Retrospective diagnoses of autism

A number of famous people have been speculated by reputable sources to have had autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome. 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.

Historical figures who displayed behavioral patterns associated with the autistic spectrum

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", "The Little Mermaid" and many other children's stories. Identified by Prof. Michael Fitzgerald.
• Béla Bartók, 20th Century Hungarian composer. Speculated by Tony Attwood at a conference in New York in October 1999 [1], and by Ioan James
• 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] Academic sources have also speculated that Cavendish had Asperger's Syndrome.
• Charles Darwin, founder of the theory of evolution by natural selection, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald. [5]
• Éamon de Valera, Irish revolutionary and politician, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald. [6]
• 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 worn through. 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 Michael Fitzgerald, Ioan James, and Tony Attwood. [7][8].
• Thomas Jefferson, the US President: Speculation by Norm Ledgin who wrote a book titled Diagnosing Jefferson, by Tony Attwood, and by Ioan James.
• Keith Joseph, the father of Thatcherism, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald.[9]
• James Joyce, Irish Writer and author of Ulysses, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald and Antionette Walker in 'Unstoppable Brilliance'[10].
• Michelangelo, Italian Renaissance artist: Speculation by Dr. Arshad and Professor Fitzgerald based on his inability to form long-term attachments and certain other characteristics. Ioan James also discussed Michelangelo's autistic traits.
• Isaac Newton - See analysis further on in article.
• Moe Norman - Canadian golfer [11]
• George Orwell, writer, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald.[12]
• Enoch Powell, British politician, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald. [13]
• Alan Turing, 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. [14][15], and by Ioan James.
• 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, [16] Dr. Judith Gould,[17] and Ioan James.
• Blind Tom Wiggins - Autistic savant. Speculated by Dr. Oliver Sacks [18].
• Ludwig Wittgenstein has been identified as a possible autistic by Michael Fitzgerald, Tony Attwood, and Ioan James.<ref=jame2/>
• W. B. Yeats, poet and dramatist, speculated by Michael Fitzgerald. [19]
• Prince John of the United Kingdom, son of King George V of the United Kingdom

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.

The case that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were autistic

Ioan James of Oxford University believes that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton had personalities consistent with Asperger's syndrome; [20] Tony Attwood has also named Einstein as a probable autistic. Professor Michael Fitzgerald, of Dublin's Trinity College believes that Einstein, Newton, and others may have shown signs of Asperger's syndrome[21] 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. [22] 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” [23]. 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" [24].

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 scientists 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. [25].

Finally, in the words of Albert Einstein: [26]

"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..."

The case that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were not autistic

Dr. Glen Elliott, a psychiatrist at the University of California at San Francisco, is unconvinced that either scientist had Asperger's Syndrome. "One can imagine geniuses who are socially inept and yet not remotely autistic," Elliott said in an interview with the New Scientist.[27] "Impatience with the intellectual slowness of others, narcissism and passion for one's mission in life might combine to make such an individuals isolative and difficult." Elliott added that Einstein had a good sense of humor, a trait that is virtually unknown in people with severe Asperger Syndrome.

In contrast, Wrong Planet states that those with Asperger’s Syndrome frequently are unusually gifted in humor, especially in doggerel, puns, satire and wordplay . Viktoria Lyons and Michael Fitzgerald of the Department of Child Psychiatry at Trinity College, Dublin state that the prevailing "research has shown that individuals with autism and Asperger Syndrome are impaired in humor appreciation, although anecdotal and parental reports provide some evidence to the contrary."[28] They describe several individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome who display a sense of humor and further suggest that a minority of such individuals, especially those that are mathematically gifted, can possess a sense of humor that is superior than average due to their unusual personalities, experience and intelligence.

Other researchers are also 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, aver that he actually did well in school, and the belief to the contrary is only a myth based on a difference in grading policy. However, many autistic people do well in school. Many autistic individuals do well in Science and Mathematics and do badly in humanities related discipline. Einstein did well in Science and Mathematics and failed in French.

High-functioning autists may be considered "absent-minded 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, they have difficulty inferring information about the intentions of others. In contrast, Einstein's views on politics were sensitive and sophisticated. However, many autistic individuals do tend to go into detail and just having a sensitive and sophisticated views on politics doesn't mean that one is not autistic.

However, a person does not have to show every possible autistic characteristic to be considered autistic. In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, uses lists with which a patient must meet a certain number, but not all, of the symptoms in order to be diagnosed. 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.

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.

See also

• List of people on the autistic spectrum
• List of autism-related topics
• List of fictional characters on the autistic spectrum

External links

• Peter Howson (Asperger's syndrome)
• Darius McCollum (Asperger's syndrome)
• Vernon Smith (Asperger's syndrome)
• Neurodiversity.com
• Misdiagnosis and dual diagnosis of gifted children
• Psychological Misdiagnosis of Gifted and Talented Children
• The Gifted Visual Spatial Learner
• Undiagnosing Gates, Jefferson, and Einstein by Jonathan Mitchell
• The Legend of the Dull-witted Child Who Grew Up to be a Genius by Barbara Wolff and Hananya Goodman, The Albert Einstein Archives
• A referenced list of famous people diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition or subject of published speculation about whether they were on the autistic spectrum
• Famous people on the autism spectrum
• Professor Michael Fitzgerald website

References

• Articles reporting Baron-Cohen and James' suggestion that Einstein and Newton showed autistic traits:
  • Einstein, Newton, and Asperger Syndrome Mary Kugler at About.com presents a brief overview of the question
  • Einstein and Newton showed signs of autism from 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 Success from Autism Today