It is very likely Albert Einstein did indeed have HFA (High Functioning Autism). Simon Baron-Cohen (a well-known Autism Psychologist) has noted this in several books/well-known/well-cited reports.
While we’ll never know for certain since this is a posthumous diagnosis the main points that make Einstein stand out as an ASDer:
*He didn’t speak until age four.
*He clearly had learning disorders . He was slow to develop and learn. Teachers labeled him “retarded” and was called so by his parents.
*His cerebrum was larger than typical
*As a child he had “tantrums” and had difficulty expressing emotion.
*Einstein was well-known as a visual thinker
*He perseverated.
*It’s been noted that as a child he had echolalia.
*Though he had relationships, he was considered a loner.
@talljasperman Actually many people on the spectrum don’t juggle people or relationships well. Many people on the higher part of the spectrum are able to have & maintain relationships, while others can form relationships but aren’t socially apt enough or able to devote attention away from their special interest/obsessions long enough to maintain relationships.
There are various lists of “famous” people with Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome from various psychologists/aspies on the Net. Some have detailed reasons as to the speculation. Most notably, many of these that are done posthumously show the extremes in the peoples lives. There is a tendency for the people to lose themselves in their work or to live in a fantasy world they’ve created. Many are artists, engineers or scientists….Some composers (Mozart) and Presidents (Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson) also make certain lists.
Famous known Aspies:
Dan Akroyd
Adam Young (Owl City)
Daryl Hannah
Famous speculated Apsies:
Al Gore
Alexander Graham Bell
Charles Schultz
Jim Henson
Emily Dickinson
Bill Gates
Mark Zuckerberg
@Arewethereyet, Asperger’s is no longer a diagnosis as of May 2013. It is an Autism Spectrum Disorder and will now be labeled officially as Autism, Mild form. Most Aspies will still call themselves the same as they have.
Here’s an example of the Lists of Famous Aspies. As I stated above, some (especially the psychology pages) go into detail of the how/why the speculations came about