Einstein syndrome: characteristics, symptoms and how it affects children

By Einstein syndrome we understand a delay in the appearance of speech; when it occurs, the boy or girl does not meet the evolutionary milestones that she should have achieved according to her age.

This delay in speech or the slower maturation process is not a marker of pathology, since in children with Einstein syndrome we observe high intellectual abilities, especially analytical thinking and creative. Likewise, they also show good motor skills, a high memory capacity and restricted interests that refer to presenting a great interest in some topics.

In this way, this syndrome does not appear in any diagnostic manual, and it is necessary to continue researching and studying to learn more about it. But it has been seen as useful as a differential diagnosis of autism, thus preventing children with slower language development from being wrongly classified as autistic.

In this article we will see what is einstein syndrome and what are its defining characteristics and symptoms.

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What is Einstein syndrome?

Einstein syndrome is defined as a delay in the appearance of speech. The boys and girls who develop it they do not speak or do so incompletely when due to their age they should have this skill more developed.

In general terms, it has been established as a criterion that children should already express phrases or expressions of a single word a year, a period known as holophrasic; at 2 years they should be able to combine the first words, two or more words (this fact is known by the name of telegraphic speech); at 3 years there is an increase in vocabulary; and at 4 years of age, the child's vocabulary is already similar to that of an adult.

We see how they are quite specific periods, but not all children meet them the same. It has been observed that 15% of the population develop language late. Among them are children with Einstein syndrome, who, as we have already pointed out, will begin to speak more late, but once the skill has been acquired, they will not suffer from impairments or alterations that indicate a delay in learning. start. In the same way, it is also observed that they are subjects that are advanced in other areas, especially in analytical and creative thinking.

This syndrome was described and named by the American economist Thomas Sowell, with the main function of distinguishing subjects with delayed onset of speech and children diagnosed with autism. We currently know that a symptom of autism can be the delay in the appearance of language, but this symptom is not specific or determinant of this affectation; delay may be noted, but the other criteria for making a diagnosis of autism will not always be met.

If we look at the name of the syndrome we see that this honors the well-known and important 20th century scientist Albert Einstein. This fact is due to the fact that Einstein began to speak late, he did not formulate a complete sentence until he was 5 years old, but this later development of this ability did not prevent his intellectual capacities from progressing adequately and becoming a genius.

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Defining Symptoms of Einstein Syndrome

As we have seen, the term "Einstein syndrome" was coined by Sowell. Sowell later joined Stephen Camarata to develop research on what characteristics were typical of people with this syndrome. The main criterion we know is that the child does not present a normal progress in the appearance of speech, but there are other symptoms that can indicate that you actually suffer from this syndrome.

Some of these characteristics are: remarkable capacities in analytical or musical skills, with a mastery of technologies superior to their age; large memory capacity; great stubbornness (it is difficult to convince these people to do something they do not want to do); selective interests, especially related to music or creativity; delayed ability to control urination and go to the bathroom; when something interests them they completely focus their attention on it; they show difficulties in verbal communication in the early years, acquiring the appropriate construction of a sentence not before the age of 4 and presenting good development of motor skills. In addition, they often have relatives with high analytical or musical abilities;

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The diagnosis

It is normal that as parents we are aware of how our child is evolving, worrying if we see that he does not meet the milestones set at each age. Our mind begins to imagine the worst situations thinking that he may have a serious problem, an intellectual disability or autism. But other conditions are known that also cause language delay.

Einstein syndrome does not appear as a disorder in any diagnostic manual, since it has been observed that its defining characteristics are not determinants of this disorder; that is to say, there are characteristics of this syndrome that are also present in subjects without pathology, and not all subjects with this syndrome have superior intellectual capacities. Thus, it will be necessary to continue investigating this pathology because currently the information we have about it is scarce.

But the diagnosis of this affectation does help us to differentiate and not make an early diagnosis of autism spectrum syndrome. If we look at the criteria described in the previous section, we see that some coincide or can also be present in autistic disorder, such as the main symptom of delayed speech or interests restricted.

It is for this reason that the two authors defined the Einstein syndrome for decrease overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of autism. We must bear in mind that placing someone in a category, labeling them, has a series of effects such as the need for treatment or different treatment, for example, at school. Therefore, it is important that before classifying a subject within a category, of a disorder, we make sure that it really meets the criteria.

But autism is not the only diagnosis similar to this affectation. There is a disorder in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic Manual of the American Psychiatric Association called language disorder, which also presents alterations in expressive and comprehensive language, although this tends to last and not improve as it happens with children with Einstein syndrome.

As we have said, not all children develop the same and this does not mean that they have a disorder, nor do all subjects with pathologies have the same characteristics, thus making assigning a diagnosis at an early age difficult, since the little ones still have to develop and we do not know for sure how will be this process.

Likewise, it is essential to take into account the most common warning signs or milestones that children show at each age, but always keeping in mind that these are not determinants or direct cause of a disability or mental health problem serious. If we have doubts as to whether our child may have some type of affectation, it is best to consult a professional to rule out possible pathologies and in the case of detecting a problem, to be able to intervene and treat as soon as possible, since in this way we prevent them from evolving to more serious alterations.

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How is Einstein syndrome treated?

Once the diagnosis has been made and all the possible pathologies that can be linked to the symptoms that shows the child, we proceed to establish and prescribe the most appropriate treatment adapted to the subject in particular. The intervention is intended to be as personalized as possible, since each individual is different, with different difficulties, capacities and environments.

In this way, the most characteristic difficulties of each subject are assessed in order to treat them. For example, we look at whether the language problem is only expressive (this means that it presents alterations in its mode of expression with a reduced vocabulary extension and without formulating sentences completely), or if it also shows affectations in the understanding.

If comprehension is altered, it is already understood that expression will also be affected and that, therefore, the alteration will be more serious and will require another type of treatment. These subjects, apart from speech difficulties, also have problems understanding what they are told, understanding the information they receive.

In short, we understand the Einstein syndrome as a way of categorizing subjects with speech difficulties, but who often end up developing high capacities and important achievements, always keeping in mind that it is not defined as a medical affectation and it is not known with certainty what influence it receives from the environment and what percentage the genes. It should also be remembered that each child has different times of maturation and development, this fact being completely normal, without the need to be alarmed by it.