Autism and Asperger's related to High Tech? - Asperger's Syndrome Message Board

kitswan · 04-18-2004, 09:07 AM

Being only 5 days into my son's journey, I have been on the internet sponging up all the info I can find. I came across an article, which I found interesting, relating to "The Geek Syndrome". According to this article, many computer industry individuals are walking around with Autism and/or Asperger's, and there is an enourmous occurance of both in the Silicon Valley.

In reading through the article, I saw many characteristics of my boyfriend (a high level computer developer) AND his two older boys from his first marriage. My 29 month old was just diagnosed, and my 1 y/o has not, althought he is not speaking yet, at 18 months.

Does anyone have any input to this theory?

Thanks, I appreciate all the info I can get!

Kit

laellis1975 · 04-20-2004, 07:48 PM

I don't feel that asperger's is really related to high tech. My son has asperger's syndrome, he is almost 11, and doesn't show really any interest towards high tech stuff, although it is a very common interest in alot of others with asperger's. However, that is not to say that it will always be this way though! He may surprise me yet as his interests do change, however they seem to only change every few years. He had been interested in dinosaurs from the age of four, and only changed his interest in the past year or so to cobra's, which he has been asking to have as a pet! Not going to happen of course! Anyway, from my understanding though, many many people with asperger's do tend to lean towards the more technical stuff, but I am not convinced yet that it is a for sure thing for most of them, if you find out more info on it though, I would be interested in it as well. Good luck!

hear_Bush_oink · 04-22-2004, 12:03 PM

My brother is 20 and was just diagnosed with Asperger's (finally, an accurate diagnosis!) and he's been a "computer freak" for the better part of his life. I have heard a lot about people with Asperger's being very much into electronics and whatnot.

haemju · 04-22-2004, 12:35 PM

Many brilliant people have been known to posess asperger type behaviors. Bill Gates for one, Albert Einstein and so on. Yes, it is proven that many people with aspergers and high functioning autism tend to gravitate to computers and the engineeing fields. These are both technical fields, and don't require a lot of social interaction. I bet you are wondering about me??????? My husband is an engineer. I bet if you took a poll you would find a very strong connection to these fields.

jerrie97 · 04-22-2004, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hear_Bush_oink

My brother is 20 and was just diagnosed with Asperger's (finally, an accurate diagnosis!) and he's been a "computer freak" for the better part of his life. I have heard a lot about people with Asperger's being very much into electronics and whatnot.

I have Asperger's syndrome also, and am also a computer freak. I've been using the computer for 5+ hours a day since I was about 10. heh.