Re: Autism anyone?

SonikSka (SonikSka@aol.com)
Tue, 23 Dec 1997 06:53:01 -0500 (EST)

bonjour
i wasn't quite sure what autism was, past a vague idea of little anti-social
children playing the piano/doing math problems, with someone in the background
saying "what's wrong with little jill?" or something like that.  [from a
random book i read when i was little].  
so i looked it up [definition is reprinted here] , and having done so, i can
say no.  
i don't think that any of the glass children suffered from this disorder.  as
for salinger himself, i would have no way of knowing, but my strongest
instincts would say he is not.  an autistic person would probably possess a
single or several specific talent[s], but what makes them autistic is not that
talent but the lack of its practical application.  
in addition, the glass children did not demonstrate any of the symptoms, other
than those characteristics that come not from autism but merely genius.
[remember that most autistic children are of above average intellect--some of
their 'symptoms' are just common traits of above-average intellect]---what
about teddy then?  does he fall under that category?  i don't know, i just
somehow refuse to believe it---but my mind is open, feel free to convince
me...
AUTISM:
developmental disorder, usually appearing before age three, characterized by
impaired non-verbal and verbal communication, including abnormal speech
patterns or loss of speech; lack of eye contact; a restricted range of
interests; resistance to change of any kind; obsessive repetitive body
movements, such as hand flapping or spinning; a lack of awareness of the
existence or feelings of others; social isolation; and no comfort seeking in
times of distress. Symptoms vary from child to child and can range from mild
to severe. Treatment is experimental, and few autistic children show
significant remission of symptoms.

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