The Good Doctor
We talked about the tremendous potential of those with autism even if they were non-verbal during their early years. You may know that the level of language development frequently predicts the level of autism and the ability to overcome some of the more devastating results.
The new television season premiered and there's a show called The Good Doctor on ABC at 10:00 on Mondays. It's about a mildly-moderately autistic and savant young surgical resident and his adjustment to a major metropolitan hospital setting.
I watched it to see how accurately adult autistic symptoms were presented and I think, for now, they've done well. Check it out. And, if you want to see the results of years of intensive work and dedication on the part of parents and professionals, check this out.
If you happened to catch last night's 20/20 titled, "The Good Doctors: Brilliance and Bravery", you'll learn about the miraculous ways these doctors' bodies have developed compensatory strategies to make them spectacular clinicians. Even one doctor's mother was told he would have to be institutionalized after being born 6 weeks prematurely. Oh no, not this guy!
My message..."Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense". This quote is Winston Churchill's, of course, and I had it calligraphied and framed to inspire my families to press onward in pursuit of progress for their children.
Check this out! Exceptional Minds Studio...a Non-Profit Animals and Visual Effects School and Studio for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum. Thank you, Christina, for bringing this amazing group of people to our attention!
Protecting football brains
Nature always has an answer. Woodpeckers, in order to protect their brains from the tremendously rapid pecking and the very significant g forces (accelerating and decelerating) their brains experience, wrap their muscular and very long tongues around their necks to increase blood volume in their brains to keep their brains steady in their skulls.
Engineers and neurosurgeons are developing a collar to do just that...back flow blood into the brain to keep it from wobbling. I'm not sure about this one...
We cover so many topics in our short two hours, but one that I've heard a lot about is the distress parents witness when it's time to say goodbye and they feel as though their kids "should" hug and kiss. "Forced affection" isn't healthy. Until the kids are old enough to understand, maybe a special handshake or other greeting/goodbye that's special between the two of them will have to suffice.
See you next Sunday! Or, is that "hear" you next Sunday!
Claudia
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