Re: Talking Heads Singer Says He Grew Out of Autism

[Guest guest]

Because they are attention whores (pardon my French). He must have been feeling the need to be in front of a camera and so he claims autism, especially the "outgrowing it" part to get attention. Its a very fashionable notion that autism can be cured after all, and if he can get attention by saying how he did it, then he's happy.

If on the off chance he actually was autistic, very likely he didn't outgrow it but figured out how to cope with it and function more effectively in society.

But seriously: lots of people are shy and retiring. That doesn't mean they have autism.

In a message dated 1/9/2009 11:36:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, no_reply writes:

Why don't these stars just learn to shut up?

AdministratorNew year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines.

[Guest guest]

It's like Temple Grandin's claim that she has outgrown her Autism.

Right. What's going on is people with red hair dye their hair brown

and then claim they are natural brunettes, claiming that the roots

(sorry Kim ... I know you like the word outgrowth) aren't red because

you can't see 'em. Nope. They're still red heads with brown dye in

their hair.

Raven

>

> Because they are attention whores (pardon my French). He must have

been

> feeling the need to be in front of a camera and so he claims

autism, especially

> the " outgrowing it " part to get attention. Its a very fashionable

notion that

> autism can be cured after all, and if he can get attention by

saying how he

> did it, then he's happy.

>

> If on the off chance he actually was autistic, very likely he

didn't outgrow

> it but figured out how to cope with it and function more

effectively in

> society.

>

> But seriously: lots of people are shy and retiring. That doesn't

mean they

> have autism.

>

>

>

>

> In a message dated 1/9/2009 11:36:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

> no_reply writes:

>

> Why don't these stars just learn to shut up?

>

> Administrator

>

> **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is

making

> headlines. (http://news.aol.com?ncid=emlcntusnews00000002)

>

[Guest guest]

Temple claims she outgrew her autism? Never picked that up. I know Barron claims he "recovered" from it or something of that sort.

[Guest guest]

" Temple claims she outgrew her autism? Never picked that up. I know

Barron claims he " recovered " from it or something of that sort. "

Here is what she says on her website:

http://www.templegrandin.com/templehome.html

" Dr. Grandin has become a prominent author and speaker on the subject

of autism because " I have read enough to know that there are still

many parents, and, yes, professionals, too, who believe that 'once

autistic, always autistic.' This dictum has meant sad and sorry lives

for many children diagnosed, as I was in early life, as autistic. To

these people, it is incomprehensible that the characteristics of

autism can be modified and controlled. However, I feel strongly that

I am living proof that they can. " (Taken from Emergence: Labeled

Autistic) "

In news articles she has claimed to no longer be autistic.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

IMO, part of the confusion is based on terminology and, perhaps,

philosophical differences. For instance, I will be 53 next month, and I

can say that I have, over the years, developed many adaptations from

living in a " neurotypical " society. Me, as a kid (when my mind was

dulled by antipsychotic drugs and, at 11, electroconvulsive treatments),

and me, now (as a tenured college professor), are virtually

incomparable. Nonetheless, I would never say that I have " recovered "

from autism. I have simply learned to adapt.

I suspect that Grandin and others are expressing the same idea in

different words.

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