Aspies For Freedom

cure yes.
treat,i dont...think so?

Yes, but then my point is that "the rare ones who are barely functioning at all", as garmonbozia called them, would be the ones with actual LFA. I mean, I'm sure a good psychologist/psychiatrist can tell the difference between an inability to communicate and actual mental retardation (blargh, I feel nasty saying that word even in the correct context), with or without a standardised IQ test.

Sort of like my cousin. She's 2 and a half and unable to speak, save for a couple of words, yet it's plainly obvious that her cognitive abilities are fine - better than fine, in fact. She's clearly a very bright toddler and understands what people say to her with no problem... she just can't talk back, which frustrates her. Her speech development is a little concerning, but there's no way that anyone with half a brain (much less competence as a psychologist) could observe her and think she has any sort of cognitive handicap.

Before anyone says anything - yes, the family have speculated that she could have HFA or Aspergers. However, apart from the problems with speech (and some horrible food allergies...), she seems like your average, albeit rather cheeky, 2.5 year old kid. I guess it's still too young to tell, though.

Uh, who, specifically?

Yes, but autistic savants are also very rare.