My neighbor, a loner, is still living in the same home that his deceased parents raised him in. He is impossible to converse with. But he is harmless; habitual and regular as clockwork. He wears the same clothes all year round, regardless of weather or occasion. There are no visitors. 

Or take the case of my cello teacher. She rarely looks me in the eye and is hard to read—expressionless at most times. She has an extraordinary memory for minute details and a distinctly mannerist performance style. Once she starts on her hobby horse (J.S. Bach) she rambles on and is unstoppable, doesn’t even glance at you as you say goodbye and leave.

Recognizing autism.

Autism was first described by child specialists and even today most autism-specific health and education services are designed to cater only to children. Until recently childhood prevalence seemed to be constantly increasing. Community surveys indicate that autism in adulthood is just as common as it is in childhood, although research findings go against the prevailing assumption that autism is on the rise. Astonishingly most cases identified in community surveys are “invisible”—undiagnosed and unrecorded.

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