While the Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has never confirmed his diagnosis publicly, his daughter Phoebe Gates recently said on Call Her Daddy podcast that her father has Asperger’s syndrome. “For the guy, it’s terrifying. For me, it’s hilarious because my dad’s pretty socially awkward,” the 22-year-old said.Asperger’s syndrome’s classification under autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is recent. Before 2013, Autism and Asperger’s were considered two different conditions. The neurodevelopmental condition causes issues in social communication, restrictive interests, and leads to repetitive behaviours. People with Asperger’s typically have average or above-average intelligence and no significant delay in language development. Symptoms often include trouble with eye contact, interpreting social cues, speaking in a monotone voice, rigid routines, and hyperfocus on specific interests.While Gates never talked about his diagnosis, in his memoir Source Code, he wrote that if he were growing up today, he would likely be diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The billionaire and philanthropist noted that the term “neurodivergent” was non-existent in the 90s and said there was no way for his parents to know why he “became so obsessed with certain projects, missed social cues, and could be rude and inappropriate without seeming to notice his effect on others.”
Apart from Bill Gates, other notable personalities like Elon Musk and Greta Thunberg have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome too. Elon Musk talked about his diagnosis in 2021 while hosting Saturday Night Live, where he said during his opening monologue, “I’m actually making history tonight as the first person with Asperger’s to host SNL… or at least the first to admit it.” Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist, has also talked about her Asperger’s diagnosis, referring to it not as a limitation but as her “superpower.”
In pop culture, several fictional characters are widely interpreted as exhibiting traits consistent with Asperger’s. These include Dr Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, whose rigid routines, literal thinking, and lack of empathy mirror the condition. Other examples include Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, with her social detachment and intense intellectual focus, Dr Gregory House from House M.D., known for his blunt social demeanor and obsession with medical puzzles, and Dr Temperance Brennan in Bones, who displays analytical brilliance alongside social difficulty.
Do people with Asperger’s display social awkwardness?
People with Asperger’s often struggle with eye contact, reading social cues, and may appear emotionally flat or overly focused on specific interests. This may also make them socially awkward as they have problems understanding the nuances of body language, and engaging in back-and-forth conversation. They may prefer routine, speak in a monotone, and miss subtleties in conversation. However, many have strong verbal skills and high intellectual functioning.While the diagnosis of the disorder typically occurs between ages 5 and 9, even adults can seek assessment,Treatment may involve behavioural therapy, social skills training, and sometimes medication to manage related conditions like anxiety or depression.
Symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome
According to WebMD here’s a list of symptoms:Have trouble making eye contactFeel and act awkward in social settingsHave trouble responding to people in conversationMiss social cues that other people find obviousStruggle to read body languageDon’t understand what facial expressions meanShow few emotionsSpeak in a flat, robotic toneTalk a lot about one topic such as rocks or football statsRepeat words, phrases, or movementsDislike changeKeep the same schedule and habits, such as eating the same mealsIn adults, it may cause clumsiness, but they may have strong verbal skills. People may be obsessed with a topic, face social difficulties and may be hypersensitive.It is not known yet what causes Asperger’s, but I think that it may involve genetics and brain abnormalities. Asperger’s is not the result of parenting methods or upbringing. With the right therapy, people with Asperger’s can do well in life and control some of the social and communication challenges they face.