I run across some posts about Evan O'Dorney , last year Spelling Bee champ and a very gifted mathematician (he either made or was commended for MOSP as an 8th grader).
Is he just "weird" or does this look like an Asperger's to you guys? I really do not know much about high functioning people with A.

You can google his name on you tube and see waht I mean.

Seems sort of weird to me to discuss a child by name on this board. How would he feel to find himself a subject of discussion here? Don't know anything about him, but I assume he's a kid since he was a spelling bee champ.

Moreover, it would be impossible to say whether he met the DSM IV criteria for a diagnosis of Aspergers. Anything less is just a stereotype, which really wouldn't be fair, either to those with Aspergers or to those who just "look" like it. (I've been around the block with people, in particular my own mother, suggesting ds might be autistic, for example. Not fun.)

I believe that he became a public person when his parents (or he himself) allowed for the interviews on news channels and talk TV.

I have run accross some very nasty posts about him, both kids and parents , on two different boards. Nowhere could I find the answer to my question. I am just trying to understand...

After all this is a forum about gifted kids, and he is definitely brilliant...

Yes, he is a public person. Legally, I expect you can discuss him without fear of an invasion of privacy claim. Personally, I'd rather not. But that's me...

Well, I have watched the video and I think this was a very nervous boy and that the presentator and the people were making fun of him.

I had to hunt him down too, and he reminds me of quite a few kids I know whose only "diagnosis" is "darn smart". Cute kid in that newly changed voice kind of way. I didn't like at all the talk show tube I found, and if that's the one Isa is talking about, I agree that they were poking too much fun at his expense. I did get a serious chuckle out of this being his "second string trick" though, with math taking the lead.

And FWIW, I am not comfortable talking about "real people" on chat boards either (after doing just that, but hopefully in a thoughtful way), as I have been in situations where the parent showed up! I can only imagine what that might be like, reading about others discussing your child!

"Mom", if you do find your way here, please continue to be proud of your amazing son!

I have to agree with snowgirl that diagnosis on the basis of interviews seems quite unfair and is certainly medically suspect.

I understand the curiosity, but as someone with lots of training in making such diagnoses and someone who does diagnose people for a living, I would be quite uncomfortable doing so from youtube.

If your question is really "what is Asperger's syndrome and how is it different from/the same as being just plain gifted?" I would suggest the book by James Webb: Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults. Gives a wonderful summary of similarities and how gifted children/adults often get the misdiagnosis of Asperger's. This addendeum to the book speaks to the common misdiagnosis of gifted children: http://www.sengifted.org/articles_counseling/Amend_MisdiagnosisOfAspergersDisorder.shtml

Because much of what is described in symptoms of Asperger's relies on an assessment of interests, habits and social interactions it would be impossible to make a diagnosis based on a youtube video. But Ania, I certainly understand your curiosity and believe you should continue to seek more info to understand the matter more fully. It's a good question that should be asked. Maybe just not about a specific person.

So you all peaked my curiousity and I googled this amazing young man and watched the you tube video. You didn't mention he had appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show.

Is this exceptionally bright young person missing social cues....or is it perhaps that Jimmy Kimmel is just.....not.....that.....funny.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm..............

P.S. if Jimmy Kimmel happens to pop up here because I am speaking of his comedic talent in a non-complementary way, so be it!