"Einstein Syndrome," Do You Fit It?

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First, according to my understanding of the work of Dr. Treffert, exceptional memory IS savantism. That is the common thread that ties different savants together into one group. Second, you seem to be under the misconception that Sensory Integration Disorder is not considered to fall within the Autistic spectrum. It is a misdiagnosis in the sense of SID or SSD not being classical autism if that is how they are diagnosed. Until there is an official recognition of SID as a specific sub diagnosis of ASD, it properly falls under PDD-NOS. If the kids in the book match the pattern, the pattern matches the diagnostic criteria for being within the set labeled the autistic spectrum.

These kids also have similarities to some of those with high intelligence and a brain developmental condition called Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) in which either part or all of the corpus callosum is missing (the connecting nerve bundle between the brain's hemispheres).

ACC is a brain-structure diagnosis, determined by a brain scan (MRI or CAT or fetal Sonogram) and not a behavioral diagnosis. "Einstein Syndrome" is a grouping (not a diagnosis) based on behavior, seeming ability level, and familial characteristics (such as having engineers and musicians in the family). Autism spectrum diagnoses are based on behavior, not on structural brain or nervous system anomalies. A relatively high percentage (different studies say 18 - 30%) of those with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum also can receive an autism spectrum behavioral diagnosis. Are the two related? Behaviorally sometimes yes, but the ACC diagnosis is more certain (being based in a missing brain structure), than an autism spectrum diagnosis. Behavior can change or be interpreted differently but people don't seem to be able to regrow a missing corpus callosum. Do any "Einstein children" have Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum? They'd need to have a brain scan to find out.

If an individual fits both the characteristics of the "Einstein Syndrome" as well as the current behavioral criterion of autism or Asperger's Syndrome, is it a misdiagnosis to label them as on the autism spectrum? As long as our psychiatric diagnoses are based in behavior, the diagnosis is valid if behavior is in evidence. When and if behavior changes then the diagnosis can change. An imperfect system, but it is the one we have at the moment. If an autism spectrum diagnosis leads to help for the individual, it seems to be a positive thing, except, of course, for the angst that the autism label can lead to for some individuals and families.

Z

I have:

-Close relatives in analytical occupation
-Close relatives who are professional musicians
-Close relatives who talked late
-Parents have high education level

-High IQ
-High analytical and/or musical abilities
-Unusual concentration and absorption in what they are doing
-Highly selective interests with achievement in some areas and ineptness in others
-Precocious ability to read
-Late in socializing with their peers
-27% of boys dislike meeting new people (I'm not a boy though)
-Like building things
-Like putting puzzles together

I fit into every category apart from my mother did not go to university, mainly due to the more traditional views of my grandparents.

Family Pattern

Close relatives in analytical occupation (engineer, scientist, mathematician) [b][b]Brother is a scientist[/b]
Close relatives who are musicians, sometimes professionally Yes
Close Relatives Who talked late Yes (my mother, my son, all my maternal aunts and uncles)
Parents have high education level (59% four years of college) My Dad, yes. My mother had to stay home and look after siblings, so never went to school. However, she taught herself to read and write, and in adult life was a published author, who taught herself Russian.
Individual Pattern

Majority are boys No
High IQ Allegedly... depending on the test. I'm a graduate and polyglot.
High analytical and/or musical abilities Musically I have a near perfect memory, and clan play many instruments by ear. I'm very good at analysing data, and was torn, when younger, as to whether to go into science or linguistics. (I thought science paid better, but linguistics won.)
Extremely good memory (to photographic) Yes... I remember things I've read once, for years... decades even. I don't have a "photographic" memory, because my spatial awareness is poor, but I have an anally retentive memory, and if I once hear or read a word I remember it forever.
Unusual concentration and absorption in what they are doing Yes
Highly selective interests with achievement in some areas and ineptness in others Yes
Precocious ability to read and/or use numbers and/or use computers I could read fluently by the time I started talking, at three and a half.
Late in socializing with their peers I'm still not really socialising with anyone.
Delayed Speech Development (Two years and up for full sentences) Didn't say a word till I was three and a half, at which point I started in sentences.
27 % of boys dislike meeting new people No
Late in being toilet trained Yes
Fascinated with mechanical things No
Like building things No
Like putting puzzles together No
Strong-willed Yes


Overlaps with characteristics of intellectually gifted and autism spectrum. Personally, I don't see the difference.

“Poetry, art or social skills seldom figure prominently among their interests or achievements, either as children or adults.” I'm a published poet.

I have all except a speech delay (at least noticable, I started saying words early but it takes a lot of time to make sentences).

Actually as I stated in another post, untill scientists stop using behavioral analysis instead of brain/mind analisis you can actually put ES into AS spectrum as a subset. AS spectrum is usefull for political purpose in order to keep "neurodiversity advocacy" going as stated by Inventor (we must be united) but as therapy (both comportamental and medical) is needed is a curse. It's far better to divide people by their "brain wire" instead of how much they work well. An highly analytical LFA will probably have more in common with "Einstein's syndrome" than with an LFA picture thinker

Walking the talk topic

I really do not see why talking late is a problem if in other areas the child is progressing well. A hearing deficit could also be the reason for talking late.

Perhaps the quiet child is busy in her/his head, doing his/her own analytical thing. delayed speech is not always pathological.

The assessment of a child is individual, with comparisons as means, not the be all and end all.

One thing I really admire about Einstein. It's said Einstein thought about The Theory Of Relativity after reading a children's book. He also believed scientific theories should be so easy a child can understand them. He understood the profundity in simplicity and that theories have more power and relevance when stated that way.

I have all of them except for parents having education and the main one talking late. (I talked way early)
Not really sure I understand what this is tho.

I have the following:

Family Pattern

Close relatives in analytical occupation (engineer, scientist, mathematician)
Close relatives who are musicians, sometimes professionally
Close Relatives Who talked late - not sure
Parents have high education level (59% four years of college)

Individual Pattern

Majority are boys
High IQ - by most tests I've taken
High analytical and/or musical abilities - not sure what defines "high," but I would say I'm above average
Extremely good memory (to photographic)
Unusual concentration and absorption in what they are doing
Highly selective interests with achievement in some areas and ineptness in others
Precocious ability to read and/or use numbers and/or use computers
Late in socializing with their peers
Delayed Speech Development (Two years and up for full sentences) - not sure
27 % of boys dislike meeting new people
Fascinated with mechanical things
Like building things
Like putting puzzles together

Family Pattern

Close relatives in analytical occupation (engineer, scientist, mathematician)
Close relatives who are musicians, sometimes professionally
Close Relatives Who talked late
Parents have high education level (59% four years of college)

Individual Pattern

Majority are boys
High IQ
High analytical and/or musical abilities
Extremely good memory (to photographic)
Unusual concentration and absorption in what they are doing
Highly selective interests with achievement in some areas and ineptness in others
Precocious ability to read and/or use numbers and/or use computers
Late in socializing with their peers
Delayed Speech Development (Two years and up for full sentences)
27 % of boys dislike meeting new people
Late in being toilet trained
Fascinated with mechanical things
Like building things
Like putting puzzles together
Strong-willed