Hollywood and Asperger's

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger disorder (AD) or simply Asperger's, is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication. The syndrome is named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 1944, studied and described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, demonstrated limited empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. The modern conception of Asperger syndrome came into existence in 1981 and went through a period of popularization, becoming standardized as a diagnosis in the early 1990s. As the popularization grew, so did the depiction of Asperger's in movies and television, with varying degrees of accuracy and taste. Quite often these depictions are demeaning and offensive to people with Asperger Syndrome. According to Asperger's expert psychologist Dr. Tali Shenfield "It is important to acknowledge the role of individuals with Asperger's Syndrome in the history of humankind. Remember that many famous scientists, writers, artists and innovators we admire today (such as Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Alfred Hitchcock, Bobby Fischer and others) had traits of Asperger's. The world would not be the same without them. I think we should focus on understanding and supporting these people rather than ostracizing and mocking them." That said, here are some of the best films dealing with Asperger's: Adam (2009) Arguably the most realisti...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news