerald [24] state that the claimed absence of humour in autism and Asperger’s Syndrome is not always true and they describe several individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome that display a sense of humour. They further suggest that a minority of such individuals, especially those that are mathematically gifted, can possess a sense of humour that is superior than average due to their unusual personalities, experience and intelligence. 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 Web, say 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. Some researchers believe that 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. In contrast, Einstein's views on politics were sensitive and sophisticated. However, a person does not have to show every possible autistic characteristic to be considered autistic. Furthermore, at a recent conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, evidence was presented that suggested Simon Baron-Cohen's previously held "theory of mind" hypothesis for autism was incorrect. As the concept of "mind-blindness" in autistics originates in the idea that they have no "theory of mind" -a means of perceiving the existence of others - this would also seem to invalidate an argument against Einstein's alleged autistic tendencies.

[edit] 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 of 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.