Can the World Afford Autistic Spectrum Disorder?: Nonverbal Communication, Asperger Syndrome and the Interbrain

by Digby Tantam

The world affords to most of us a web of subliminal nonverbal communication that regulates our minds, indicates whether our beliefs have, or have not, social approval, and generally guides us. People with autism do not seem to be influenced by these subliminal signals as much as others, and this results in the difficulties in social interaction that are so characteristic of all the autistic spectrum disorders. How is such nonverbal communication carried out, and why do people on the autism spectrum find it so difficult? What are the consequences of this for them, and how do these consequences affect their personality, self-awareness, and sense of place in the world? Digby Tantam explores current theories on nonverbal communication and how it shapes social behaviour, and the evidence for it being impaired in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He shows how knowledge of this difference can be used to overcome some of the impairments in nonverbal communication in people with ASD, but also how acknowledging them can result in more positive development elsewhere. This groundbreaking book will be fascinating reading for anyone interested in communication, as well as people who have ASD themselves, their families, and all professionals working with people on the autism spectrum.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[The Angry Lawn Gnome · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think author is probably a very good man, has done a great deal of work helping those on the autistic spectrum, and meant well with this book. However, the metaphor of brain as computer, "Interbrain" as Internet, was strained, misleading, and downright irritating after awhile, since he resorted to it every third page or so. Moreover, I'm still not quite clear what this Interbrain is. At some points in the book he almost seems to treat it as an entity unto itself, some vast cloud that exists independently from any one mind. Yet at others it is reduced to a much more humdrum affair, one that exists to some extent in all normally functioning brains.

He also uses some very technical language discussing the various parts of the brain, and seems to assume a much higher level of knowledge than I think the average reader has in these sections. Certainly sent me scrambling for various medical websites, and I'm still certain those sections went whizzing over my head.Almost like he was cribbing from notes presented at a graduate seminar, way over my head at any event.

Still, the genuineness of his concern just can't make me take this one lower than three stars. So sue me.

And I do wish I could find the passage where he compares neurotypicals to the Borg. Its in there somewhere, I almost spit tea out my nose when I came across it. Methinks Prof. Tantam should brush up on his Star Trek before making such comparisons.