We're still waiting on results for Simon's Autism Spectrum Disorder testing, but certainly I've spent a fair amount of time reading about it. It's a really broad set of things that can have a very broad range of severity, and honestly I'm not sure I would even consider some of it as a "disorder," if it's not severe. I've also learned that there is quite a bit of disagreement about some of the things that are typically described as ASD, especially the alleged lack of empathy. Some experts (and undoubtedly a great many parents) argue that the kids don't suffer from a lack of empathy, they just don't process the social cues that would necessarily trigger empathy. I can see why people are passionate about the subject, because finding common links among behavior, kids, genetics, environment, etc., is hard.
For me the learning is even more personal, because I am more convinced than ever that I may have fit very cleanly into one of these ASD categories as a child, specifically Asperger Syndrome. It explains so much of my childhood social behavior, intellectual pursuits, and issues I had. AS was not widely known in the 80's, when I was in grade school, so teachers and doctors would not have had any idea that I might have these issues.
As an adult, I think I have mitigated many of the behaviors associated with the condition, and I'm reasonably self-aware. But while 8-year-old me can't go sit with a modern shrink, reading about it leads me to believe that my feelings of being wired differently might have been valid. Even into my college years, I was beyond oblivious to the social cues of women (ranging from "I want you to take me" to "I'm not interested").
If Simon is in fact labeled with something as ASD, I have to say that it gives me comfort that I can understand where he's coming from, even though his issues will likely be different than my own. It will be a constant reminder to be patient with him.
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