Undiagnosing Grandin (essay)

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Undiagnosing Grandin
Jake Raymond
June 6, 2016

Twelve years ago, a blogger named Jonathan Mitchell wrote a post styled as a scholarly-researched paper called "Undiagnosing Gates, Jefferson, and Einstein." As the name suggested, it challenged the retroactive diagnosis of Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein with autism and questioned the assumption that Bill Gates has the same condition. In such a manner, this essay sets out to challenge the idea that yet another figure whose name is thrown around much in subjects relating to autism is autistic. However, unlike the others, this person has actually had a diagnosis (which will later be demonstrated to be possibly faulty). This person is known as perhaps the most famous person with such a diagnosis in the English-speaking world: Dr. Temple Grandin.

Dr. Grandin has been diagnosed. How can her autism be challenged? There is no evidence in any of her works to suggest that she was diagnosed more than once. The only time she has said that she was diagnosed was in the late forties or early fifties, a time when, by her own admission (Grandin 9), autism had no specific definition. Faulty definitions aside, this means that no psychiatrist has sat down with Dr. Grandin and told her that she does or does not have autism in over half of a century.

Why would more than one diagnosis be necessary? Thomas Sowell answered that question in his book The Einstein Syndrome. Throughout the book, which he wrote with help from psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Camarata and which was praised by linguistic specialist Steven Pinker, Sowell lists examples of children who spoke later than usual, initially had an autism diagnosis or similar, and shed that diagnosis after some time (Sowell 61-86). But that does not necessarily apply in every case. Surely, she was not diagnosed with autism based on speaking late alone. She had other "symptoms."

"Symptoms" is in quotes because whether they can be called such is debatable. In her book The Autistic Brain, Dr. Grandin occasionally speaks about her "symptoms." The first is her thinking in pictures. Most autistic people don't think in pictures, and thinking in pictures is not at all restricted to autistic people. Practically every other behavior of hers that she says is "autistic" are either vaguely described or not particular to autism. She said as a child that she was "sensitive" and displayed "destructive behavior" (Grandin 3) and that her short term memory to this day is "bad." (33) Did she have convulsions at fluorescent lights? Did she intentionally throw dishes on the ground? How is her short term memory different from the general population? Answers to any of these questions can not be found in The Autistic Brain. Of those "symptoms" not particular to autism, she mentions her fascination with spinning objects which she never says lasted beyond her early childhood (3), her relatively large head (which she explicitly states is only found in a fifth of autistic people) (33), and enlarged amygdalae which can also occur in non-autistic individuals (ibid).

Anyone who keeps tabs on Dr. Grandin can see behavior that is rare in autistic people. She has publicly spoken on a regular basis since the 1980s with almost no visible stage fright. This is rare in the general population and almost unheard of otherwise in autistic people. The same can be said of her semi-regular transcontinental travel. In her own writing, she has remarked on her ability to stand completely still for a half hour several times throughout the years for MRIs (21). Even given that autism is a spectrum, one simply cannot ignore that Dr. Grandin does not have a debilitating social deficit or a fear of travel, and that her self control is fair, at least for an autistic person.

So what is with her? She is definitely a peculiar woman. The answer may lie in Thomas Sowell's Einstein Syndrome, mentioned earlier in this essay. It is very likely that she has the condition mentioned in that book, Einstein syndrome (which will be mentioned as ES for the rest of the essay). She was late in talking, certainly. Otherwise the symptoms of ES are as follows:
• Outstanding and precocious analytical abilities and/or musical abilities [applies to Grandin]
• Outstanding memories [applies to Grandin]
• Strong wills
• Highly selective interests, leading to unusual achievements in some areas and disinterest and ineptness in others [applies to Grandin]
• Delayed toilet training
• Precocious ability to read and/or use numbers and/or use computers [applies to Grandin]
• Close relatives in occupations requiring outstanding analytical and/or musical abilities
• Unusual concentration and absorption in what they are doing [applies to Grandin]
(Sowell 112)
Dr. Grandin fits at least five of the eight symptoms of ES, and the other three can't be said for certain. A "strong will" is somewhat subjective, and she hasn't written enough about the other two.

The symptoms mentioned, at first glance, sound much like autism. Sowell mentions a few differences, the principal one being a lack in ES children of a debilitating social deficit beyond early childhood. In a study of 239 children that may have had ES that Sowell and Dr. Camarata undertook in the early 2000s, 87% lied in the "below average" range to "above average" range, with 47% in the former (13). This may just indicate introversion, and nobody debates that Dr. Grandin is an introvert. In that same study, only 15% of the girls studied disliked meeting new people, which Dr. Grandin does not show much difficulty with, as she is constantly interviewed.

What does this mean? Dr. Grandin has spent the last thirty years telling the world she has a condition that she may not have. There is probably no malicious intent on her end. She may not know about Einstein syndrome. She may be the type of person who takes a very early diagnosis by a psychiatrist at face value instead of investigating other possibilities or diagnoses. Even if the thought, "I may not be autistic," has crossed her mind, she may have dug herself into a hole too deep. It has become practically impossible to pick up English-language autism resources without her name being mentioned at least once. But if she is as into the pursuit of knowledge and truth as she says she is, she should prepare a response to this essay if she catches wind of it. In so doing, she may help others diagnosed previously with autism become more accurately diagnosed with ES instead, both now and in the future rather than being hindered by a label that "doesn't quite fit." If she is indeed autistic, she has nothing to lose, and if not, it is her responsibility as a seeker of truth to tell the world the truth.

Works cited
Grandin, Temple. Autistic Brain, The. Boston & New York: Mariner Books, 2013. Print.

Mitchell, Jonathan. "Undiagnosing Gates, Jefferson, and Einstein." Web blog post. Jonathan Mitchell. 2004. Web.

Sowell, Thomas. Einstein Syndrome, The. Basic Books, 2001. Print.



I will ignore any personal attacks against Mr. Mitchell and anyone who decries Mr. Sowell's book without a clear explanation.

Hmm, so now even Temple Grandin isn't immune from people being skeptical about her right to claim to be autistic? Terrific, what hope do ANY of the rest of us have for defending ourselves against cynics, lol. I find it interesting that you joined WP today and this is the first post you make, particularly in light of the fact that in the last couple of days, one of the topics that have been very active and stayed near the top of the lists is the one about aspies being suspicious of other people either diagnosed or claiming they fit autism. Hmm.

As for your skepticism regarding Temple's ability to travel or speak publicly, or the ability for the same among autistics -- there are people with autism diagnoses who live public lives and who travel. You appear to trying to suggest that because Grandin can do these things, it backs up the claim that she's not autistic.

Wow. Same old same old here.

No person's claim to an ASD is beyond scrutiny. And I joined WP specifically with the intention of informing the ASD community about misdiagnosis.

Of course no person's claim to anything is "beyond scrutiny," but I find your timing and your sudden appearance, in addition to your claim that you "joined WP specifically with the intention of informing the ASD community about misdiagnosis" very odd timing, considering that the concept of misdiagnosis is already very thoroughly discussed here.

What makes you think you need to be on some kind of mission about this? And why right now, when lately the bone of contention regarding skepticism of people's diagnosis has been one of the most active discussions just of late?

What axe are you grinding? Do you not think this is already something "the community" is plenty aware of, to the point that people get beaten over the head with it here?

Who are you really, what's your usual identity? This all whiffs of stirring a pot, to me.

There's no doubt that Temple Grandin is autistic--none whatsoever. The proof is in the pudding!

She was recently diagnosed with Asperger's. I'm not a professional. But she seemed to have many features of Kanner Autism, especially when she was young.

Bird, I don't come here often and wasn't aware that was a major topic lately. As for my identity, I am Jake Raymond. I was misdiagnosed with autism at a young age. I am 5'8", 125 lbs, live near Nashville and will start studying Chinese and computer science this year at Western Kentucky. If you think I am some old rival here, I assure you today is seriously the first day I've posted anything on WP.

Kraft, a psychiatrist can't even give that diagnosis anymore without risking being barred. It isn't recognized by the DSM-5.

I wasn't hoping for real-life details and your name -- it's not really safe to post your real name, location etc. on the internet. But yes I was wondering if you are normally on WP as someone else, and I was asking if that is the case and what screenname do you usually use, but evidently you're genuinely new.

Diagnosis of autism is ridiculously varied in method and not always a precise science, even to the professionals. Many here on WP seem to be aware of that, as it's something that does get mentioned in the course of discussions. Apparently brain scans can show certain differences between typical NT activity and that of someone thought to be on the autism spectrum, but for the most part there isn't yet any one definitive test that proves beyond a doubt that someone is what's deemed to be autistic, and there lies the rub.

It's because there is this margin of doubt that even some autistics seize upon the validity of other autistics' diagnoses. And they do raise issues such as "You can travel and speak publicly... you can't be autistic..."

There's an active topic right now that discusses the issue of autistics being suspicious of other autistics, both diagnosed or speculated.

If there were a blood test, a definitive brain scan, a gene/DNA assessment, anything that could finally put to bed whether or not someone is autistic or misdiagnosed, I'd be first in line to establish for sure. Because until there is, people are still going to try to invalidate other people, and in my personal view this is already a problem on WP at least intermittently.

This is why I wonder if you are stirring that pot, particularly since you put Grandin up for doubt, a figure whom most people feel can be more taken for granted than most, an assumption that she of all people is probably not misdiagnosed. Thus, if even she can be questioned, then the rest of us can just give up defending our diagnoses as accurate. This feels like the thrust of your post.

https://youtu.be/yX-OkV_2z8A

https://youtu.be/7aRj1fbH1_w

You think it's unheard of for people with Autism to speak in public?

The OP offers and excellent example of cherry picking evidence. Completely ignores or blows off everything that doesn't fit his theory.

And yes, it is rather mean to run around declaring self-declared people to not be autistic. There is no hard test for Autism. We could all be in the same boat. In fact, its rather likely that there is no such thing as Autism. That what we call autism today is a bunch of different problems thrown in together because they have similar symptoms.

BTW, I public speak. There are LOADS of other people diagnosed with Autism who also do so. I am a certified special education teacher who has worked with many autistic people. Grandin is completely typical of Autistic people, within the natural variations of who we are and how we present in the world. She fits right in.

This thing where you think that you joined here to "inform us about misdiagnosis." REALLY? You are spending your days in a community to which you don't belong, trying to NT-splain what autism really is??? Isn't there something better you could be doing with your time?

This essay has the sophistication of a high school or freshman college term paper, which approximately matches Jake's age. The primary criticism I have is that the diagnosing or undiagnosing of Temple Grandin from written material is as invalid as retrospective diagnosis of dead individuals from biographical material, which is almost always secondary sources. To validly diagnose or undiagnose Dr. Grandin we would need psychiatrist's notes and perhaps test results, which we are not privy to, nor should we be. We also would need the sophistication of a seasoned clinician in this field, which of course Jake does not have, to evaluate the evidence.

One other quibble: the past tense of to lie is lay (except in the case where the verb means "to tell an untruth," which is not the case here). It's a rookie mistake, and not the most egregious shortcoming of the essay, but simply a hint that this writing is "not ready for prime time."

So one diagnosis not enough for you. How many proffesional diagnosis would it take to satisfy you, 5,10? I suspect none because you have probably made up your mind that most autism diagnosis are misdiagnoses.

As they say money talks so if you or the authors of The Einstein Syndrome are willing to pay me to get however many diagnosis you think I need I will gladly take it. If you do not have the money I hear seeting up a GoFundMe account can be quite lucrative. If you are not willing to pay me as the rest of the expression goes BS walks.

So basically because she's done some public speaking and travel, she's not autistic?

I doubt the public speaking came natural to her, there is nothing in the criteria that says 'autistic people cant learn to publicly speak ever or they aren't autistic.' Also is she a good, charismatic public speaker that can keep the crowd interested, enthusiastic or engaged in what is being said? Or does she monologue/recite facts?


Also where do you get that the criteria states people with autism can't travel? depending on severity an autistic person might need help traveling...but it's not like we spontaneously combust upon traveling away from home.

I just don't think you have the qualifications to undiagnose her, also she's a human she might not be correct about everything she puts in her books, it's not like shes the ultimate authority on autism. As someone on the spectrum I can see it being a bit difficult to separate what traits could be tied to the autism and which ones aren't. The diagnostic criteria only looks at the impairing symptoms but there are traits tied to autism that aren't of that nature, then again a lot of those could just be traits that coincidentally occur a lot more in autism more than neurotypicals. Basically even if she is wrong about some of what she says, that doesn't mean her diagnoses is inaccurate.

Also 'Einstein syndrome' isn't even a real diagnoses.

There is a useful principle called Occam's Razor, in which one chooses the simplest explanation that works.

In deciding whether Temple Grandin has autism or not, I think it is much more plausible that she has it than any other explanation for her ability to help parents care for kids that have been diagnosed with autism.

You don't have to be a great public speaker if you know the information everyone seeks.

I think the main problem with her is she kind of seems to think her experience of autism, is exactly the same as anyone else on the spectrum thus any medications/treatments or whatever help her should help anyone else on the spectrum. But that is not really the case, it does depend a lot on the individual. I've heard she takes SSRI antipdepressants however those don't do anything useful for me, just gives me side effects. But that she's on the spectrum I don't really doubt.

ASpartofMe, her only diagnosis was made when autism wasn't well defined or researched.

SweetLeaf, I haven't met any autistic people that can speak on front crowds that large that well. I haven't that many people that can do that period. And parents of autistic children complain that traveling with them is a chore and a half.

League_Girl, I didn't speak until I was three and am very stubborn. But I haven't had a social deficit since early childhood.