Rain Man

Introduction:
The disorder that showed in the film Rain Man is called, Savant Syndrome. This is a disorder that describes a person who has mentally developmental disabilities, and is thought to be of abnormal of below average intelligence, IQ usually between 50-70. However, they have some remarkable and profound abilities that considered far in excess of normal.

Various behaviors associated with Savant Syndrome: 1. Most of the Savant Syndrome patients have prodigious memory that is only focused in a particular area; they exhibit exceptional memory but have difficulty to use it. 2. Children with savant syndrome may be able to memorize extensive amounts of data in such areas as sports statistics, population figures, and historical or biographical data. 3. People with the syndrome are obsessive preoccupations with trivia, license plate numbers, maps, or obscure items. 4. Some of the patients have startling and outstanding skills with little or no previous training, these skills are usually found in one or more five major areas: art, musical ability, calendar calculation, mathematics and spatial skills. 5. People with Savant syndrome were considered to have low IQ. 6. Approximately 50 per cent of persons with savant syndrome have autistic disorder.

Treatment/Programs for Savant Syndrome patients:
The treatment for Savant syndrome is the same with treatment used to cure Autism. The skills of the Savant may also be used as a tool to treat the disorder that is directed toward decreasing or overcoming the handicaps from the more basic developmental injury, disease or disorder. Their skills can also be used to improve their communication skills, social interaction and even mastering daily living skill.

Beautiful Mind, is a program that played on Discovery Science, it highlights the people with Savant Syndrome through intimate encounters with world-renowned scientists’ one-on-one interviews. Also, this program brought this remarkable condition to more general attention.

Works Cited

"Children's Health." Savant Syndrome. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014. <http://www.healthofchildren.com/S/Savant-Syndrome.html#b>.

"The Rain Man's Disorder: Savant Syndrome." About.com Rare Diseases. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014. <http://rarediseases.about.com/cs/neurodisorders/a/052502.htm>.

"ILLNESSOPEDIA." Savant Syndrome. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014. <http://illnessopedia.org/disease-info/savant-syndrome-3262/>.

Rain Man. Dir. Barry Levinson. Perf. Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise. s.n.], 1988. DVD.