Summary

Elon Musk has revealed that he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, which has implications for his social interactions and business achievements.

Abstract

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, disclosed on Saturday Night Live that he has Asperger's syndrome, a condition that was not widely recognized until the 1990s. This revelation has shed light on his unique communication style and intense focus, which are characteristic of Asperger's. Musk's announcement has also highlighted the increasing recognition of autism in adults, with many individuals now identifying their own traits and seeking assessments. The article discusses the typical characteristics of Asperger's, such as difficulty with eye contact and social skills, which can sometimes be misinterpreted as rudeness. However, these same traits can lead to extraordinary focus and success, as seen in many individuals with Asperger's, including possibly Alan Turing and Albert Einstein. The piece also notes the greater awareness and changes in diagnostic criteria, with Asperger's now considered part of the autism spectrum in some regions. Online tests are available for those curious about their own neurodiversity, and the article encourages understanding and acceptance of autism.

Opinions

The author suggests that Musk's Asperger's syndrome is not a hindrance but rather a possible contributor to his success.
There is an opinion that people with Asperger's, including Musk, may be misunderstood due to their communication style and social interactions.
The article implies that the public's understanding of Asperger's and autism has grown, leading to more adult diagnoses.
It is conveyed that the intense focus associated with Asperger's can be an asset, characterizing many successful individuals throughout history.
The piece expresses that being autistic or having Asperger's should not be viewed negatively and can help individuals understand themselves better.
There is a mention of a gender bias in the diagnosis of Asperger's, with women and girls being less frequently recognized due to their ability to mask symptoms.
The author provides resources for readers to explore whether they might be on the autism spectrum, indicating a supportive stance towards self-discovery and diagnosis.

Elon Musk Isn’t Rude — He Has Asperger’s

A quick look into the syndrome that is often misunderstood

Elon Musk revealed last year on a talk show called Saturday Night Live, that he has Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism, which is much more widely recognised now than it used to be.

Some people were surprised by this revelation, but to many people familiar with the condition, it wasn’t surprising at all.

“It’s an honour to be hosting Saturday Night Live. I mean that,” he said. “Sometimes when I say something, I have to say ‘I mean that’ so that people really know that I mean it. That’s because I don’t always have a lot of intonational variation in how I speak … which I’m told makes for great comedy.”

That’s when he revealed he has Asperger’s. “So I won’t make a lot of eye contact with the cast tonight. But don’t worry, I’m pretty good at running ‘human’ in emulation mode.”

Why now?

Why did he announce his diagnosis so late in his career? Perhaps he’d only just found out!

A lot of people are being newly diagnosed with Asperger’s or autism as adults, simply because it’s more widely recognised now than it once was. Autism wasn’t recognised until the 1980s and Asperger’s didn’t enter diagnostic manuals until the 1990s, so lots of autistic children were overlooked.

Years later, some of these people are recognising the characteristics in their own lives. There’s been a lot of publicity about the condition in recent times. So people are learning about autism and recognising their own autistic traits. Some decide to seek an assessment.

Characteristics

People with Asperger’s often struggle with eye contact, might lack expression in their voices, and they usually become obsessed by their interests. It’s typical too, that they might be fascinated by technologies or machinery, which of course, is where many of Musk’s business interests lay.

‘Aspies’ often lack social skills, so they may come across as rude without meaning to be rude. And they are usually socially awkward. These characteristics are recognised in Musk and sometimes they’ve got him into trouble.

However the intense focus and drive that also accompanies Asperger’s can be a strength that characterises many successful people in society and in history. Some people with Asperger’s are extremely intelligent and very successful. The Autism Society say, “most possess average to above-average intelligence”.

It’s thought that Alan Turing, WWII codebreaker, probably had Asperger’s.

Greater Awareness

So there’s greater awareness and recognition of autism among the medical profession now. In the UK, Asperger’s is no longer diagnosed — high functioning autism simply falls at the mild end of an ‘autism spectrum disorder’ diagnosis.

The condition is often not recognised in women and girls because they are better at ‘masking’ — covering up the social problems, and they’re less likely to act out violently as children and come to the attention of authorities.

Tests

There are some tests for autism that you can do online. There’s one here, another here (scroll to the bottom) and a third here.

If you think you might be on the spectrum, don’t worry about it. Being autistic or having Asperger’s isn’t a bad thing, but it might help you understand why you are the way you are and enable you to embrace it.

Many very successful people have Asperger’s and it’s thought that Albert Einstein probably had it. That intense focus that Aspies have is often put to good use!

Thanks to Attila Vágó for the inspiration in his article, here:

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