According to the standard criteria there does not seem much doubt that Isaac Newton, Henry Cavendish and Albert Einstein were Asperger people; in fact Newton appears to be the earliest known example of a person with any form of autism.
Those with Asperger's syndrome, in contrast, must by definition have suffered no cognitive delay during their first 3 years of life. This means that they will usually have at least a “normal” IQ. In some cases, their IQ may be very high, even in the genius range.
Some Aspergers investigators hypothesize that well-known figures, such as Thomas Jefferson, Jeremy Bentham, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Glenn Gould and Ludwig Wittgenstein had Aspergers because they showed some Aspergers-related tendencies or behaviors, such as intense interest in one subject, and/or social problems ...
Over the years, researchers have fre- quently noted that many individuals with exceptional gifts manifest autistic-like behaviors. Further, an increasing number of individuals with autism or Asperger's are identified as being gifted. These twice-exceptional learners are in good company.
'High functioning autism' is a term often used for individuals diagnosed with ASD who have an intelligence quotient (IQ) estimate of 70 or above.
It causes impaired language and communication skills as well as repetitive or restrictive thinking and behavior. People diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome typically have high intelligence and no speech delays. However, they tend to play, learn, speak, and act differently from others.
When it comes to Asperger's vs. autism, Asperger's generally features less severe symptoms and more higher functioning. Despite no longer being a separate diagnosis, Asperger's remains an accurate description of the symptoms and characteristics of some people on the Autism Spectrum.
The cause of Asperger syndrome, like most ASDs, is not fully understood, but there is a strong genetic basis, which means it does tend to run in families.
Intelligence, Special Interest, Memory
Average to very high intelligence. Good verbal skills; rich vocabulary. Ability to absorb and retain large amounts of information, especially about topics of special interest. Ability to think in visual images.
Nevertheless, one clinical study with slightly more precise information on IQ in ASD reported that 23% of the participants had an IQ < 85, while 45% had an average IQ, and 32% had an IQ above average (10).
Did Orwell have Asperger's? The answer – in popular psychology books, newspaper articles, tweets and society journals – appears to be yes!
Autism Prevalence
31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] <70), 25% are in the borderline range (IQ 71–85), and 44% have IQ scores in the average to above average range (i.e., IQ >85).
The Asperger's mind enjoys and focuses on details, while the normal mind is more skilled at assembling whole concepts from details. Some people with Asperger's are visual thinkers and others are math, music, or number thinkers, but all think in specifics.
You made a simple statement of fact, and now your friend is upset with you. This is the experience of challenged emotional intelligence. This is commonly the experience of a person with Asperger's. Anxiety soars as the person wonders what he or she did wrong, what he or she failed to understand, or what was missed.
' The reason behind the reclassification of Asperger's syndrome was its similarity to autism, and the fact that it was distinguished from the latter based simply on a lack of language and cognitive delay — which, interestingly, isn't something every individual on the spectrum experiences.
It is not always possible to know if someone has Asperger's (now called “autism spectrum disorder,” and was formerly called "high-functioning autism"), which causes people to have difficulty in social interactions, but most people with Asperger's have difficulty relating to others in some form.
Signs and symptoms of Asperger's syndrome
People with mild autism tend to have difficulty with social interactions. This can show itself as difficulty understanding others' feelings, expressing your own feelings, understanding gestures, and making eye contact.
Asperger's syndrome is lifelong. But symptoms tend to improve over time. Adults with this condition can learn to understand their own strengths and weaknesses. And they can improve their social skills.
The life expectancy for Level 2 ASD ranges from 50-60 years old. This is slightly lower than Level 1 and the national average. In some studies, the life expectancy is even lower.
The Asperger diagnosis is distinguished from autism by a lack of language and cognitive delay. However, language and cognitive delay are not diagnostic criteria for autism. So, to fail to meet criteria for autism, a person with Asperger syndrome must not show the communication impairments specified for autism.
Savant syndrome is a rare, but extraordinary, condition in which persons with serious mental disabilities, including autistic disorder, have some 'island of genius' which stands in marked, incongruous contrast to overall handicap.
A broader top face, a shorter middle face, wider eyes, a wider mouth, and a philtrum are some of the common facial features seen in children with ASD [16,17].
Research shows that more than half of all autistic individuals have an above-average IQ, while roughly 16% have an IQ higher than 130. But having high intelligence doesn't mean that autistic individuals don't experience some challenges associated with the diagnosis.