What’s an Idiot Savant?

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An idiot savant is a somewhat derogatory term for a person who has a significant mental disability, such as autism or retardation, but also displays some extraordinary abilities. The savant’s abilities can range from being exceptionally gifted in music or mathematics, or having a photographic memory.
Most often, the savant is a person who suffers from extreme autism and cannot reach out to other people in a normal way. He or she may find it extremely difficult to express emotion, communicate through spoken language, or use inflection while speaking. Severe autistics function best when they have predictable routines.

Not all autistic people have savant skills. Some appear to be smarter than others, but few autistic people are mentally retarded. Indeed, due to the reliance on right side brain functioning, the facility for certain things, such as mathematics, their memorization and creative ability may be greater.

Some studies have shown that people who have intentional left-brain disruption can develop savant-like abilities. Few people want to participate in such experiments, however, and there are many very good reasons not to undergo unnecessary brain experiments.

Savant abilities are often referred to as sliver abilities. Kim Peek, for example, from whom the film Rain Man is based, has a “photographic” memory. Several recognized artists could also be called idiot savants, including Richard Wawro, Alonzo Clemens and Stephen Wiltshire. Several people with such abilities are recognized for their musical talents, including Matt Savage, an incredibly gifted jazz pianist and composer, and Hikari Oe, an accomplished composer.

The term idiot savant goes back to the concept of a “village idiot,” a person who could be tolerated because he displayed certain uncommon abilities. In other cases, the display of savant skills, particularly in the Middle Ages, was apt to be considered witchcraft. Unfortunately, an expert cannot necessarily check the demonstration of such skills and some “village idiots” have been driven out of their villages or killed.

Today, people recognize more clearly that these people are special because of their brain dysfunction. However, not all brain disorders or dysfunctions lead to savant abilities. The term “idiot savant” is outdated and inappropriate. Virtually all savants have a high degree of intelligence and are not idiots. Most people now prefer the term savant or autistic savant instead.

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