a 13 year old who can't talk and rocks himself back and forth and...some awkward tech guy who functions well enough to pull 6 figures...are on the same spectrum? people are messy. it's not easy to define/assess theory of mind, social processing. neurological tests can help but it's a mess.

and it's a mess of language. calling what is going on with the first kid and with the tech guy by the same name just leads to confusion.

people are complex. it's important that we treat each other as individuals first. it's good for parents to understand what the doctors make of their kids. but it's important to realize that no doctor can "solve" your kid. no pill. too much faith in shrinks can be dehumanizing. im not anti-all psychopharmaceuticals or anti-going to a psychiatrist. but parents should not think they have all the answers like they are holy people with long beards and uma thurman.





ocd...a lot of people have checking behaviors, but most people can get out their house and go about their day, don't spend hours spinning through checklists.

i think above all it's important to remember that people are individuals and generalizing from one person to another, throwing names made up fairly recently, can do more harm than good. people have recently been using them as an excuse. i know a couple who talk about nothing but their latest diagnoses, their new therapist vs their old therapist blah blah blah. for them, imo, they are being held back by their approach. guy couldnt do something for a holiday because was meeting with his new therapist the next day. ok bruh, uh have fun?

but that is one person. one couple anyhow. everyone is different.