Concern about autism in 10 month old

'People' may, mamie, but I am not 'people'. I did not say anything untoward and I resent your implication that I did.

Besides, Asperger's covers a spectrum too and some of its manifestations are very, as in VERY, difficult to live with. That I know in abundance but I still don't regard it as altogether a handicap.

Which is all I was saying.

Fennel, could it be that it is simply recognised now whereas it wasn't before? I'm sure that's a factor if not the whole story.

NelliemoserI obviously did not make myself clear. What I was trying to say was that while Aspergers MAY have the advantages Baggs mentions, and I am not convinced, these advantages are more than outweighed by the disadvantages.

We have a family member with Aspergers at the severe end of the spectrum, who is also learning disabled. I can assure you if they have any special advantages and skills we have all failed to see them and it is the problems this disability causes them and everyone round them that we notice.

When GS1 was diagnosed the psychologist explained to him that he had skills that ordinary people hadn't, a great eye for detail and an exceptional memory. She explained that while he could learn a lot of the social skills he needed, ordinary people couldn't "learn" his skills. He was quite happy with that idea. He can be hard work of course and his very literal interpretation of things can cause complications, but we cope.