Jory Fleming, a scholar of 26, is challenging assumptions about autism (自闭症).
As a young child, Fleming1with language and withdrew from other children. When he 2 began uttering words in preschool, they rarely 3 to anyone but him. He was diagnosed with autism at five.
4 him out of himself and into the world became the job of his mother, Kelly Fleming, who 5her dreams of becoming a doctor to educate and care for him. She became the 6 of his world, and he would go crazy whenever she went anywhere without him.
Even with years of 7 treatment, Fleming avoided most conversations until he was about 18.
Unless he was exchanging factual information, he didn't see the point, for speech still 8 unique challenges. Because Fleming thinks in images, not language, whatever comes out of his mouth is the 9 of a painstaking "translation process"that often feels 10 and imprecise.
Fleming has a 11 time with many other language problems like common idioms. He also has trouble anticipating how people will 12 what he says. He once said his brother looked "sexy" in his sunglasses, and his family broke out laughing.
Moments like these have left Fleming concerned that he will 13 say something hurtful, so he takes great care with how he speaks. He still 14 a manual (指南) he read in college that offers tips for dealing with people in emotional situations. Because a smile is rarely misinterpreted or misconstrued, he also tends to grin when he talks.
Fleming often feels like he's on his own small island, but works to build 15to the neurotypical (神经病学的) mainland.
