Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Compendium Thread

[Anonymous]

:lol: . I've known females, as undiagnosed, who display a significant spectrum of autistic symptoms. As to whether or not this means they have aspergers, retts or what have you; I can't tell. We use autism, schizophrenia etc as convenient labels that cover a wide dimension of possible behaviour and problems. The fact is, both men and women can have symptoms that show lack of socialisation, forms of mutism to various degrees and repititious behaviour. The problem is in determining when these behaviours are problematic. I am not sociable when highly upset, I am mute (in a broad term) when asleep or when listening to someone else speak. Possibly, though not likely as I never shut up, in other situations. Repetition? My reading behaviour? playing a computer game? When is repitition too much?
Once one starts to look at psychopathological development, one can see that it is a very complex area to deal with. Not just the client, but the family and also public perception (taking into account layman's knowledge, which is bloody scary....psychology is a much more scientific discipline than from years back, but public perception means that many people think themselves expert, or at least able to interpret clinical/research papers well...FACT: they can't without training)

 

[RainyOcean]

I agree, Rett syndrome does not seem to be a female version of aspergers. A female/mostly female version of autism, sure. It sounds like a type of autism, just like aspergers seems to be a type of autism. As you said, it's a spectrum disorder. But Rett Syndrom and Aspergers' Syndrome do not sound like the same thing.

 

[Anonymous]

But as pointed out...could a light version, if you will, of retts be like aspergers? Or indeed, is aspergers actually a form of autism or something different? Questions questions...

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

The link you give and the Wikipedia entry show it isn't autism although it has autistic symptoms and can be included in the Autistic Spectrum for that reason. However, it is distinct from austism and isn't some kind of "Autism for Girls" - it also shares symptoms with cerebral palsy but is different from them both.

 

[TheQuixote]

But as pointed out...could a light version, if you will, of retts be like aspergers? Or indeed, is aspergers actually a form of autism or something different? Questions questions...

No, as far as I can remember, Retts Syndrome brings about quite profound learning difficulties and is quite different to Aspergers.

 

[illuminati37411]

Has anyone heard of hyperlexia? Someone I know was recently told they might have that.

Some of the profs I work with seem slightly "asbergery." Of course, at a certain point the label drops off and one is simply eccentric or a bit odd or bookish. There was an article in Time magazine recently about just that -- Is it permitted to be eccentric now or is everyone who would have just been odd before now going to have a label?

I attend SF conventions from time to time, and a friend and I have discussed at length our theory that many of us SF fannish sorts are slightly Asberger's or maybe even a lot. Or maybe we're just odd. I know that SF fans tend to have pedantic speech patterns -- a linguist who visited our local con said that we all spoke written English. And I didn't realize until reading up on hyperlexia that pedantic speech is a sign of Asberger's. Hmmm.

 

[Anonymous]

I must point out that I work occasionally with a clinical/education/learning needs psychologist (speciality autism and also ...erm...don't tell him I used this phrase...but little uncontrollable bastards who are too used to being given attention) and Retts is definetly viewed as a generally female specific form of autism (by him). One must remember that aspects of autism (both meanings: the disorder and the descriptive) can be found in the symptoms of schizoid patients too. The problem when discussing this area is the specific and loose association of descriptive terminology. When I posed a question regarding whether or not schizoid personality disorders could be another area considered under the spectrum of autism, another expert that I know had to confess that no one is sure. Another thing to remember is that male and female brains are wired differently. It seems absolutely reasonable to suggest that there will be somewhat different forms of this terrible problem. A simple example will suffice: female brains are far more robust when it comes to language - theoretically females should display far less mutism than males...and this does seem to be the case in general. However, so many people think of autistics as either (old phrase) idiot savants ala the rain man that it distorts public perception. By and large the greatest percentage of autistics have serious congitive impairment and most will never speak at all. Please remember, that many psychologists have said that autism robs children of their childhood...that is one of the saddest things I have ever heard. :cry:

 

[RainyOcean]

Well, to be fair, opinions differ as to whether or not Aspergers' is actually autism or not. Many experts believe that Aspergers' is high-functioning autism, while many of them believe that it is something else entirely. Maybe it's the same with Retts Syndrome? It is sad to think of autism robbing people of their childhoods (although, there are quite a few people with autism who through strong intervention have learned to speak and interact in society). However, isn't there also the possiblity that it only seems to be robbing them of their childhood because we are not in their heads, and to us, they don't seem like they could be having a happy childhood? Just because it's not a normal childhood does not mean it is not a happy one. Personally, I believe that most children with autism are happy how they are. That does not mean that we should not intervene though. Of course, we cannot just allow a child to bang his/her head against the wall for hours on end (for example, not saying that all autistic children do this), and if we can teach them to interact with others that would be a good thing, as it is necessary in this society, but that does not necessarily mean that they do not have a childhood (this is just my opinion, of course).

 

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean, but I don't think severe autistics experience the human condition in the way that 'we' do and so I find that sad. The theory of mind idea, once you really start to investigate it, makes one want to help. If autism really isn't due to major damage or lesions in critical areas, and is a mind problem that could be helped with behavioural techniques, then I say interventions should happen. I do not know of a case where an autistic who has gained greater function has said they were happier before. Unlike, many intersexuals who have found that intervention has screwed up their lives.

 

[illuminati37411]

The terrible and severe forms seem so different from some of the less severe forms, which are more in the line of learning disabilities or adult ADD, specific for speech and social skills. Of course no one would want not to try to change the poor children who cannot speak and bang their heads against the wall.

Temple Grandin thinks that if we wipe out all these less severe forms we might end up with no scientists or inventors (not to mention obsessive ticket collectors), which is a thought that has also occurred to me.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, it has been posited that these geniuses displayed forms of autism. But Temple herself had aspergers. She is apparantly...errm..better...and no longer suffers from open mike hearing etc. I wonder how much her views are shaped by her experience and how much by a public who no longer challenge views due to social desirability factors?

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

I must point out that I work occasionally with a clinical/education/learning needs psychologist (speciality autism and also ...erm...don't tell him I used this phrase...but little uncontrollable bastards who are too used to being given attention) and Retts is definetly viewed as a generally female specific form of autism (by him).

Well quite - you can usually find an expert to argue any angle (which makes expert witnesses in court so much fun) - that's why I was going with what seems to be more of a consensus view. Rett's seems pretty well defined in symptoms and cause (it can be diagnosed with a genetic test). From the Wikipedia page:

Rett syndrome (Rett syndrome, Rett's disorder) is a progressive neurological disorder. The symptoms of this disorder are easily confused with those of autism and cerebral palsy. The gene is recessive and can therefore lie dormant for generations. The clinical diagnosis specifies a small head and small hands and feet. Stereotypical repetitive hand movements such as mouthing or wringing are also included as diagnostic signs. Symptoms of the disease include learning disorders and a total inability to socialize. Girls with Rett syndrome are very prone to seizures and GI disorders. They typically have no verbal skills, and about 50% of females are ambulatory.

...

It is, hence, easy to mistakenly diagnose Rett syndrome for autism, or cerebral palsy.

What is Rett syndrome?

Rett syndrome is a complex neurological disorder. It affects mainly girls. Although present at birth, it becomes more evident during the second year. It could occur in any family at any time. Something goes wrong with the genetic makeup of the cells which become the baby. People with Rett syndrome are profoundly and multiply disabled and highly dependent on others for their needs throughout their lives.

Rett syndrome was first described in 1966 by the Austrian doctor, Andreas Rett. It is a complex neurological disorder, genetic in origin. It affects mainly girls. A few boys also have the condition.

At least one in every 10,000 females born has Rett syndrome. It is believed to be the second most common cause of severe and profound learning disability in girls. A large proportion of people who have Rett syndrome have a mutation, or fault, on the MECP2 gene on the X chromosome.

www.rettsyndrome.org.uk/What_is_RS.htm

See also:

www.rettsyndrome.org.uk/Diagnosing_RS.htm

It does, of course, highlight the problems with syndromes (which tend to be defined by symptoms) and the idea of a "spectrum" is even more nebulous. I'm not even sure how helpful it is.

 

[Tyger_Lily]

I do not know of a case where an autistic who has gained greater function has said they were happier before.

I work in a school and part of my job is dealing with children with Asperger's. Believe me, when you see children who do not have any or very few social skills "learning" a new trick or habit to make them more socially accepted then yes, it does change their lives. There is nothing like being accepted by your peer group and fitting in. These children know they are "different" and know they are judged and cannot function like all the other "normal" kids (although define what normality is and I'll give you a million pounds!) so anything which makes them seem like everyone else is fabulous for them. these are lessons learned which they can then take out into adulthood where they can function on a day to day basis. For every 1 person who will accept them there are 5 who won't, even if they say they will.

Not every person with on with ASD is a genius. I work with a boy who is a mathematician beyond comprehension and another who has no particular gifts, just obessions and paranoia bless him.

Women with ASD is very rare and is often mis-diagnosed as a result.

All men are austictic to a degree, a lot of you may not be able to pick up your dirty laundry and hang wet towels up but you all have alphabetized pristine CD collections. I rest my case

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

All men are austictic to a degree, a lot of you may not be able to pick up your dirty laundry and hang wet towels up but you all have alphabetized pristine CD collections. I rest my case

Ah well that'll be down to men prioritisng (even if wrongly) and being crap t multi-tasking :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Wouldn 't dream to argue, however...if men are autistics then women are bipolar depressives :? :lol:

 

[Tyger_Lily]

All men are austictic to a degree, a lot of you may not be able to pick up your dirty laundry and hang wet towels up but you all have alphabetized pristine CD collections. I rest my case

Ah well that'll be down to men prioritisng (even if wrongly) and being crap t multi-tasking :lol:

I dunno, most of you can have a J Arthur and hold a copy of Razzle some I'm sure that counts as multi-tasking!

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

All men are austictic to a degree, a lot of you may not be able to pick up your dirty laundry and hang wet towels up but you all have alphabetized pristine CD collections. I rest my case

Ah well that'll be down to men prioritisng (even if wrongly) and being crap t multi-tasking :lol:

I dunno, most of you can have a J Arthur and hold a copy of Razzle some I'm sure that counts as multi-tasking!

I think you'll ind one of the first things boys do in woodwork class at school is build a handy portable stand (like the ones musicians have but designed more for those who play the pink oboe). Or was that just at my school?

Of course in this day and age we are nerdy enough to have turned that up a few notches (most certianly not work safe):

www.homemade-sex-toys.com/case/

 

[Tyger_Lily]

God in Heaven! Can they make one which hoovers at the same time as well? See, total multi-tasking on the move!

As I work in an all boys school I'll look at the DT lessons in a very different light in future!

Anyway...*ahem* back to autism and alphabetized CD collections.

 

[Anonymous]

No, all my stuff is filed to my own specific coding - what do you mean it's a mess....damn!! BTW, multi tasking is an artifact! Men are just as good at doing two or more simple tasks at the same time. 8)

 

[Yithian]

Autistic brains 'never daydream'

Autistic brains 'never daydream'

Participants underwent brain scans while they carried out tests
People with autism do not daydream, a study has found.

The resting period usually gives time for areas of the brain to process emotional and reflective thoughts.

The University of California research, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, compared brain scans of people with autism and those without.

The scientists said the typical social awkwardness seen in autism may be due to this failure of this "daydreaming" brain network.

Several regions of the brain are highly active during these periods - including the medial prefrontal cortex, the rostral anterior cingulate and the precuneus.

This activity is suppressed when the brain is doing something which demands understanding, or another intellectual process.

'Abnormal processes'

The researchers used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans to monitor brain activity in 15 people with autistic spectrum disorders and 15 healthy people.

While in the scanner, each person carried out a counting task on the computer.

There were 12 30-second test periods interspersed with three 21-second rest periods, where participants were simply asked to look at a fixed image of a cross.

It was found that the activity during rest periods seen in people who did not have autism was absent in those with the condition.

Writing in PNAS, the researchers led by Dr Duncan Kennedy, said: "We speculate that the lack of deactivation in the autism group is indicative of abnormal internally directed processes at rest, which may be an important contribution to the social and emotional deficits of autism."

Richard Mills, director of research for the National Autistic Society and Research Autism, said: "The causes of autism are varied, complex and not yet fully understood.

"This study sheds further light on the neurological factors involved in autism and some of the possible implications for differences in the cognitive profile and social behaviour.

"Such findings will add to our understanding of this spectrum of conditions and it is hoped may also be utilised in the development of effective treatments and other approaches."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4751075.stm

 

[illuminati37411]

Scanned briefly an interesting article in Discover mag -- headline said something like Why have childhood *allergies* risen so dramatically worldwide in recent years? Haven't read the whole article yet. And I just wondered if there could be a connection -- allergies and autism rising at the same time. I heard years ago, not in connection w/ autism, that thimerisol was a nasty allergen, and that some people couldn't tolerate it (it was and may still be used as a preservative in contact lens solutions & I found it made my eyes itch.). So maybe the problem is part of an overall allergy pattern.

Oh, my other theory about the rise in autism is that thru the internet, computer work, and other things like SF cons (no joke) people with some sort of recessive autism gene are meeting each other, hooking up, getting married and reproducing. Maybe "opposites attract" is an evolutionary perogative, not just a popular aphorism. Just a thought. Wonder what happens when two extroverts have children? -- maybe that's where annoying salespeople come from.

 

[Anonymous]

:lol: Wish it did work like that...It would make psychology much easier. I don't think that there is any one environmental cause (if any) for autism. While I agree with EMPs that syndrome can be too wide a term, it certainly has its uses. Spectrum, is not the same thing. In many disciplines e.g. law, it is important to think categorically, the obvious legal example in England being guilty or not guilty. However, that is only one mode of thinking; an alternative is thinking along dimensions. Dimensions can be orthogonal or not. However, when discussing autism, the dimension contains behaviours that may have similar manifestations, but can clearly have different etiologies. That is why many psychologists use a diathesis stress model - basically, you try to take into account as many biological, social, psychological and medical factors as possible...

 

[illuminati37411]

If one doesn't believe that either overdiagnosis or environmental causes are contributing to the increase in autism, then what could be causing the statistical increase? Are we back to the refrigerator mother theory? :?

 

[Anonymous]

No...I'm glad you asked the question. The answer is that I don't think autism is increasing. Autism is now, like many areas of mental health, an industry with leaders and experts. Diagnostic devices are more senstive and that is the worry (probably another thread). Thus, all we are doing is finding autism across a wider spectrum than ever before...for example, how many people have died without cancer being diagnosed? The logic holds. Food for thought: as, in the west, especially the uK, no one in education is allowed to fail, or be blamed for their lack of success, it is easier to cite ADHD, autism or learning disabilities. While I am sensitive to genuine needs, if there is a mental health issue, I passionately feel that many diagnosis are covering a combination of laziness and parental ignorance. It is, after all, easier to blame something than take responsibility... :cry:

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

Re: autism and mmr vaccines

If one doesn't believe that either overdiagnosis or environmental causes are contributing to the increase in autism, then what could be causing the statistical increase? Are we back to the refrigerator mother theory? :?

There are important questions to be asked:

Is Autism (in the strict sense) on the rise or is it just arise in diagnosed cases?

If it is actually on the rise then what is the cause?

With an eye to the first question this report suggest it is really increasing:

www.forteantimes.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 642#510642

To answer the second question this report looks at cases where factors vary (in this case Japan and their use of the MMR vaccine) can help us assess their contribution:

www.forteantimes.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 167#508167

You could probably do similar study to look into whether there is a correlation in other countries - the problem might be that it may be modern living contributes to the rise in allergies but its developed societies that are probably going to be better at diagnosing autism but if they look long and hard enough they might find some data sets for comparison - the problem is that you can really only disprove the link this way. To actually pin the cause down you'd need to also find the mechanism.

The problem is that addressing both require a lot of studies and data collection and analysis which is going to take a long time. Which is no comfort to families and medical staff dealing with the reality of the problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I would suggest that there is no single cause. Invariably there always a number of environmenta//genetic interactions. A correlation is just that...only a correlation (it cannot imply cause). I'm not sure developing nations will help that much at the moment - perhaps India, but I suggest that India is an emerging developed nation (if ya get ma drift). Even so, in places like India, one has to take into account Caste prejudices and the tiny dollar amounts of healthcare across the population.
There again, you still have the same problems as have been suggested before...does greater diagnosis accuracy and availability actually equate to there being an increase in autism? Perhaps, the percentage of the population (globally) suffering from mental illness is far greater than we ever expected. This would be interesting in itself, because one would also have to, if true, redefine the nature of mental illness. Indeed, perhaps mental abberations are the norm!

 

[Mighty_Emperor]

One thing I that comes up a lot is self-diagnosing - now it is possibly just me but I don't know anyone who says they have it who hasn't been and had it diagnosed.

What I've noticed is people diagnosing other people - people have suggested I have it, I (and a number of other family members) reckon my uncles and grandfather (on my mum's side of the family) have it and a friend's wife reckons he has it (although I am unconvinced - he just loves football too much but here in Liverpool that isn't exactly the world's best symptom to judge a diagnosis on ).

Of course, as I say, that is just my own experience.

 

[rynner2]

We did have a thread on older parents, but it seems to have been censored by this useless message board. (I'm not putting this on the other autism thread since it is not to do with vaccines.)

Autism risk linked to older dads

Children with older fathers have a significantly increased risk of having autism, a study has concluded.
The team of UK and US experts said children born to men over 40 had a six times higher risk than those born to men under 30.

They said the study in Archives of General Psychiatry was further proof men also had "biological clocks".

One UK expert said the study could be important in understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying autism.

Autism and related conditions, known as autism spectrum disorders, have become increasingly common, affecting 50 in every 10,000 children as compared with five in 10,000 two decades ago.

Increased awareness and changes in the way the disorders are diagnosed are thought to play a major role in the increase, but the researchers say it may also be linked to other changing factors.

Older parental age has previously been linked to abnormalities in the brain development of children.

Genetic fault

The researchers, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, and the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, looked at data on 132,271 children born in Israel during the 1980s.

All men, and three-quarters of women born in these years were assessed by the draft board at age 17, during which time any disorders were recorded.

The board also took information on the ages of their father and mother, and took into account factors such as year of birth and socioeconomic status.

Among those whose fathers were between 15 and 29 when they were born, the rate of autism was six in every 10,000, rising to nine in every 10,000 when fathers were aged 30 to 39 (1.6 times higher).

In the group whose fathers were aged 40 to 49, the rate rose to 32 in 10,000 (5.75 times higher).

The rate appeared to be even higher when fathers were aged over 50, but the researchers said the sample size was very small.

The mother's age did not appear to influence the chances a child would have autism.

The researchers suggest there may be a genetic fault which is more common with age.

This might be spontaneous mutations in sperm-producing cells or alterations in genetic "imprinting," which affects gene expression.

'Convincing evidence'

The team, led by Dr Avi Reichenberg from the IoP, said: "It is important to keep in mind that age at paternity is influenced by the socio-cultural environment and varies across societies and over time.

"In a given population, a change in the socio-cultural environment could produce a change in paternal age at birth.

"In theory, it could thereby lead to a change in the incidence of genetic causes of autism."

He added: "Although further work is necessary to confirm this interpretation, we believe that our study provides the first convincing evidence that advanced paternal age is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder."

Professor Simon Baron Cohen, of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, said: "The finding of a significant association with advancing paternal age is one that should be straightforward to test in other samples, to see if this result from a purely Israeli sample generalises to other populations.

"If confirmed, it could have important implications for the genetic mechanisms underlying autism."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5313874.stm

 

[Rrose_Selavy]

Asperger's syndrome: The ballad of Nikki Bacharach

Asperger's syndrome: The ballad of Nikki Bacharach
Behind the songwriter Burt Bacharach's apparently blessed life lay a hidden tragedy: his daughter suffered from a developmental disorder. Tormented by the condition, she committed suicide last week
Andrew Buncombe reports
Published: 08 January 2007
The recording of the song you will most often hear these days is an instrumental version complete with lush strings, a backing choir and a gently soaring saxophone solo that rises up out of the brass section.

But in 1966 when Burt Bacharach penned "Nikki" for his prematurely born daughter, there were accompanying lyrics courtesy of his long-time writing partner, Hal David, that spoke of good times and bad: "Nikki, where can you be? It's you, no one but you for me. I've been so lonely since you went away. I won't spend a happy day till you're back in my arms."

Now, four decades after she was born and after that piece of music was written for her, Lea Nikki Bacharach has been swallowed up by the bad times. Having struggled all her life with the developmental disorder Asperger's syndrome (AS) - a form of autism - the young woman known as Nikki took her own life last week. Her body was found in her California home.

Officials from the Ventura County coroner's office said she had suffocated herself using a plastic bag and helium gas.

A brief statement issued by Bacharach and Nikki's mother - his former wife Angie Dickinson, an actress - said their only daughter killed herself at her apartment in the suburb of Thousand Oaks, north of Los Angeles, at about 8pm last Thursday.

"She quietly and peacefully committed suicide to escape the ravages to her brain brought on by Asperger's," it read. "She loved kitties, and earthquakes, glacial calving, meteor showers, science, blue skies and sunsets, and Tahiti. She was one of the most beautiful creatures created on this earth, and she is now in the white light, at peace."

Now 78, Bacharach is still going strong. Last year he recorded a jazz album with the Dutch singer Trijntje Oosterhuis, featuring a number of his classic songs. He played piano on several tracks. The man who for years was known for his work with Dionne Warwick was recently forced to postpone a tour of Australia and New Zealand after injuring his shoulder.

Aside from the personal tragedy this has brought for the man who has written more than 50 top 40 hits including "Walk on By" and "The Look of Love" the suicide of the 40-year-old woman has focused attention on AS, an often misunderstood condition that, like all forms of autism, leaves sufferers struggling with communication, social interaction and imagination. At the same time, people with AS can be high achievers. A number of celebrities have been diagnosed with the disorder.

"Autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects people in very different ways," a spokeswoman for the UK-based National Autism Society (NAS) said.

"You can have classic autism at one end, where people are very clearly affected and may not be able to communicate verbally.... As you move up the spectrum you have high-functioning autism or AS. People with AS usually have a normal IQ but have problems expressing themselves.

"People with AS can lead a very full life - they can be married and have a job. But the right support is needed and [there needs to be] understanding by people such as GPs or social services so that needs can be fully met. It's important that people get support when they need it."

AS was first identified by the late Austrian physician Hans Asperger in the 1940s. In a paper written in 1944 he talked of a pattern of behaviour he had identified in four young boys which he termed "autistic psychopathy". He said this behaviour featured "a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships, one-sided conversation, intense absorption in a special interest, and clumsy movements". He referred to children with AS as "little professors" because of their ability to talk about their favourite subject in great detail.

He wrote: "Exceptional human beings must be given exceptional educational treatment, treatment which takes into account their special difficulties. Further, we can show that despite abnormality, human beings can fulfil their social role within the community, especially if they find understanding, love and guidance."

Named in recognition of Asperger's work, the condition was formally recognised in the US in 1994 when it was included in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In the UK, it was little-known until the work of Lorna Wing, a founder member of the NAS, and currently a consultant, who wrote about it in 1981. Her interest was sparked by the birth of a daughter who was diagnosed with the condition.

Since then there has been a fresh drive into learning more about AS. There have also been claims that a number of brilliant historical figures, including Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, may have had the condition. In 2003, New Scientist magazine reported that the Cambridge-based autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen had analysed the behaviour of the two men and concluded they may have shown typical symptoms.

It said Newton seemed to have been a classic case. "He hardly spoke, was so engrossed in his work that he often forgot to eat, and was lukewarm or bad-tempered with the few friends he had. If no one turned up to his lectures, he gave them anyway, talking to an empty room. He had a nervous breakdown at 50, brought on by depression and paranoia." Meanwhile, as a child Einstein was a loner, and repeated sentences obsessively until he was seven.

Professor Baron-Cohen concluded: "Passion, falling in love and standing up for justice are all perfectly compatible with Asperger's syndrome. What most people with AS find difficult is casual chatting - they can't do small talk." He added: "This condition can make people depressed or suicidal, so if we can find out how to make things easier for them, that's worthwhile."

What causes autism and AS is still unclear. Experts believe a number of factors may be involved, of which genetics may be just one. They also believe that if there is an "autism gene" it is more likely to involve a number of genes rather than one. The NAS says: "The difficulty of establishing gene involvement is compounded by the interaction of genes and by their interaction with environmental factors."

While there is no known cure for autism, there are therapies that doctors use. There are also an increasingly vocal number of activists who believe society should celebrate the differences of people with autism. The Autism Liberation Front, a group founded in the US but with supporters in the UK where about 530,000 people have autism, sells badges with the slogan: "I am not a puzzle, I am a person."

Another group, Aspies for Freedom, says AS and autism are "not negative and not always a disability". Elsewhere, experts say people with AS can often learn tips about improving their social interaction that most people learn largely automatically.

In 2001 the electronic pop pioneer Gary Numan claimed that his difficulty in social situations had led him to believe he had AS. He said: "Polite conversation has never been one of my strong points. Just recently I actually found out that I'd got a mild form of Asperger's syndrome which basically means I have trouble interacting with people. For years, I couldn't understand why people thought I was arrogant, but now it all makes more sense."

Does AS or autism make a person more likely to commit suicide, as in the case of Burt Bacharach's daughter? The NAS spokeswoman said it was difficult to answer because the disorder affected people in different ways. "It's not a mental disorder, it's a developmental disability. It is not a mental health issue per se," she said.

But Dr Wing and others have highlighted issues of psychiatric trauma and varying degrees of depression among young adults with AS, something that seems related to their awareness of their difference from others. One paper on the subject claims that five out of 22 young adults with AS had tried to take their lives.

Bacharach's daughter was born a year after he and Dickinson were married. In their statement, the former couple said their daughter had "lived a happy life in and around Beverly Hills". She had studied geology at California Lutheran University but poor eyesight had prevented her from pursuing a career in it.

Since Nikki's death was announced, internet forums have been filled with condolences for Bacharach. Andre B wrote on the fans' website, A House Is Not A Homepage, that he had met Nikki and her mother three years ago at a party celebrating the birthday of the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. "She was a big fan of astronomy, and loved looking through telescopes," he wrote. "I brought a telescope to Ray's party and showed her and Angie Mars and the Andromeda galaxy. Nikki was fascinated. She had a genuine, child-like sense of wonder about the sky. Angie couldn't have been sweeter or more gracious. I'll never forget that night. This is really sad news."

Asperger's Syndrome: Famous sufferers

Asperger's was not fully recognised as a syndrome until the early Nineties. But psychologists suggest Albert Einstein, Vincent Van Gogh, Stanley Kubrick and Jane Austen may all have been affected by the syndrome.

* GARY NUMAN

Numan was diagnosed with Asperger's in 2001, 15 years after releasing the top 10 hit "Cars". "For years, I couldn't understand why people thought I was arrogant, but now it all makes a bit more sense," he said.

* SATOSHI TAJIRI

Tajiri, the creator of Pokemon, has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. He has been described by Nintendo officials as incredibly creative but "reclusive" and "eccentric," characteristics consistent with Asperger's.

* DAVID BELLAMY

The naturalist and TV presenter Bellamy mentions in his autobiography that, although undiagnosed, he believes he has a form of autism which may be Asperger's.

* VERNON SMITH

The Nobel-prize winning economist has spoken out about the creative benefits of Asperger's. "I can switch out and go into a concentrated mode and the world is completely shut out," he said in a recent interview. "If I'm writing something, nothing else exists."

Kate Thomas

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/ame ... 134839.ece

 

[Kondoru]

Aspergers isnt fatal in itself

did she have depression, if so, eas it diagnosed and treated?