Why do people with autism and people with brain damage display similar symptoms?

Question

My cousin has brain damage, and she acts a lot like somebody who has moderate autism, but she also has terrible memory and lack of concentration.
Why is this?

Answer 1

Autism isnt brain damage,(to all of the answerers who said it is) a person with autism's brain is just configured differently to that of a neuro typical person.

The effects of brain damage are totally dependent on the area of the brain that has been damaged, so depending on that, there may be people with brain damage that may display some behaviours that are similar to a person with autism. Keep in mind that there are many degrees of autisms as well!

I know people with autism, and i know people with brain injuries- been working with them for years and ive never found any similarities between the two.

So i reckon that its just a coincidence based on the part of the brain that was damaged

Answer 2

Is it possible they are misdiagnosed ? Just thought I would suggest that. Richard

Answer 3

The cause of autism is UNKNOWN by anyone. Lots of people have ideas, but none are proven. Autism is considered to be NOT neuro-typical - that DOE NOT mean brain DAMAGED. It means the brain works differently. Some of the difference in the way SOME people with brain damage and people with autism behave are similar - in other ways they are very different.

Answer 4

Autism is caused by damage to the brain. That's why.

Answer 5

Autism, brain damage, aspergers, tourettes---all have a glich in some areas of their brain and depending how many gliches as to how bad the syndrome is.

Answer 6

They're basically the same thing?