Most people in IT have a form of Autism

**Keldorn** · 16 October, 2009, 09:15 AM

Well I was searching online to find information on what makes programmers think and why I think the way I do, I came across many authoritative articles pointing to a disorder called Aspergers which is a form of Autism. Apparently almost everyone in IT has this. Including even Bill Gates. In Bill's example he shows the "rocking movement" YouTube - Bill Gates Rain Man that is common among people with Asperger.

From Wired

"It's a familiar joke in the industry that many of the hardcore programmers in IT strongholds like Intel, Adobe, and Silicon Graphics - coming to work early, leaving late, sucking down Big Gulps in their cubicles while they code for hours - are residing somewhere in Asperger's domain. Kathryn Stewart, director of the Orion Academy, a high school for high-functioning kids in Moraga, California, calls Asperger's syndrome "the engineers' disorder.""

From computerworld:

""Is there a connection between Asperger's and IT? We wouldn't even have any computers if we didn't have Asperger's," she declares. "All these labels -- 'geek' and 'nerd' and 'mild Asperger's' -- are all getting at the same thing. ... The Asperger's brain is interested in things rather than people"

Here are some articles.

Here is test using http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_Spectrum_Quotient

Test: Wired 9.12: Take The AQ Test

"80% of people with a diagnosis of autism have AQ scores over 32"

My score was
AQ:33

**Shenron** · 16 October, 2009, 09:26 AM

Score: 38

Mmmmm... Now I'm worried.

**Keldorn** · 16 October, 2009, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Shenron

Score: 38

Mmmmm... Now I'm worried.

Welcome to the party.

**dmi** · 16 October, 2009, 10:28 AM

Score: 24

I guess I am still safe.

**Kovich** · 16 October, 2009, 10:59 AM

I've actually been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.
It's ideal for me because of my scientific career field in addition to my online business activities.

I think that AS has made my life significantly more interesting in a number of ways. On a similar note, my brain is actually extremely complex. Emotions never really clicked with me, but anything analytical was right on track. (This is typical with AS.) Furthermore, I was blessed with an above-genius IQ and a innate ability to grasp almost any sort of material with little to no effort. To me, things like calculus, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical engineering - (the things I work with on a daily basis) - in addition to simpler things like online business, come almost naturally. I can recall reading books on Astrophysics when other children were learning how to tie their shoes. (Funny enough, I actually have never mastered the simple task of tying shoes... go figure.)

My brain also has an extremely rare abnormality where I can process two individual and completely unrelated thoughts simultaneously, with the full power of what a human would give something if he were focused on a subject entirely. In other words, if you were to sit down and truly focus as hard as you could on one subject, my brain does that times two naturally, putting essentially 100% on Subject A and 100% on Subject B. While this sounds brilliant, it's actually quite depressing because it leaves you with constant thoughts 24/7 - never a moment of silence or true relaxation.

What a fascinating insight into Kovich, eh? ^

Anyway - Asperger Syndrome is extremely common in fields such as science, engineering and information technology. Prime examples of people with AS were Einstein, Di Vinci, and more. The OP listed some more recent ones. Even the familiar television character Dr. House has all the characteristics of AS. It's funny how something that's typically considered to be a negative aspect is a common trait in most of the highest functioning human beings.

**texashiker** · 16 October, 2009, 14:03 PM

My score

Agree: 2,4,5,6,12,13,16,21,23,35,39,43,46: 1 point
Disagree: 11,17,24,37,40,48: 1 point

Score: 19

The higher the score, the more likely you are to have autism?????

**Keldorn** · 16 October, 2009, 15:45 PM

The higher the score, the more likely you are to have autism?????

Its not autism. Its Aspergers, which is related to autism, but it gifts the person inflicted with it more IQ at the cost of poor social cognition --- But 19 would indicate your probably Normal. You have to score above 32 according to the test to be worried.

Originally Posted by Kovich

What a fascinating insight into Kovich, eh? ^

Yes very fascinating. Though I have not had a diagnostic test done by a doctor this sounds like my where problems and strengths come from. I'm really horrible at social situations and dont have much emotion. I'm dull in the sense. That description in the Wikipedia article sound like me... I would agree that it does suit well with making money online. I can focus indefinitely on the narrow topic of computers and slowly build my knowledge of it. (which I already have amassed in great deal). I'm well moving on into programming. I probably have all the traits of aspergers myself.