Children's Health Children's Diseases and Conditions Autism

Einstein may have had a form of autism


Some historians claim that Albert Einstein had Asperger syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects one's socialization and communication skills. Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder, which defines a range of impairment from classical autism at the severe end to Asperger syndrome at the milder end. Symptoms of these disorders occur in three areas: language or communication, reciprocal social interaction-the ability to have a friend-and rigid or repetitive patterns of behavior and interest. To have a diagnosis of high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome, you also need to have an IQ in the average or above average range. It's thought that Asperger syndrome may have enhanced Einstein's ability to focus intently on the problems he put his mind to.