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A genius savant is often a misnomer, as geniuses are usually highly intelligent and able to live independently, while savants have extraordinary mental abilities in a specific area but may have other developmental issues. Examples include Daniel Tammet, who can do math at lightning speed, and the cause of savant syndrome is not fully understood. Treatment involves occupational and life skills therapy to help the person live independently.
A genius savant can be a misnomer. Geniuses are usually people with very high intelligence. A savant is usually someone who has extraordinary mental abilities in a particular area. The individual on whom the movie “Rain Man” is based is a savant. Those who are considered geniuses are usually able to live independently. A wise man may not be able to do this.
The genius savant is probably more accurately a “savant”. Not all savants have other developmental issues, but most do. Most people think of an autistic person when they think of a genius savant. They think of a person who does not interact normally with others, who has obsessive-compulsive behaviors that make it difficult to live with the person, etc.
A good example of a genius savant is Daniel Tammet of England. Tammet can do math at lightning speed in his head. Another might be able to remember a piece of music perfectly, after hearing it only once. Most humans are unable to even come close to these feats of mental prowess.
The genius savant could be born that way or he could suffer some sort of brain injury that leaves this outcome behind. Daniel Tammet had a seizure when he was four years old. Later, he discovered that he had an incredible mental capacity to do math exercises and count huge numbers. As an example of the handicaps of many geniuses, Tammet can neither drive nor walk on the beach. His compulsion to count everything precludes one activity or the other.
The genius savant is usually left to pursue whatever field is open to someone with his unique abilities, assuming he can hold down a job. However, if the person is unable to take care of themselves and live independently, parents will need to make arrangements for this situation in advance.
It is not known exactly what makes a person an expert and why certain types of brain injury may play a role. Scientists studying the phenomenon say it could be that a brain injury forces one side of the brain to take over the tasks of the other half and the result is savant syndrome. The best treatment available is occupational and life skills therapy, intended to help the person live as independently as possible.
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