@w2pow2 – My son is diagnosed as ADHD, ODD, and Early Onset Bipolar. He also has damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of his brain, and his P300 wave is delayed. When his Bipolar symptoms go out of control, when he goes into the depressive part of the cycle, he begins to hallucinate, which is when they give him the heavy doses of anti-psychotics and he cannot be startled.
The reason you aren’t getting a good answer about her inability to be startled is that psychiatrists do not consider that an important symptom, unlike the reverse, when someone startles too easily.
When someone startles very easily, they may be suffering on of these psychological disorders:
* Anxiety (type of Neurosis)
* Panic disorder
* Generalized anxiety disorder
* Acute stress disorder
* Post-traumatic stress disorder
However, when they can’t be startled it could be because their hearing is poor, or, as in my son’s case, their brain responds slowly to outside stimuli through their ears (their P300 wave is delayed). A delayed P300 wave has been associated statistically with having, or being related to someone with, schizophrenia. The P300 wave is also exceedingly delayed in those with dementia, and is also delayed in those with depression.
Most psychiatrists would be much more interested in her lack of emotion and lack of empathy.