Freedom of expression (Times Newspapers)

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Freedom of expression

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen reports on advances in helping children with autism to understand feelings

Autism comes by degrees. People with the milder form, Asperger’s syndrome, display communication difficulties and “obsessional” interests. In severe cases, however, it can be as if your child is locked in a glass bubble, staring vacantly past you as you desperately try to make eye-contact.

The thought of never being able to fully communicate with your child, or to know what is going on inside his or her mind, can be heartbreaking. And this is not helped by the fact that autism is still the focus of many wild claims and misconceptions. However, with a recent report stating that autism costs the UK economy £28 billion a year, a better public understanding of this condition is desperately needed.

Fortunately, in my 26 years of working with people with autism and their families, and now as director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, I have seen vast improvements in the understanding of autism by the medical, psychological and educational professions, and among the public. I have also seen the growth of educational and clinical provision, and specialist techniques improve, so now we have the capability to provide excellent support for people with autism and their families. Here are the latest scientific theories on what causes autism, beneficial interventions and some commonly held myths.

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I like the video game idea, when I was young people talked about me, but not to me.

We need more input, not less.

I became obsessive about books for they did feed my mind. It could have been done by the people around.

I think that the beginning of the social disconnect, humanity hung up on me.

I spoke from book knowledge, never learned people skills.

Computers may soon be the answer, interactive speaking programs, that develop those pathways.

My first will be, Making Girls Think you are Hot! Got to start somewhere.

Anyone know what the most comprehensive Asperger's Syndrome test in the world is right now?
I know AS isn't very much understood yet, but I sure would like to be measured to the fullest extent currently available.