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What Is Autism?
Autism is generally characterised by difficulties in social interactions and displays of erratic methodical behaviour. The symptoms can be quite varied: they can be mild symptoms like involuntary nervous tics to severe ones like seizures.
There are some studies that show that there are some forms of autism that are more likely to affect specific kinds of people. Autism is a spectrum (which is why the official term is autism spectrum disorder or ASD) that covers conditions like Asperger’s to childhood disintegrative disorder.
Autism, Gender, And Childhood
Genetically speaking, boys are more prone to ASDs – autism in girls is quite rare – with the signs manifesting as early as 12 months old.
It might be tempting to simply conclude that any child showing difficulty in social development or interaction is autistic, but it’s not so cut and dry. Kid’s can be naturally shy, or impulsive, or even a little weird, and that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have ASD.
As with most medical conditions, only a licensed doctor can make an official autism diagnosis, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t accurately diagnose some people who may have exhibited these symptoms in the past – there are quite a few autistic people in history that doctors have retroactively diagnosed.
Famous People And Celebrities With Autism
ASD can be a little tough to deal with, but it doesn’t have to be a hindrance. Many high-functioning autistic adults actually consider their condition an ability, not a disability! In this list, we’ve compiled seven famous celebrities with Asperger's syndrome and other ASD symptoms that have made incredible feats despite their condition:
Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle got her ASD diagnosis fairly late at the age of 47, after stunning the world on her run on 2009’s Britain’s Got Talent. However, she’s taken the news in stride, saying that “It’s a condition that I have to live with and work through, but I feel more relaxed about myself.”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Most historians today believe that musical prodigies like Mozart had ASD since they displayed a lot of the typical traits such as sensitivity to loud noises and difficulty communicating. Still, that stop him from making some of the greatest music the world has ever seen!
Daryl Hannah
Known for her roles on Blade Runner and Roxanne, Daryl Hannah’s autism was diagnosed early, allowing her to adjust her behaviour as she grew older. She still finds it difficult to deal with the demands of Hollywood every now and then, but she’s confident in her abilities and comfortable in her own skin!
Charles Darwin
Many of the early scientific greats often displayed difficulty socialising. The scientist Charles Darwin famously didn’t like social interaction but was very attentive to detail (a trait common to people who have Asperger’s), leading a lot of experts to believe that he was somewhere on the autism spectrum.
Hannah Gadsby
Like Susan Boyle, Hannah Gadsby also got her diagnosis later in life. The rising comedian initially reacted to the news with shock, but she’s come to accept that it’s just another part of her quirky personality: “Now I can understand I can be quite serious and an idiot. It has been quite wonderful really.”
Jerry Seinfeld
While never getting an official diagnosis, Jerry Seinfeld firmly believes he has some form of ASD. One of the symptoms of autism is often restlessness and an inability to keep still, which are all trademarks of his brand of humour. Fortunately, he’s found a way to channel these energies into becoming one of the greatest comedians in the world.
Andy Warhol
Finally, pop artist Andy Warhol might have also suffered from ASD. He’s known for his repetitive artistic style and obsession with certain subjects, which makes many medical experts believe that he was somewhere on the autism spectrum.
So What!?
If there’s anything that you should take from this list, it’s that having autism isn’t necessarily a bad thing! We’re pretty lucky to be living in an age where this disorder is gaining much more awareness.
If you or someone close to you is diagnosed with ASD, know that there are ways that we can help support people that suffer from it.
We might not have a cure, but with so many talented people on the spectrum, there’s no reason to think that ASD should hold anyone back!
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