Rain Man

Do you ever wonder why some autistic children act differently from others? Autism Spectrum Disorder affects three different areas of a child's life; it affects social interactions, communication skills, and their behaviors and interest. Every child is different and has their own way of expressing themselves (Autism Response). Some children may have better social skills than others. Autistic kids do not know how to express themselves so they do so through their different behaviors. Many autistic children are even nonverbal and will make different noises to communicate. It is very easy for a child with Autism to get upset because of their sensory, emotional, and cognitive difficulties. Sensory problems, emotional difficulties, and uneven cognitive abilities are all symptoms of Autism. Some more than others, but these are the most common symptoms of Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder). For example, many of Autistic children can not express themselves like others who do not have the disorder. In many instances, it is very frustrating for both the child and whomever they are speaking to. If the child doesn't babble, coo, gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months, doesn't speak not one single word by 16 months, and doesn't say any short 2 word phrases on their own by 24 months old they may have autism (Autism Spectrum Disorders Health Center). If a child is not showing any fine motor skills by 12 months, and not

Leo Kanner (1943) believes autism is a result of emotional deprivation. He notes that parents of autistic children are intellectually and analytically oriented, but lack emotional warmth (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009).Some psychodynamic theorist believe autistic children were born normal, but became autistic after experiencing painful interactions with hostile or cold parents (Hansell & Damour, 2008). The term autistic implies a failure to effectively relate to the environment. Autistic individuals are perceived as elusive and distant (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Behavioral programs are most effective with autistic children and are used to teach them language, communication skills, self-care, and adaptation to the community (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

There is generally some impairment of social interaction and of imagination. People on the Autistic spectrum can differ hugely in their abilities from being exceptionally intelligent, far above the norm to having severely impaired intellect, this is why it is called a spectrum.

In the movie Rain Man that was released in 1988 is about a character named Charlie Babbitt and his understanding of his brother Raymond Babbitt who suffers from autism.

Autism is a developmental disability that significantly affect a person's verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, and educational performance. This developmental disability affects the brain, communication and interaction with others. People with this disability often have trouble relating and forming relationships with other people. Autism occurs very early on in the development of the brain. The most obvious signs can be found at the ages of two or three years old.

Though many of us may not realize it, humans have a remarkable set of abilities that allows us to understand, empathize with, and predict others’ thoughts and feelings. In other words, the average person is able to “put himself in another’s shoes.” In our daily lives we tend to take this skill for granted. It is only when something goes wrong that we realize how important it actually is. For autistic individuals, this mindreading deficit is all too real. In fact, an inability to engage in this type of understanding of other’s mental states is often taken as the hallmark sign of autism.

They often don’t understand feelings and jokes as they take most things literal. Sometimes, people may describe a person with autism as being in their own little world, unaware of others trying to communicate with them. As for communication, they often have delayed language development and tend to repeat words or phrases. Some other behaviors shown by people with autism that are listed on the National Autism Association website, are things such as not making eye contact, lining up objects or toys and always playing with them the same way, having unusual interests, always sticking to a specific routine, and exhibiting savant

Rain Man, a film about an exceptional person, portrays the life of Raymond Babbot and his struggle to be understood and loved by his brother Charlie Babbot. This academy award-winning drama stars two incredibly talented actors - Tom Cruise (Charlie) and Dustin Hoffman (Raymond). These two brothers, separated at a young age by Raymond’s exceptional condition, find themselves later in life brought together by their father’s death. The movie grabs the heart of it’s audience in an attempt to bring together the life of the “exceptional” person with that of the “normal” mainstream life.

Memory, in an average person, is far from a perfect video playback. Storing memories requires a process of encoding, storage, and retrieval. For most of us, our memories are limited by the efficiency of storage and the accuracy of retrieval. But for those with savant syndrome and highly superior autobiographical memory, it is theorized that these limitations can be bypassed resulting in extraordinarily accurate or seemingly infinite memory.

It also shows the life and struggles of those with autism and savant syndrome. This film is full of psychology and emotion and growth. Charlie’s father passes away, but Charlie is only left with his father’s car and collection of rose bushes. Where Charlie’s father’s money went to a person, which according to the will, cannot be named for Charlie. After some searching around Charlie found out it was his long lost brother, Raymond.

Autistic infants often show little or no interest in other people and lack typical social behaviors. For example, they may not smile at their mother's voice or make eye contact with caregivers. Autistic children fail to develop normal relationships with their parents, brothers or sisters, and other children. Often they seem unaware of the needs and feelings of other people, and may not respond if another person is hurt or in distress. They also fail to make friends.

"Rain Man" directed by Barry Levinson was released in 1988.The story of this movie takes place in the United States (Cincinnati, Ohio) in 1988. Similar to John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men, the story of this movie is about friendship between two unequal men(one mentally challenged and the other, normal) that are on a journey and their friendship, but opposite to the story of the novel, the film has a happy ending.

Furthermore, he states that almost all people can recognize people’s emotions naturally. This ability is essential for humans to engage in conversation. It gives people a sense of how to respond to others. Unfortunately, not all people have this skill. Individuals with autism lack the ability to read emotions.

Observation of the behavior of autistics makes it clear that they do interact with their world and understand certain aspects of it to a degree. However they often appear intensely focused on one perception or sensory experience and are unable to integrate multiple factors of emotion, intention, or personality in the way most people do. As a result of this inability to perceive order in all of the circumstances of their environment, they often find themselves in a world that seems very chaotic and random.

Another, is repeating parts of a conversation heard in the past (delayed echolalia). May repeat certain sounds over and over again (verbal perseveration) it also may be difficult for a child to convey his or her own needs. Examples are, if the child is hungry or ever in pain. This is one of the most lurid obstacles for a parent to come to realize. It is also very hard to socialize with an autistic child. Frequently autistic children will want to play alone, have no interest in making any friends, cannot make contact into your eyes, and will not show any sign of affection. This is very hard for family, friends, caregivers, and teachers to have to deal with. Most autistic children also have an IQ of under 70, that of an average person. About 20-40% of autistic children that have an IQ of fewer than 50 may start having seizures before adolescence. There are also many variances of autism, sometimes called childhood-onset pervasive development disorder or atypical autism. This may begin later then 12 years old. They start to behave in many bizarre mechanisms. The child may also be diagnosed with tourette’s syndromes, obsessive compulsive disorder, or hyperactivity. It is very difficult for a doctor to diagnose one symptom or disorder from another.