Is that actual savantism?
Some of my blind friends can do this but I'm not sure if it's a result of brain injury (none of them seems to exhibit any signs) or just a phenomenal memory? I guess an amazing memory MIGHT be thought of as savantism, but I'm not sure.
Helen
-----Original Message-----
From: Adrian Whyatt [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 01 May 2009 15:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Autistic savants
It can also be as a result of a brain injury (though said to be much rarer).
It can also fade with time. I had savant abilities, long since faded away as
a result of a perinatal brain injury (at one month old). This enabled me to
say instantly what day of the week dates were.
2009/5/1 Noah Slater <[log in to unmask]>
> Hello,
>
> I have been discussing Autistic savants recently:
>
> Savant syndrome, sometimes abbreviated as savantism, is not a recognized
> medical diagnosis, but researcher Darold Treffert defines it as a rare
> condition in which persons with developmental disorders (including autism
> spectrum disorders) have one or more areas of expertise, ability or
> brilliance
> that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations.
>
> -
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autistic_savant
>
> It seems that the definition of an Autistic savant is based on the
> separation of
> ability and disability within the autism spectrum disorders, with ability
> being
> an exception to the rule. I think this separation is a harmful framing, and
> only
> reinforces the exclusive perception of autism as a mental impairment. I
> prefer
> to see autism as inclusive of ability, and not separate to it.
>
> My personal experience with Asperger syndrome has shown me that autism
> spectrum
> disorders can be both disabling and enabling, depending on how you embrace
> them.
> Any forced separation into positive and negative seems misguided. Even more
> so
> when the positive is given an entirely new name.
>
> I generally avoid the social and cultural side of autism spectrum
> disorders, so
> I may be covering old ground. I am not convinced either way, but I would be
> interested in hearing your thoughts on the subject. What kind of usage
> patterns
> reinforce this negative framing? Contrariwise, what usage patterns are
> okay?
>
> Best,
>
> --
> Noah Slater, http://tumbolia.org/nslater
>
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