Yes, his nonstop chattering about video games gets on my nerves sometimes, but I am so fortunate that he CAN talk. No, he hasn't "gotten over" part of being autistic. He has learned to cope with some of it. No, he doesn't "choose" to use autism as a crutch. Yes, he can be manipulative, but that is part of being so high functioning and also being an 11 year old boy!