Sir, – Reluctantly I must defend myself from the personal attack (CDC Armstrong, November 19th), which I am surprised you allowed into print. Your correspondent was commenting on my reported interview regarding Asperger syndrome. In my comments (Health + Family, November 5th) I was attempting to explain the difficulties which a person with the syndrome may have in understanding other people. I was using the "theory of mind" explanation developed by Prof Simon Baron-Cohen of the University of Cambridge in that many find it difficult to "put themselves into the shoes of other people". At no stage did I mention the question of empathy in my comments.
I have a son with Asperger syndrome and was a founder member of the Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland in 1995 and have met with many children, adolescents and adults affected by the syndrome. I have worked for the association for 18 years on a voluntary basis and striven to raise awareness of the syndrome and develop services to assist those affected by the condition and their families. A person with the syndrome has difficulties in the area of socialisation, communication and often has restricted interest. I did point out the huge benefit to society of having people with such single-mindedness and the suggestion that Albert Einstein, for example, may have been affected by Asperger syndrome.
Rather than attacking me, your correspondent perhaps should address a much more serious problem: the dropping by the American Psychiatric Association of “Asperger’s disorder” from its latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM-5. Asperger syndrome is still retained by the World Health Organisation ICD-10, but this is due to be reviewed in 2015. We need everyone interested in retaining the diagnosis to make representation to that organisation by visiting its website and making their views know. — Yours, etc,
DESMOND McKERNAN,
Honorary Secretary,
Asperger Syndrome
Association of Ireland,
Coleraine Street, Dublin 7.