File Review Angelic Battle Psych 515 April 13, 2013 Dr. Sherri McClurg Film Review Autism is a very critical disorder for children and adults. Autism is a disorder that affects an individual behavior in language, perceptual, and motor development. A person is diagnosed with autism at an early age. “Autism in infancy and childhood was first described by Kanner (1943). It afflicts tens of thousands of American children from all socioeconomic levels and is seemingly on the increase,” (Butcher, Mineka, & Hooley, 2010, p. 547). When a person has been diagnosed with autism, he or she must have at least two symptoms from one item and one from items two and three. DSM IV TR Criteria In the DSM-IV TR criteria there are a total of six or more items that an individual must have when diagnosed with autism. In level A it is a qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye to eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures. Failure to develop peer relationships, lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements, and lack of social or emotional reciprocity, is another symptom of autism. In level B the qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by delay in or lack of development of spoken language, have an impairment to initiate or sustain conversations with other, repetitive use of language, and lack of make believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level. In level C, a person must have restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interest, and activities, as manifested by encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns. A person must be inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines, or rituals. In the movie “Rain Man” the character Raymond Gabbit, suffered from some of the symptoms of autism, (Butcher, Mineka, & Hooley, 2010, p. 549). Rain Man The movie Rain Man was very interesting. The character Charlie Gabbit, discovered that he had a brother when his father passed away. Charlie meet his brother at a mental institution and did not know who he was until the doctor told him that the guy was his brother Raymond Gabbit. At the age of three Raymond was diagnosed with autistic savant. "Autistic savant refers to individuals with autism who have extraordinary skills not exhibited by most persons. Historically, individuals with these exceptional skills were called 'idiot savants,' a French term meaning unlearned idiot skill savant,” (Autism Research Institute, 2013). Raymond was very knowledgeable and answered every question that Charlie asked his pertaining to his family. However, Raymond had problems with communicating and learning certain subjects. Raymond’s disability impairs the sensory input and how it is processed. Although Raymond seems normal, he has some impairments and behavior issues. He has to do everything in a routine. If Raymond’s misses the time of eating or watching his favorite shows, he will have major outbursts. When he is nervous, he remembers something called “who’s of first.” By repeating and citing who’s on first, it calms Raymond down until he is quiet. Everything that Charlie gives Raymond to read, he remembers. For example, his brother Charlie told him to read the phone book and when they arrived to the restaurant; the waitress walked to the table and Raymond repeated her telephone number aloud. Charlie asked how he knew her number and Raymond said that he memorized it. Raymond has a good memory and is very good with numbers. However, most autistic people cannot speak or communicate. However, Raymond is very high functioning and does not
