House an Aspie?

(This is one of those limited audience posts--it assumes a familiarity with autism spectrum disorders AND the TV show House.)

So, we, the three raccoon damsels, have been loopy in our love of the TV show House ever since Juniorette discovered it last year in its second season.  Missing a new episode is cause for much wailing and gnashing of teeth, and the discs for season 1 and 2 are in our Netflix queue. When they arrive, we watch them 2-3 times before sending them back. We study those things.   

Sure, it's one of the hottest shows on TV, and Hugh Laurie's disheveled, abrasive character, Gregory House, is swoon bait for millions of us.  I can't speak for my girls, but one of the reasons I love the show is watching how House's character solves problems (I even looked for a white board for my office last week, but had to settle for a pad of those poster-sized Post-its.  Since then, I've been playing House.). 

It's been clear to me from the start that House's character is not neurotypical.  There've been hints that he's damaged goods, a wounded beast. But tonight, there was an attempt to out him as having Asperger Syndrome, something I'd suspected all along.  Juniorette, who is somewhere on the autism spectrum, and I were watching together tonight, and as the autism plot came to a climax and Wilson read the DMS IV for Asperger Syndrome, we were actually whooping and high-fiving.  "Yess!"  Even when Wilson reversed himself and said to House, "you don't have Asperger Syndrome, you're just a jerk,"  House's Aspie status had already firmly cemented in our minds.  I'm not entirely sure why it's such a big deal to us. I mean, he's a fictional character.  But, to this spectrum family, it seemed like some sort of victory.   And besides, House is a much more palatable Aspie poster boy than Bill Gates.
I'll be interested to read what other folks in the autism community have to say about the episode.

(EDIT:  Here is a detailed review of the episode, from Blogcritics, called Lines in the Sand.  And here is a link to a monster discussion about the episode from Television Without Pity. Looks like the house is split on the is he/isn't he question.)

Comments

[Rose McCall]

Thanks this is cool, but sometimes a get a little upset with how easy they make it out to be on TV. Almost every study problem or behavior problem is being labeled ADHD and ADD these days. And all too often it is a misdiagnosis which sends parents and children off in the wrong direction instead of getting a real handling to the kids actual situation.

[Alexandra]

I love House. I relate to him so much. My dad watches the show too and I would love to see House flapping his hands in excitement. My Dad hates that I flap and says that I can never succeed with all my oddities. I think if House did some flapping my dad might get it more. ^w^

[Marissa]

I watch House MD obsessivly (never missed an episode in my life.) In fact, I saw the episode (Lines in the Sand) just before receiving my formal diagnosis of asperger's syndrome. I remember watching that episode and saying "Oh my G-d that is me." I have always been convinced that house is an aspie. Nothing will ever remove that thought from my non-neuro-typical brain. Either way I will still love him, and his aspie-like, quirky, ways!

[CleverBoy]

I am called "Dr. House" at my workplace by my subordinates (I'm the creative director at a marketing firm). Now I know why (I saw the show for the first time this week). Sometimes it's not so much fun being the fastest, smartest person in the room.

[Kenny]

Wow, I have really enjoyed this post and the comments.
As a child psychiatrist, I was bothered by House's bedside manner, but never thought of him as Asperger's. I like it though... A good explanation.
Regarding prison break - I recall them saying that Michael had some form of OCD, and Lincoln had lots of behavioral problems, having been in 'juvey', but I don't recall any sensory issues/aspie stuff.

[rochelle]

We are not happy about this World Series thing. It has given us a serious House jones.

My Aspie also thinks that Bones is on the spectrum--photographic memory, doesn't get jokes sometimes. Then you've got Monk with his OCD. Maybe TV Guide should have a special DSM-IV issue. Diagnose your favorite character!

[Kerry]

Maybe it's a Fox network thing, but over on Prison Break they've made oblique references and plot points that both brothers have sensory processing/autism spectrum issues. I'd be interested in your take on it, but it might be too "viewer discretion advised" for your girls.

Fox--Home of Baseball, Evil Presidents, and Neuro Atypical Heroes!

[Tori]

It was a big deal to me too since we're in the process of trying to get a "solid" diagnosis for our daughter, now 3.

[rochelle]

Holy cow, Alice in Infoland! Thanks for the link. I'm not going to get anything done today.

[Alice in Infoland]

Check out the discussions about House and Asperger/autism at
http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showforum=772
Of course, if you're also OCD, you'll find yourself logging into those discussions all the time!