EYE ON AUTISM

By Dan Olmsted

Lately I've been trying to make sense of savants. What is the relationship between autism and the extraordinary abilities that, in a small percentage of cases, accompany it? Rain Man put both autism and savant skills on the map and may have created a bias toward believing that they go together a lot more often than they do.

Read the full article in Spectrum Magazine's April/May issue about savants and autism HERE.

Comments

[Mer]

From the Beethoven article -

"3. Very low (undetectable) mercury levels were reported independently by McCrone Research Institute and Argonne National Laboratory. This provides evidence that Beethoven did not receive medical treatment for syphilis, usually treated in the 1820's with mercury compounds. This supports the consensus of Beethoven scholars who believe that Beethoven never had syphilis."

A while back I got this email - don't know if its true but it might be worth looking into. Here's the relevent part:

"Question 1:
If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids
already, three who were deaf, two who were blind,
one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would
you recommend that she have an abortion?

And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion
question: If you said YES, you just killed
Beethoven."

Maybe Beethoven's mom was given mercury compounds for her syphilis and THAT did him in!! Even trace amounts of mercury can apparently be deadly if there is enough lead to make up the difference.

[John Stone]

An interesting case is Beethoven. Many years ago, we had a talk at school from the head of a local mental institution - a very kind man - who remarked that he had just been reading a biography of Beethoven and he was convinced that he was autistic. I did not think very much of this at the time, but later on it became obvious as I learnt more about it that a lot of Beethoven's inappropriate social behaviour was "spectrum". Recently, it has also come to light that he suffered from extreme lead toxicity. A discussion can be found here:

http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/beethoven/hair/hairtestpc.html

[Kathy]

My 10 yo daughter, Anna, was a calender girl. When she was 4 and 5, she couldn't put a phrase together or answer yes/no questions, but she could tell you anyone's birthday that she heard once, all the holidays and tell you the day of the week each would be on for several years in the future. This skill disappeared as she began to get better.

[Leila]

If you search for "savant autism" in PubMed, you'll find 59 studies.

[Jack]

Our twins are hyperlexic and are much like Monica describes. They were both reading by 2 1/2, lining things up in alphabetical order well before that and can memorize any list you give (among numerous other talents). Spelling something wrong or saying a planet out of order is a hilarious joke to them (at 3 1/2).

They've come a long way with biomed, but they didn't lose these skills for the most part. One especially was amazing at puzzles. Could put them together with the pieces upside down. Knew alphabet blocks by the wood grain on the opposite side of the letter. Now he's just less obsessive and really just doesn't care for puzzles anymore, or at least doesn't HAVE to put them together. I bet he's almost as good as before but not so singleminded. And now when they do something they take great pride in it, whereas before they just finished it, dumped it and started over.

I think one of the happiest days of all, and the day I knew biomed was working, was coming into the room and seeing an alphabet puzzle half-completed (and with a mistake!!!).

I spend most of many days trying to imagine how their minds work and trying to figure out how not squander the wonder that is there.

[Teresa Conrick]

I find this all so interesting. I would really like to see a small study done on kids with and without savant skills. It may answer more questions than we thought regarding autism.

[Monica]

"One belief is that a particular mutated gene may have become prevalent over the centuries, because of selective advantage. Mild mitochondrial dysfunction reportedly has been associated with intelligence, because it can increase activity of the brain's NMDA receptors. A large number of receptors can produce increased intelligence, but it can also increase risk of brain disease, one doctor explained to me. It's possible that increased receptor activity acts in same way."

David Kirby
The Next Big Autism Bomb: Are 1 in 50 Kids Potentially At Risk?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/the-next-big-autism-bomb_b_93627.html

[Tortured?]

Here is an interesting homeopathic case study of a family that has 2 ASD boys with varied savant characteristics. The older boy Jimmy talks about a need for concentration like Jason McElwain and also mentions being "tired" (mito problems?). These kids also seem to be mentally and emotionally tortured to varying degrees. I wonder how many people ask savants how they really feel.

http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/healhomeo0206.htm

[Monica]

Dan, what a wonderful article, thank you! My daughter also has savant skills, but unlike Anna from the story, biomed has not decreased them at all.

After starting biomed at 2 1/2, Jade began talking, and we learned that she knew all her shapes, colors, letters, numbers, etc. Then we noticed Jade reading the word side of her flashcards (her most very favorite toys!) before turning them and seeing the picture. She knew MANY words! We had no idea! We labeled everything in the house with stickers (even us!), and gave her a text only schedule, to which she responded amazingly well.

We started surrounding her with phonics based books and materials. By age 3, she could type and write many of the words, too. (here she is on youtube, typing for the 1st time-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1PCfww3WaU) The first time she said "I love you" spontaneously was typing in that video- still makes me cry! Now, at 4, she can navigate the internet better than most school-age children, and read any word she sees.

I always attributed the hyperlexia to some genetic factor, as myself, my father, and his father (both engineers, LoL), all have begun reading before school, with no instruction. Jade's father can't spell for beans, yet was doing algebra before kindergarten! This has always been a source of interest for me, and recently, I think I read it here (but cannot find it anywhere) that the increased IQ may be linked to mito somehow. I would love to learn more about how these individuals have such amazing skills, it is a subject that has me very curious lately.

Either way, I have not seen any decrease in Jade's skill since we began biomed, in fact, I think it has enhanced them. She truly is the most amazing child I have ever known.

[Karen Atlanta]

Neurons that regrow can comeback stronger - research long term brain potentiating. Chemically damage the brain with just a few toxins and it can auto-recover to some degree, wham a new born with Hg loaded Hep B and get brain damage. Wham 'em again and get Simpsonwood data. More hits with Thimerosal, more symptoms - ala Simpsonwood.
Why are the handful of older adults less severe and higher functioning Rainmen?
Luck and older Birthdays I think.