The first two videos in the Yale Autism Seminar on iTunes U, including lectures by Fred Volkmar and Ami Klin.
Two TEDtalks, one by Ami Klin and the other by Temple Grandin (an individual who has autism and is also an activist).
The Reason
A while ago, I was watching the news, and heard a segment dedicated to a new technology that could be used to help autistic children. I was very interested in the piece, but a couple minutes in realized something crucial -- I could not effectively define autism! So today, I set out to change that.
What was Learned
I found that the more I researched the topic, the easier it became to understand. Here are the key concepts:
Autism is primarily a social disorder. It comes in a variety of degrees, so is sometimes referred to as a "spectrum" of disorders, ranging from least severe to most.
It begins presenting itself very early on in life, and, if caught at this time, can be "cured" through hours of sessions and therapy. This is not to say that an individual can be certifiably cured of Autism -- it just means that, with treatment, an individual can usually regain the skills that he/she needs to lead an active and functioning life.
The big difference between people with Autism and the unaffected population is how they perceive the world. Most people are born with an innate desire to want to be around other people, to hear human voices, look into other humans' eyes, etc. Autistic individuals are born with this instinct as well -- but somewhere early in development, they lose it, and instead tend to feel more comfortable in the world of things instead of people.
Reactions and Conclusions
I think much is to be benefited from the creation of an actual spectrum that could be used to diagnose individuals (i.e. 1=least severe, 5=moderate, etc). This is a condition that needs to be researched quite a bit more. I also wonder if there is any sort of connection between individuals who are self-proclaimed introverts and autistic individuals. To me, autism seems almost like a shyness that is so extreme, it is downright debilitating. (Of course, this is just an oversimplification, and I am not in ANY WAY claiming that autism is something that can be overcome with just a bit more effort.) Overall, a very fascinating subject. Hearing Temple Grandin's talk was especially intriguing -- I might even watch the biopic about her ("Temple Grandin" with actress Clare Danes) this Friday.
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