Essay On Savants

Savant syndrome is a rare, amazing condition in which autistic persons; mentally handicapped persons; or mentally ill persons exhibit specific exceptional abilities or brilliance which outstand their overall disability. Persons with savant syndrome are known as savants. In group of ten autistic persons, one is likely to be a savant. These savants have special skills which vary from one group to another as they will later be classified. This special or exceptional abilities exhibited by savants are always accompanied by massive memory (Treffert D. A., 2009). This paper shows the phenomenology of savant syndrome; implication on savant syndrome education; and implication on research on savant syndrome to be done in future.

Some people are born having this condition (congenital) while some normal people acquire it after suffering a grave injury in Central Nervous System. Those persons who are born savants usually start demonstrating savant skills during childhood. It is believed that Central Nervous System Injury triggers dormant potential of the brain causing the acquired Savant Syndrome (Treffert D. A.).

Studies have been carried out to determine if there is any relationship between skill exhibited by savants and skills presented by their first degree relatives. In two separate studies, one study carried out by Young (1995) involving with 51 savants; and the other study carried out by Duckett (1976) involving 25 savants revealed that only a small portion of savants had relatives with special skills. In another study carried out by LaFontaine (1974) involving 23 relatives of savants who had been carefully followed over time found that only a family member had special skills. Basing my decision on these studies I can claim that Sava...

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...s an ability exercised by savants but not learned. Calendar calculation requires knowledge of certain formulas which one might claim

AUTISTIC SAVANT SYNDROME9 savants miraculously have in their memory (Treffert D. A.). Studies need to be done to determine why calendar calculation is prevalent among savants but very rare among other persons with brain diseases or disorders.

This paper shows that savants are unique beings with unique abilities. We do realize that much has been done to identify the causes of and remedies for savant syndrome; and to identify the process involved in cognition. Many milestones have been completed but more still remain. It is important to we continue researching and studying savant syndrome while we enhance the abilities of existing savant without discrimination as this is the best way to go in unraveling the mystery behind savant syndrome.