Can the World Afford Autistic Spectrum Disorder?: Nonverbal Communication, Asperger... by DigTantam

'Dr. Tantam's book takes us through a fascinating tour of a world where social experience is essentially the co-creation of people engaged in fast, broad, and essentially nonverbal inter-actionA". Words are slow, linear, and often obfuscate rather than illuminate others' intentions. This vastly neglected area of research is also likely the single greatest challenge for individuals with autism. Thus in one stroke Dr. Tantam both compels us to uphold social intuition for investigation, and helps us to appreciate what social contact is in the absence of this invisible glue.' --Ami Klin, Ph.D., Director of Autism Program, Harris Professor of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Yale Child Study Center

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) The title made me feel very uncomfortable; it seems to suggest that the world can choose not to encounter autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Once I got into the book, the author's viewpoint became less unclear. He proposes that the one fundamental problem underlying ASD is "impaired nonverbal communication." He discusses the concept from research and from anecdotal examples, and distinguishes cases that don't seem to fit the premise. I understand him to say that even though his premise cannot at this time be proven with science through neuroimaging data, that the concept will help in the understanding of ASD. I was left unimpressed with the author's repeated usage of computer terms for the human brain, such as the "interbrain connection" being similar to the network that is the Internet; "cache" for certain abilities or knowledge, being socially "offline"; and the section on "cybernetic parallels for networks mediated by nonverbal communication." Certainly, many people with ASD would be comfortable with Dr. Tantum's terminology, given the predilection of many to focus comfortably on computers, but I had difficulty keeping track of what he meant. That said, I absolutely reveled in the section near the end that discussed the psychology of bullying and why society cannot afford bullying. The Aspie in my family who was bullied throughout the seven years he spent in the K-12 public school system emerged with post-traumatic stress disorder. This played a large part in his needing a medical withdrawal from graduate school a few years later, which is a tragedy. I would love to have every teacher & school administrator required to study the psychology of bullying to the extent they would start protecting the victims actively and not be afraid to sanction the bullies.