Why Oswald was More Likely to Have Suffered Asperger’s Than Dyslexia

Oswald’s periodic poor spelling: Oswald was known for his poor spelling and messy writing. However, there are examples of his writings which bear no misspellings.

From Dr Asperger’s original case-notes:
"His handwriting, as would be expected from his general clumsiness, was very poor. He carried on writing carelessly, and messily, crossing out words, lines going up and down, the slant changing. His spelling, however, was reasonably accurate. As long as his attention was focused on one word, he knew how to spell it. It was very significant then that he made more spelling errors when copying than at dictation. Really, one would expect that copying should not present any problems at all since the words were in front of him; but this very simple and straightforward task simply did not interest him".


Common Signs of Dyslexia – Adult (my comments in brackets )
The difficulties noted below are often associated with dyslexia if they are unexpected for the individual's age, educational level, or cognitive abilities. A qualified diagnostician can test a person to determine if he or she is truly dyslexic.

* May hide reading problems. (did not apply to Oswald)

* May spell poorly; relies on others to correct spelling. (Oswald was a poor speller, but not always)

* Avoids writing; may not be able to write. (Oswald did not avoid writing)

* Often very competent in oral language. (unknown)

* Relies on memory; may have an excellent memory. (appeared to have very good memory)

* Often has good "people" skills. (Oswald generally had poor people skills)

* Often is spatially talented; professions include, but are not limited, to engineers, architects, designers, artists and craftspeople, mathematicians, physicists, physicians (esp. surgeons and orthopedists), and dentists. (n/a)

* May be very good at "reading" people/intuitive. (the opposite may be closer)

* In jobs is often working well below their intellectual capacity. (did apply to Oswald)

* May have difficulty with planning, organization and management of time, materials and tasks - SEE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION (does not appear to apply to Oswald)

* Often entrepreneurs. (n/a)

Sources:
Basic Facts about Dyslexia: What Every Layperson Ought to Know - © Copyright 1993, 2nd ed. 1998. The International Dyslexia Association, Baltimore, MD.


Typical adult symptoms of Asperger’s
More males than females have Asperger syndrome. While every person who has the syndrome will experience different symptoms and severity of symptoms, some of the more common characteristics include: (my comment in brackets)
• Average or above average intelligence (applied to Oswald)
• Inability to think in abstract ways (some evidence that this applied to Oswald)
• Difficulties in empathising with others (some evidence that this applied to Oswald)
• Problems with understanding another person’s point of view (some evidence that this applied to Oswald)
• Hampered conversational ability (some evidence that this applied to Oswald)
• Problems with controlling feelings such as anger, depression and anxiety (some evidence that this applied to Oswald)
• Adherence to routines and schedules, and stress if expected routine is disrupted (Oswald was a prolific writer of “to do” lists)
• Inability to manage appropriate social conduct (some evidence that this applied to Oswald)
• Specialised fields of interest or hobbies. (Oswald memorised the Marine Manual at age 15, and had an ongoing special interest in political movements and learning languages)

The emotions of other people
A person with Asperger syndrome may have trouble understanding the emotions of other people, and the subtle messages that are sent by facial expression, eye contact and body language are often missed. (Oswald could not make eye contact with Ruanne Kloepfer on her visit to the Oswald residence in Sept, 1963) Because of this, a person with Asperger's syndrome might be seen as egotistical, selfish or uncaring.(these terms or similar were used by a number of the White Russians who met Oswald in Dallas) These are unfair labels, because the affected person is neurologically unable to understand other people’s emotional states. They are usually shocked, upset and remorseful when told their actions were hurtful or inappropriate.

Sexual codes of conduct
Research into the sexual understanding of people with Asperger's syndrome is in its infancy. Studies suggest that affected people are as interested in sex as anyone else, but many don’t have the social or empathetic skills to successfully manage adult relationships.(Marina has mentioned the problems they had in this area)

Delayed understanding is common
For example, a person with Asperger's syndrome aged in their 20s typically has the sexual codes of conduct befitting a teenager. Even affected people who are high achieving and academically or vocationally successful have trouble negotiating the ‘hidden rules’ of courtship. Inappropriate sexual behaviour can result. (despite not being able to make eye contact with Ruanne Kleopfer, she nevertheless felt he was flirting with her – despite Marina being home at the time)

Being a partner and parent
Some affected people can maintain relationships and parent children, although there are challenges.

A common marital problem is unfair distribution of responsibilities. For example, the partner of a person with Asperger's syndrome may be used to doing everything in the relationship when it is just the two of them. However, the partner may need practical and emotional support once children come along, which the person with Asperger's syndrome is ill equipped to provide. When the partner expresses frustration or becomes upset that they’re given no help of any kind, the person with Asperger's syndrome is typically baffled. Tension in the relationship often makes their symptoms worse. (Marina often complained he did not help enough)

The workplace
The Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, in conjunction with a range of specialist employment services, helps to place people with disabilities in the workforce. A person with Asperger syndrome may find their job opportunities limited by their disability. It may help to choose a vocation that takes into account the individual’s symptoms, and plays to the strengths rather than the weaknesses. (I believe this is exactly how he was used as an intelligence asset/agent – they played to his strengths)

Source:
Autism Victoria

Dyslexia and Learning Foreign Languages
“Early research into the learning of another language suggested that because dyslexic children normally manage to cope with the spoken and listening aspects of their own language, there was no reason whey they would not cope with a foreign language. This has not generally proved to be the case however as my own research has found.” (Source: Margaret Crombie, Foreign Language Learning and Dyslexia, as adapted for the Dyslexia Yearbook, 1999).

Asperger’s and Learning Foreign Languages
“Sometimes the person with Asperger’s Syndrome can have a natural talent and special interest in foreign languages. The person can acquire the ability to speak many languages without the pronunciation errors expected when a typical person from a specific home country learns that language. For example, when an Englishman learns French, a Native of France can easily detect that the speaker’s first language is English. When a person with Asperger’s Syndrome learns a foreign language, there can be a remarkable ability to pronounce the words as spoken by a native speaker. This can lead to a successful career in languages such as a translator or interpreter.”
(Source: The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome By Tony Attwood p 225)

Opportunities to Diagnose Oswald with Dyslexia
The first real opportunity to detect dyslexia was at Youth House. By the early 1950s, there had already been studies done linking dyslexia with truancy and crime (Preyser 1935; Frederick & Bond 1936; Von Ebel 1949 - 1959 to name three) so YH no doubt did look for dyslexia in their observations and testing.

A second opportunity to detect it was in his entry into the Marines, though this may not have been sufficient to bar his entry.

Opportunities to Diagnose Oswald with Asperger’s
Such opportunities were non-existent as Asperger’s was not recognised in the US in the 1950s/60s.

If Oswald were to be tested for AS now, a definite diagnosis would be made from the following:

From the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM IV

"(I) Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

(A) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(B) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(C) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(D) lack of social or emotional reciprocity
Oswald had trouble with eye-to-eye gaze (per my interview with Ruanne Peters (nee Kloepfer). To some extent, B,C & D also applied to Oswald.

(II) Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
(A) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(B) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(C) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(D) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
Oswald had intense focus on the Marines at 15, memorising the entire manual. It was reported by the likes of Mike Paine and others that Oswald was inflexible in discussions on politics and when cornered would simply repeat the same arguments.

(III) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

It is a fact that Oswald worked in jobs below his intellectual capacity. It is inconclusive as to all the factors which contributed to this.

(IV) There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)

No delay noted in the existing records.

(V) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

No delay noted in the existing records.

(VI) Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia."

The Warren Commission sought an opinion on Oswald from Dr Rome of the Mayo Clinic based on examples of Oswald’s writing. Dr Rome diagnosed “constitutional dyslexia”. This was once referred to as “word blindness”, and indeed, Dr Rome confirmed in his letter to the commission (CE 3134) that this is what he had in mind, saying, “It is a specific disorder of function and not merely the result of external factors. It was established early that difficulties in reading are always accompanied by difficulties in writing and spelling…” Thus Rome, never having examined Oswald, assumed incorrectly that Oswald had a reading disability as the basis of his spelling problems.

Conclusion
Asperger's Syndrome is similar to high functioning autism often characterised among other things by poorly developed social skills, narrow interests, special skills in learning languages, maths or music, and writing that is often less legible than that of peers. Dr Asperger referred to the group of children he studied as Little Professors due to their special gifts/knowledge and above average intelligence. People with AS usually lead "normal" lives -- and because of their intense and narrow interests, sometimes land in good careers in various fields.

Among those suspected of having AS:
Bill Gates
Albert Einstein
Wolfgang Mozart
Alan Turing

To that list, I now wish to add Lee Harvey Oswald.

Oswald was diagnosed with a "personality pattern disturbance" while at YH by Dr Hartogs. Hans Asperger referred to the syndrome bearing his name as a "personality disorder".

Research has since shown that because of crossover "symptoms" between personality disorders and AS, incorrect diagnosis is possible. And Hartogs did not have the option of diagnosing AS as it was not recognized in the US.

Despite the battery of tests, apparent access to school records, and interviews with Oswald, one thing not diagnosed was dyslexia.

New Zealand psychiatrist pegs Oswald as having Asperger's (while explaining why she thinks Julian Assange has the syndrome)

I share Jack's concerns about Wikileaks being some kind of disinformation campaign. The hundreds of thousands of cables are extremely hard to research being released en masse like this and rarely contain information that isn't already available somewhere on the Internet.

I don't think Assange is the problem, though. I think US intelligence has been using him as a mule for their own purposes. I think Julian is a sweet boy with Asperger's. His lack of understanding of social relationships made him extremely easy to set up on the rape charges, and his concrete black and white thinking made it hard from him to recognize some of his associates (for example Applebaum, who teaches TOR to the Arab Spring activists) work for the CIA.

I think he's a classic Lee Harvey Oswald, another famous geek who seems to have suffered from Asperger's.

Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall
MAY 03, 2012 06:32 PM

http://open.salon.com/blog/stuartbramhall/2012/05/03/the_world_tomorrow_-_assange_as_chat_show_host

Ralph Cinque's at it again:

According to Ralph..."Oswald did not learn Russian on his own; it was impossible."
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/alt.assassination.jfk/S0sHHQuD7x0%5B1-25-false%5D

Here is someone diagnosed with high functioning (mild) autism
From Understanding the Nature of Autism And Asperger's Disorder: Forty Years Of Clinical Practice and Pioneering Research by Edward R Ritvo, MD.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=-eHcvtAfhrcC&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=asperger%27s+%22learning+russian%22&source=bl&ots=Bv5ScnVr3S&sig=wLFf0dC4IIs6Nn9qG4IPKbz2-6U&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DW4hUcr0F42hmQWG9oDICQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=asperger's%20%22learning%20russian%22&f=false

Patient No. 2
This patient was a white male born in 1937 in Utah, the father of five autistic children (daughter born 1957, IQ 25; son born 1964, IQ 23; son born 1966, IQ 27; daughter born

1968, IQ 25: son born 1971, deceased 1987. IQ 35) and one nonautistic son. He had a high school education and 1 year of trade school. He was a clerk in a tool room for a railroad, working the midnight to 8 AM shift for more than 15 years. His income was always marginal, and he periodically required welfare assistance. His spouse was uncooperative. disheveled, withdrawn. and reported by a welfare worker to be borderline mentally retarded and depressed. At the time of the mental status examination, he was disheveled and obese, maintained a constant vacuous smile, had a flat affect. was socially inappropriate, had no sense of humor, and had an excellent rote memory. He spoke to his autistic children in Dutch and English. He knew three other languages and was learning Russian “just because I like languages". He was completely unaware of the social implications of his children’s disabilities and was falsely accused of molesting his autistic daughter. He attended only to concrete issues.

I highly recommend reading about all 15 patients discussed with mild adult autism. And think of Oswald as you read. If you don't note numerous similarities to LHO, you just haven't read enough about him.

Oswald of course, was even higher functioning and with a much higher IQ - having (imo) mild Asperger's(recalling that Hans Asperger had dubbed these kids Little Professors). Bear in mind that each individual is different. Some will have greater problems in some areas than others with the same condition. Some will have lesser problems in some areas.

In any case, a person with Asperger's or mild autism - could certainly learn Russian without any help. Cinque is an idiot surrounded by goons, con artists and fools.

9K116 wrote:I have few comments on this... 


1. I tend to agree that LHO could suffer from Asperger syndrom. 
2. However, this theory has some consequences, i.e. - person with Asperger traits will be bad choice for intelligence officer. Because of: 
- problems with interacting with other persons - intelligence officer should be a good psychologist to feel, understand and manipulate other people. Person with poor social skills won't be able to perform such tasks. 
- problems with controlling his own reactions and gestures - every intelligence officer should have certain skills of actor, to behave differently, according to needs of certain situation.

You are absolutely correct - totally unsuited to be a CIA Officer.


But that is not the same thing as a CIA agent.

Agents are the foot soldiers for the officers and they may be fully aware of who the officer is, and what their own role is (known as a "witting" agent) - or they may not have any idea that they are being used by the CIA (known as an "unwitting" agent). 

Just for the record, I don't think he was working for the CIA (or ONI) when he went to the Soviet Union. I think he was on a mission for Ike's Special Group and given support by existing CIA operations (Redskin, Redsox & Redcap).

At some stage after that, he may have become a witting or unwitting agent of someone within the CIA as a rogue operation.

Faroe Islander wrote:Hi
I was attending a conferemce on Autism two months ago, there was a Psyciater that told her life story, she had started in the RAF being there for ten years, and doing very well because of all the rules,
She got 2 or 3 kids and then she was headhunted to the Infantri, because she was able to think outside the box, she felt even better there because there were even more rules about everything, Oswald was in the marines where he was told when to eat when to sh.. and when to do everything.
I do not know what to think of the Asperger theory,  I think he could manage in the Sovjet union as a spy, with Aspergers as the Real time empati and real time thinking could be disguised in translation and maybe also the patriarchal society back then would help him, if he was a Asperger.

Thanks for sharing that.


She sounds like the paediatrician that used to look after my boys. He said to us once that he thought he was "on the spectrum" because all he was interested in was the "raw numbers" - in other words he was far better at assessing charts, test results and instrument readings that could be quantified than in assessing from say interviewing. 

Not sure how serious he meant his comment to be, though... 

In looking at Oswald, you have to take into account that it was a condition that was not recognised in the US - so if he had it - no one realised it - it was simply put down to him being a "queer duck" as someone put it... "a bit odd..." "nuts"... or else in the kind of medical terminology used at Youth House.

Good pick-up. It could be a sign of other conditions, as well... or just a simple peccadillo. The same could be said of other aspects of the person, but when you put them down side by side, it takes on a whole different appearance. 

I am certain if he were alive today, he would be diagnosed with Asperger's (or at least the more general diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD). What I will add that in taking any test for the disorder, I believe his score would make him very high functioning - or to put that another way - his score would only just tip him over into the ASD/Asperger's range. But most definitely "in" he would be.

Someone else has noticed:

Michael Clark wrote:As a side note: I don't have any expertise in this  but I do have some experience with an observation I'll offer. LHO may have been targeted for certain behavioral aspects. I'll suggest that he exhibits certain peculiarities of Aspergers Syndrome which was beginning to be described in 1944

http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?/topic/23279-steven-hager-the-two-oswalds/&do=findComment&comment=341067


Yes, observed and studied in Europe as early as '44. Not recognized in the US for a few more decades. Hartogs' Youth House diagnosis is the diagnosis you would make for Asperger's if the testing for and option of Asperger's was not available.

Asperger's is now commonly acknowledged as being on the autism spectrum.

Came across this last night. 15 signs of undiagnosed autism. IMO, Oswald ticks at least 80% - more than enough for a diagnosis if he were around now,

Vinny wrote:

Thank you, Vinny... but for once, I beat you to the punch!

Here was my reply to Mr Tierney on Quora made in Feb 2020.

Profile photo for Greg Parker
Greg Parker
February 7, 2020
I will give an answer to this, but first will address Mr Tierney’s slight rewording of Judyth Vary Baker’s problems with what I wrote.

Here in part, is what Baker said: “Greg Parker, an Australian blogger with a long interest in the Kennedy assassination, conducted an armchair diagnosis on Lee Harvey Oswald. He decided that Oswald had Aspergers, a neurobiological disorder linked to autism. He's wrong.” So Mr Tierney is not providing his own thoughts, he is merely (slightly) rewording what someone else said.

Ironically, since Ms Baker has attempted to call me a “blogger” in a pejorative sense, her piece on me is on at least 3 blogs she is associated with.

For those who don’t know who Ms Baker is, she fraudulently claims to have been the lover of Lee Oswald and to have been involved in an underground attempt to weaponize cancer for use against Fidel Castro.

Regarding Mr Tierney’s echoing of Ms Baker’s claims, I never associated Oswald having reading problems with Asperger’s. I made the point that it is ludicrous to claim, as both Baker and the Warren Commission did, that Oswald was dyslexic — because dyslexia is a READING disability. Oswald was a prolific reader - in TWO languages.

Finally, I am not just a “blogger”. I have spent 20 years studying Oswald and have a biography out on him. Whilst writing that biography, I contacted Tony Attwood recognized as a world-leading authority on Asperger’s and laid out some facts about Oswald and asked if this background is consistent with Asperger’s. Although he obviously would not commit to making a diagnosis, he did agree that it was indeed consistent with the syndrome and that it was an “intriguing” idea.

Oswald’s early problem with reading was a developmental delay - not dyslexia. Again - he was NOT dyslexic

Here is why:

“Dyslexia is primarily a phonological processing disorder. Children may see words as jumbled masses or struggle to translate the meaning of letters into sounds, and may not be able to separate sounds in a word or combine multiple sounds into words.."
 
The Difference Between a Reading Disability & Dyslexia

alex_wilson wrote:Thank the ever bountiful LORD Armstrong that Donnie Jeffries doesn't frequent these parts ..after reading the above post; all those logical fallacies crammed tightly together, it may well have brought on a turn..

Poor Donnie!! Twitching , jerking and foaming, leaving sticky puddles of " mucus" splattered all over the nice new carpets in the foyer of Truth Frequency Radio..." Nein mein frau, I'm sorry I meant no madam, this is Truth Frequency Radio, Big Sal's DIY Caesarians is on the next floor"

His eyes bulging ( like BigDogs adult diapers after a good long sniff of the panties he swiped from Roseanne Barr's washing machine...to find out what BigDog was doing in Roseanne Barr's washing machine tune into this week's Ochelli Report) as he moans.." so many logical fallacies...so little space .. like the time I had to empty Jim Fetzer's colostomy bag"

Seriously though , what a fucking hapless attempt at a rebuttal...a tepid non sequitur squirtfest... like Jimbo Baggins the time he tried to" prove" the tall good looking fake mom won a wet t shirt contest in North Dakota , back in '47

Talent is the ability to recognise what other less observant eyes have missed... the greatest discoveries are usually the simplest... the ones that leave you thinking, " Now why the fuck didn't I think of that!"

Today's " Australian blogger" was yesterday's struggling writer, the one armed ex slave, who at almost 60, languishing in a debtor's prison , dreamt up one of the most famous of all literary creations.

Great insights and great discoveries can come from anywhere...yes, Terry Tierney, even from Australian bloggers..

An armchair diagnosis or a flash of inspiration? Certainly your feeble attempt, relying on a Fetzerful of illogic and a Fezfull of backhanded smears, did nothing to lessen the probability of the latter..

Someone recognising what others have overlooked is called progress...

Armstrong have mercy on us all, I hate reading such fucking stupidity, especially when it masquerades as some sort of wisdom..

This fucking clod castigates Greg, a lowly Australian blogger, for his armchair diagnosis...before proceeding to give one of his own..

Or perhaps in this case it was more a bidet diagnosis...or a bouncy castle diagnosis...or sitting in the replica Dalek my mom helped me make for this year's LARPer competition diagnosis....45th time lucky Terry! 

Just don't say EXTERMINATE anywhere near Don Jeffries

Armstrong have mercy on us all..

Alex, by definition, the Warren Commission commissioned an armchair diagnosis of Oswald when they hired Dr Rome to provide an insight into any medical issues that may have influenced Oswald's behavior and his motivations.

Any post-mortem attempt at diagnosis, except done at autopsy or via a stringent coronial inquest, whether done by a doctor or by an Australian blogger, is by definition, an armchair diagnosis.

But fuck me blind, how Dr Rome came up with dyslexia is puzzling in the extreme - unless his efforts were half-arsed. Look up ANY medical book on dyslexia and it will take you a nano-second to dismiss it as any sort of possibility. 

If I am wrong, the only logical alternative is that Hartogs was right. He had a schizoid personality disorder.

Here is where I come from. Researching medical issues is no different to researching anything else - be it history, how to play the lagerphone, or how to work a kitchen appliance. It is the methodology that matters.

Have never lied to you guys about anything, including my own sometimes off-the-rails past. But my past includes correctly diagnosing family members where doctors have got it wrong. I got it right because of how I approach research and because I give a shit about getting things right - especially when it comes to important issues.

So Mr Tierney/Ms Baker, among others, can call me an Australian Blogger... can call my medical research on this case "armchair diagnoses" ... can throw Dr Hartogs and Dr Rome at me.... I don't give a shit what they think. I am not infallible by any means, but attacking me is not the same as attacking my research results and does nothing to negate them. 

In the end, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, it's a fucking duck 99 times out a 100.