I've heard of this "1 in 58" study. Do you know how they got that number? They gave people the Childhood Aspergers Scale test (I beleive that's what it's called, it's very similar at least). This test is NOT designed to be a diagnostic tool. It's only purpose is to determine whether or not there is enough chance of an ASD to make further testing necesary. And yet, based purely on how many people scored "ASD" on this test- not even controling for the fact that many of them will not have ASD if you test them further- they are claiming this 1 in 58 number.
Also, only two members of the research team beleive vaccines cause autism, but they were more than happy to talk to the newspaper about it as if the entire study were MMR-related.
You can read about it in detail here:
http://www.kevinleitch.co.uk/wp/?p=580
I highly doubt that 1 in 58 is the right number. Then again, most aspies on the internet do seem to be British, for some reason. Maybe it is that high there?
If the Brits are still talking about MMR as a possible cause, the sooner they know that the originator of that theory - Andrew Wakefield - is having his licence to practice medicine reviewed as we speak (or so I'm told) the better. The man's got a lot to answer for. The MMR link has been put to the test in the test case in the Autism Omnibus in the Vaccine Court in the US - and it will fail. Or at least it should (I'm not going to cast iron predict the result!)
You know, you'd think the findings of the Autism Omnibus hearings would help people to come to their senses and realize that MMR is not the cause. Yet, of course, that isn't going to happen. They are only going to continue to claim that the government is in bed with big Pharma companies and that the whole thing is a cover-up. These people are totally and utterly convinced, and science isn't going to stop them.
I know, Luia. That's why I'm keen on seeing these people punished for their carelessness. Wakefield would be a great start.
But the two I want completely discredited are the Geiers. There needs to be a sheer weight of numbers from the scientific community to swamp the real quacks of this world. It will help if evidence can be found (again in sheer weight of numbers) that ASD's predated the invention of Thiomersal. I'm doing my bit with that as we speak.
One in 58?! Damn, I should move there.
...Can that possibly be even close to an accurate estimate? Well, of course it can *possibly*, but it sounds way too high.
Indeed. Everyone wants a genius "on their side", so to speak. But it is almost impossible to diagnose someone after their death.
Not if the medical records are complete and detailed, Simen.
On Einstein, his "social life" was very eccentric from what I heard about him so I'd hardly call that evidence against his ASD traits.
And having affairs is actually a reflection on a poor social life in a number of senses (not all of course - but one has to remember this was at a time when affairs weren't common place like they are now)
One in 58?! Damn, I should move there.
The research was done in Cambridgeshire. Since the proportion of scientists and engineers in Cambridgeshire is among the highest in the UK, it is no wonder that the proportion of autistics in Cambridgeshire is among the highest in the UK.
(in other words, it would be wrong to assume the proportion of autistics in Cambridgeshire reflects the proportion of autistics in the entire UK)
Indeed. Everyone wants a genius "on their side", so to speak. But it is almost impossible to diagnose someone after their death.
Not if the medical records are complete and detailed, Simen.
You'd be satisfied if someone diagnosed you without seeing you, or even talking to people who knew you, only from your medical records?
If they were complete and detailed - yes I would.
And having affairs is actually a reflection on a poor social life in a number of senses
It is? I would think seducing six women, some of whom no doubt knew you were married (especially when he started to get famous) would be some kind of indication of social competence.
On the contrary - because adultery in his day and age was so taboo it was an indication of social INcompetence.
(not all of course - but one has to remember this was at a time when affairs weren't common place like they are now)
I severely doubt that.
Don't. People just didn't do it as a social rule. If there had been a radio version of "Cheaters" on at the time it would have fallen flat because there would have been no takers.
All in all, this is nothing but loose speculation. Being somewhat eccentric and also brilliant in one field does not make a person autistic; as Dr. Ando said, those same medical records and biographies yield radically different "diagnoses" for other people. You see what you want to see. With your autism-goggles on, everything starts to look that much more neurodiverse.
With the improved diagnostics we have now a lot more things are possible. Einstein wasn't just somewhat eccentric. He was VERY eccentric. He was tolerated only because of his mathematical brilliance and his contribution (which he later pulled out of and wish he'd never got involved with) to the atomic bomb.
He's right about it being taboo, but wrong in thinking that ALL violations of social norms are the result of socially incompetence.
Also Physicnurd, if someone's symptoms are subclinical enough where they wouldn't warrant any clinical attention/special needs/whatever have you, then they may as well be normal.
I mean "result of social incompetence", sorry.
Can we cool the argument, please? Think rationally before you answer... don't answer from your feelings, but from your thoughts. Search for truth, rather than seek to dominate your opponent.
I was looking on the dreaded Cure Autism Now website. For shame, they have not posted up their financial statements for 2006. (I just wanted to see if they gave their CEO a raise again). They are funding a few studies on the MMR vaccine. So you see, they are fueling that too.
I think that Timelord has only been extremely annoying concerning this thread; he seems to conduct himself okay outside of this argument.
Somewhere on the web is a essay written by an HFA man who discusses how Einstein may not have actually been autistic or AS. I wish that I remembered where it was.