Autism Is Not A Disease

Published December 14, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi guys,

I originally encountered your podcasts when Series 1 of Westworld was on air and have been an avid follower of all your prodigious output since.

I really enjoy listening to the verbal interplay as you dissect an episode of a TV show or a film. And find that I learn more about what is going on listening to yourselves, than I do from simply watching episodes repeatedly.

I listened to every episode of the American Gods podcast, even though I loathed the series and loved the book – make of that what you will. I can take or leave Taboo, but yourselves made a big difference to my understanding and appreciation of the series.

Today I listened to the Watchmen Newstand for episode 8 and found myself in a rather weird position. In that you read an email from a lady who felt that Dr.Manhatten was (potentially) on the Spectrum – autistic, although I prefer the term Aspie.

The weird situation is that I found myself unreasonably annoyed or frustrated by the comment from one of you (I do not recall who now) that autism is a disease; but at the same time I fully understand that it is something that is absolutely not understood by the vast majority of people world wide.

This is categorically NOT a criticism of any of you.

Aspie is a short form of Asperger’s, and is (or rather was) a condition named after the Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger, who first identified it in 1944. Recently the DSM-5 has removed the Asperger’s classification and rolled it into the more generic Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

I am, essentially, an undiagnosed Aspie. In that I have not undergone formal Psychological testing and investigation to confirm such a diagnoses. I do, however, exhibit many of the “classic” diagnostic traits for an formal Aspie diagnosis.

The lady who emailed your good selves left me with the impression that she was worried regarding her son and what the future may hold for him. I’d like to suggest, if the lady in question would appreciate such a thing, that you forward my email address onto her.

This for no other reason than to offer a modicum of reassurance that a fulfilling life is possible and in no way out of reach for her son. I moved to Ireland from the UK for work in 2003, I’ve just this year turn 50, I’ve been very happily married for 8 years to a wonderful lady. We have two great children (James, 8 and Saoirse – phonetically pronounced “Sir-sha”, which is Irish for Freedom -, 6). I’ve been constantly employed within the IT industry since 1991 and have a full and satisfying life, with a brilliant home/family life and a small group of very close friends.

The “um actually” bit is that ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is categorically not a disease. It is a neurological-developmental difference from what would be regarded as Neurotypical (NT). Broadly speaking it is a development neurological wiring difference in the way that ASD people process sensor input and logical thought processes.

It isn’t wrong, bad, or (the only thing I hate) something that may be “cured”. Any proposed “cure” would require a radical re-wiring of the brain and thus would irreparably change who I am. And almost certainly terminal as well.

I have, as all ASD people have, the full range of possible human emotions. Our reactions to emotions in others will almost always be thought of as weird. This is because a huge amount of emotional information is transmitted via the eyes; and ASD people will, mostly, not be aware of this as it doesn’t register with us. Thus we tend to be known for avoiding eye contact and thus considered by NT society to be untrustworthy or deceitful.

As an example of this, my wife and I can rapidly descend into arguments because I simply do not understand why she is annoyed or upset. It isn’t because I don’t care, it is because I am incapable of picking up on the subconscious queues that NTs don’t even know they are processing.

I can do this, pick up on those queues, but it is horrifically mentally tiring as I need to consciously work through and work out and (in most cases) guess what my wife is thinking and feeling. We’ve been together for 11 years and I still get that wrong more than I get it right – such is life.

Anyway (um actually rant over), I really do want to thank you all for your outstanding hardworking and commitment to everything “Shat”. Keep up the good work, take it easy, and be nice to each other!

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all of you and your families (and significant others). And I truly look forward to listening to all your future podcast work.

Oh yes, I agree with the lady who wrote in, Dr.Manhatten is certainly on the Spectrum – almost certainly HFA (High Functing Autistic) – Aspie, in other words.

Take it easy guys,

Gary Hicks

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