Is TBBT's Sheldon Cooper Autistic? Here's Everything the Cast & Writers Said

There has been one persistent, controversial question that has surrounded The Big Bang Theory, even years after production ended: Is Sheldon Cooper autistic?

Interestingly enough, more than a handful of people have sounded off on the issue including TBBT writers, cast members, and fans. Discover what cast and crew think of the theory:

Jim Parsons will not address Autism

The question persists on social media as websites like Reddit often feature threads on the subject. While you can get a variety of perspectives from fans, the question has also been addressed by multiple members of the TBBT cast and crew.

Jim Parsons, the man who portrays Sheldon Cooper in TBBT, should know as well as anyone. However, Parsons (like many of the producers) has avoided the subject by refusing to answer the question. It could be that Parsons is hoping to save Sheldon from getting stereotyped into a certain label, but that also seems shallow considering the other evidence.

TBBT Co-Creator hinted at Asperger's

The subject has also frequently been discussed with The Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Prady. According to Prady, the character is based on a computer programmer that he knew many years ago and well before autism was commonly diagnosed. However, Prady has hinted that Sheldon suffers from Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism, based largely on his personality and quirks.

Nevertheless, Prady (like Parsons) has avoided attributing the label to Sheldon since he believes it creates too much of a burden on the writers to get the details of the syndrome right. Additionally, Prady doesn't want it to come across like they are mocking a medical condition. But are they?

Medical Experts Diagnose Sheldon Cooper as Autistic

According to medical experts, Sheldon demonstrates the characteristics of autism including struggling to read social cues and traditions. Moreover, Sheldon struggles to adapt to facial expressions and tone of voice. He's also obsessed with his own rituals and routines.

Sheldon suffers with intimacy, including touch and affection despite having a brilliant mind. The complicated symptoms align with what many who suffer from Asperger's and other forms of autism can relate to, especially struggles in social situations and a lack of empathy.

TBBT Co-Star Agree with Diagnosis

Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, actually has a PhD in neuroscience in real life. Accordingly, she's a pretty dependable source regarding any neurotic condition.

Bialik agrees with medical experts that Sheldon displays the qualities of someone with autism. Despite it, she argues that most of the characters on TBBT would be on a similar spectrum.

'There's a lot of interesting features to [the TBBT] characters that make them… unconventional socially,' Bialik informed. 'I think what's interesting and kind of sweet and what should not be lost… is we don't pathologise [the] characters. We don't talk about medicating them or even really changing them.'

Sources: Reddit, NJ, The Oxford Blue, RadioTimes.