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Update—August 21, 2010
The Savant Registry: Over 300 savants in 30 countries

With the help of David Rebedew, a University of Wisconsin Medical student funded through a Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation Summer Fellowship, the world's first and only Savant Registry was codified and created this summer. It contains over 300 savants from more than 30 countries around the world. It provides a roster of persons with savant syndrome from a computer-based, easily retrievable data base identifying savants by primary ability, associated abilities, disability, age, sex, geographic location and a number of other variables. It provides the world's largest data base for analysis of savant syndrome, and will serve as a very useful resource for other persons who want to do research on savant syndrome using collective data rather than single, anecdotal reporting. Interestingly, while most savant skills fell into the more typical music, art, math, mechanical and memory categories, some other very unusual and unique skills surfaced as well.

Step two in the registry project was creating a Savant Syndrome Research Questionnaire, internet based, to provide much more in depth information on an even larger number of variables such as family history, pre-natal, birth and developmental history, acquired v. congenital factors, ethnicity,and parental profiles for example. This more extensive data will be used for more extensive correlations and analysis.

Step three, sending that more detailed questionnaire to many of the savants listed in that original registry, is underway and that data analysis will occur on a continuing basis. Stay tuned.


Update—August 18, 2010
Islands of Genius: a book review

Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired and Sudden Savant has been published in the U.S. and U.K. now. A recent review of the book can be accessed at http://host.madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/books/article_f92885ce-a625-11df-83ff-001cc4c002e0.html. Availability of the book has generated a number of reports of new savants to this Web site from a various countries around the world. These are now being incorporated into the world-wide "Savant Registry" recently constructed and being currently analyzed.


Update—July 17, 2010
Two Remarkable Graduation Speeches

This is the season of graduation speeches. This year there are two particularly amazing and inspirational speeches by two students with autism. Both were top of their classes.

Eric, whose parents were told early on that there son was going to end up in an institution, tells it this way: "I started my academic career being diagnosed with a severe learning disability-autism. My parents were told my prognosis was poor and that I would probably end up in an institution. They saw it differently. I stand before you today having been accepted into every institution of higher learning to which I applied, so in a way I guess the experts were right about the institution thing." His sage advice continues: "Do not allow yourself to be defined by your limitations, but instead by your abilities. Never underestimate yourselves". His brief speech can be accessed onYouTube. What a refreshing inspiration.

Jeremy was severely autistic as a child. Yet he finished high school with a GPA of 3.70. His commencement speech was given with a voice synthesizer because he is non-verbal but communicates through the same voice output technology he used to pass his tests and do his class work. There were no dry eyes in the audience when he finished his speech with specific, sound, touching advice to teachers, parents and students. He followed his own advice: "Give yourself the power to hear the voice inside telling you that you can create the life you dream of. Believe in yourself and never allow anyone to discourage you." You can view the entire 6 minute speech on YouTube. You can learn more about Jeremy on his mother's web site at www.chantalsicile-kira.com. On that web site there is a section "My Son Jeremy's story" in the About Chantal section.

I have heard many graduation speeches, but none as touching and inspiring as given by these two amazing students.


Update—July 14, 2010
The Amazing Stories of 6 Acquired and Sudden Savants

There is a very interesting story posted on the mental_floss blog regarding six acquired and sudden savants some of whom are described in even greater detail in Islands of Genius. The blog provides some excellent illustrations and photos to accompany the text.


Update—June 22, 2010
A World-wide Savant Registry

Through a Summer Fellowship Grant of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation, Dr. Treffert will have a medical student—David Rebedew—working with him in putting together a savant syndrome registry. This computerized list of savants from around the world already contains nearly three hundred such persons listed by special ability, type of disability, geographic location, age, sex and many other variables. Eventually this expanding list will be analyzed on these many variables, and will serve as well as a rich resource for others including other researchers, media specialists, and public educators. As analysis proceeds, results will be shared in a variety of ways.

Individuals who know of persons with savant syndrome who should be a part of this registry can forward that information to daroldt@charter.net or savants@charter.net.


Update—June 22, 2010
Leslie Lemke "Live in Pittsville"

A DVD from Leslie Lemke's Pittsville concert in 2007 is available now through a different address. "Leslie Live in Pittsville" can be ordered by sending a check for $20.00, made out to "Miracle of Love Ministries" to:

        Darold A. Treffert, MD.
        W4065 Maplewood Lane
        Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54937

The DVD will be mailed out from that address. The $20.00 is postpaid so there are no additional handling or mailing costs.


Update—June 6, 2010
Islands of Genius: An Interview

In the most recent issue of the JKP Autism Newsletter, Dr. Treffert answers some questions about savant syndrome based on information in Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired and Sudden Savant. That interview can be accessed on the JKP site. That book was also the topic for a recent "All in the Mind" broadcast by the BBC on June 1. 2010.


Update—May 18, 2010
The Pinball Wizard: A National Champion

Savant skills come in various forms. Robert Gagno has become a national champion (Canada) with this skill and is the number 60 seed out of more that 7500 ranked players throughout the world. And he is on an upward climb in those rankings. He has been playing pinball since age 8. Robert also has lightning calculating skills. He is taking college courses that he hopes will help him to go into a field that involves many numbers and visual patterns. As the attached linked article says all of his abilities, but especially his pinball skills. are "even more impressive by one fact: Robert Gagno is autistic". You can learn more about Robert here.


Update—May 18, 2010
George Widener's Continued Success

George Widener recently attended an autism charity event in Taipei, Taiwan where he helped raise funds for an autism group there and shared the incredible memory talents that Aspergers people can sometimes display. George has also been very busy with his artwork. His work sold well at the 2010 Armory Art Fair in New York in February, he will be in a group show at the Frankfurt Kunsthalle museum in September, and he will have his first solo exhibition in New York, at age 48, with Ricco Maresca Gallery in November. The prestigious Kroller Muller Museum of the Netherlands, which also has such artists as Van Gogh, Monet and contemporary artist Anselm Kiefer in their collection, recently recognized the excellence of George's work by collecting several of his drawings for its permanent collection.


Update—May 3, 2010
Islands of Genius: A new book on savant syndrome

Dr. Treffert’s new book on savant syndrome, Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired and Sudden Savant was published by Jessica Kingsley, Inc on 4/15/2010 and is available now directly from the publisher or via Amazon or Barnes & Noble. This is a follow-up book to Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome and provides encouraging progress reports on earlier savants as well as new cases; updates promising research on this remarkable condition; explores new cases of “acquired savant syndrome” along with “genetic memory” that hints at dormant potential within us all, and how to access that; points out how new imaging and other technology permits exploration of the brain function rather than just brain structure. Seeing the brain at work is much more informative than simply viewing brain architecture and will provide insight now only into savant syndrome, but autistic disorder itself. One section of the book provides specific advice and direction for parents, teachers and therapists in “training the talent” from specialists in music, art and math and a color illustration section displays some artwork of these specially gifted persons. The Foreword to the book was written by Daniel Tammet. Dr. Treffert wrote the Foreword to Daniel's first book Born on a Blue Day when first published in London. Throughout the book there is advice, direction and encouragement for parents and caretakers of newly discovered savants, and there is acknowledgement and credit to the families of some well known savants whose brilliant progress is due to the support, ingenuity, patience and love these families have provided so unconditionally. The book is dedicated to Kim and Fran Peek whose relationship—"Dad and I share the same shadow"—embodies that loving approval and acceptance.

Update—April 8, 2010
Updated and revised Hyperlexia posting: Autistic-like conditions v. autistic disorder

The hyperlexia posting in the articles section has been a very helpful one to many parents. It has been revised and up-dated to reflect that some of the links to prior articles are no longer valid. It also revises terminology and classification of hyperlexia somewhat. Most importantly, it emphasizes that there is critical distinction between autism spectrum disorders and autistic-like behavior and symptoms not only in hyperlexia but in other circumstances and conditions also. This is a critical distinction in differential diagnosis of autism v. autistic like conditions to prevent premature or erroneous diagnoses in certain patients, particularly those who later 'outgrow' their autism. This is addressed in detail in the hyperlexia article.


Update—April 3, 2010
"Outgrowing" autism: A search for new cases of "autistic-like" disorders

I regularly receive many "I've got a son or daughter who..." e-mails from this website in which parents share some special skills their child displays, and inquire about those. I do reply and also suggest the parents 'keep me posted' on future progress. Many parents do keep me appraised of progress. Some of those children (or adults) do have autistic spectrum disorder, with savant skills grafted on to the underlying disability, and do improve over time with certain interventions. Yet in those cases, some hallmarks of the autistic spectrum disorder do remain in greater or lesser degree. But interspersed among those cases are instances where the child 'outgrows' what I call "autistic-like" symptoms and behaviors entirely. In those cases (including hyperlexia in some instances) what one sees in childhood are "autistic-like" symptoms, but not autistic disorder. That is more than an academic distinction, because when the diagnosis of 'autistic disorder' (or often Asperger's disorder) are inappropriately applied to those "autistic-like" children the parents are, understandably, but unnecessarily, concerned and distraught. The scenario has a happy ending because the child does 'outgrow' the "autistic-like" symptoms and many, very bright children to begin with, are well integrated eventually into their peer groups and generally doing very well in middle schools, high schools or colleges.

I am searching for more such cases so that the "autistic-like'"conditions can have greater visibility. If recognized appropriately, some parents could be spared the worry attached to the fact that their child is "autistic" or "asperger's."

There are other conditions where "disorder-like" would be an appropriate designation. For example, some patients on certain medications may have "Parkinson-like" side effects, but do not have Parkinson's disease. Or certain medications, or conditions, can be accompanied by "Alzheimer-like" symptoms, often reversible, unlike true Alzheimer's disease. And 50% of persons with savant syndrome do not have autistic disorder as the underlying disability, but rather have a variety of other disorders on to which the savant skills are superimposed. Many of these persons with other disorders do have "autistic-like" behaviors (hand flapping, rituals, etc) but are not autistic.

In the "hyperlexia" posting in the articles section of this website, I expand on the autism vs. 'autistic-like' differential diagnosis. One could argue that when a child "outgrows" his or her autism, it is in fact a "cure" rather than an emergence from an autistic-like condition. For reasons too detailed to list here, I doubt that to be the case in the instances I am seeking.

If you know of such cases (and I already have some) I would appreciate knowing more about them. As mentioned, the good news about these cases are the happy endings.


Update—March 11, 2010
The Brain's Dormant Capacity

The March 5, 2010 issue of Psychiatric News carried a story of the role that the three "R's"—rewiring, recruitment and release—play in explaining savant syndrome, particularly as illustrated in the acquired savant. These three factors, along with genetic memory—"how do we know things we never learned?"—point toward a reservoir of dormant capacity within everyone, and illustrates as well CNS plasticity, according to Dr. Treffert whose views on these phenomena are summarized in the article.

An addendum to the article, titled "Rain Man's Inspiration" provides some background on Kim Peek, who was the inspiration for the movie Rain Man. Kim's remarkable abilities are described in greater detail in the profiles section of this web site. Regrettably, Kim died suddenly on December 19, 2009. However, the outpouring of tributes from around the world sent to this site, and then forwarded to his father, Fran Peek, was a tremendous affirmation of the positive impact that Kim and his father—"who share the same shadow"—had on all those fortunate enough to have encountered or known them.


Update—February 1, 2010
Islands of Genius: The Book

Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired and Sudden Savant, a new book on savant syndrome by Dr. Treffert, with a Foreword by Daniel Tammet, will be released in the U.S. in mid-April and in the U.K. in May, 2010. A description and review of the book can be accessed here.

Update—January 22, 2010
A savant tribute to an old friend: To Kim from Jim

I received many hundreds of condolences to Fran upon the death of Kim Peek. But one such message came in the form of a song another savant, James Cucek, wrote as a Goodbye to his old friend. It can be accessed here.


Update—January 13, 2010
Temple Grandin: The Movie

On February 6, 2010 HBO is scheduled to air the made-for-TV movie Temple Grandin. Playing the part of Temple will be Claire Danes, who played the part of Angela Chase in the TV show My So-Called-Life. An article from The Autism News contains more information about the film, and has a brief trailer for viewing as well. More information about Temple is available elsewhere on this site.


Update—January 13, 2010
Tony DeBlois: an amazing, inspirational success

A recent article in The Autism News is headlined "Musician proves blindness, autism are no barriers to success." It uses as the example Tony DeBlois, who is profiled in more detail elsewhere on this site. Tony is now 36 years old, plays 22 instruments and performs professionally in the U.S. and other countries. Through some jazz contests he won in high school, and through his mother's persistence and advocacy, Tony was admitted to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, which recognized his tremendous talent. Tony graduated magna cum laude from Berklee. The article in The Autism News brings Tony's story up to date, and provides a brief video clip of him performing on stage. The article and clip can be accessed here.


Update—January 3, 2010
Kim Peek: An Outpouring of Internet Condolences

When notice of Kim Peek's death was posted on this site, persons who wished to do so were invited to send condolences to this site so they could be passed on to his father, Fran Peek , since Fran doesn't use e mail. In response I received several hundred such messages from around the world--Poland, India, Venezuela, England, United States, New Zealand, China--and all points in between. If I were to sum up those thousands of words into one word it would be inspiration. Parents of children with disabilities wrote to tell of the inspiration, and optimism, gained from the heartwarming example of unconditional love between father and son. Scientists wrote indicating how they had been inspired to follow a course of neuroscience after visits from Fran and Kim to their schools. And the public at large wrote to tell how effective Kim's message advocating the universal acceptance of differences was as an inspiration to all of us whether handicapped or not.

I of course passed all of these message, every one of them, on to Fran Peek. He called to tell me how appreciative he was of each message and how comforted he was to realize the vast impact that he and Kim had on so many people worldwide. It is always gratifying, and comforting, to know your efforts are appreciated.

A "stranger" from China sent a message of condolences translated by computer into rather awkward, but still understandable English. I sent a message back to acknowledge receipt of the kind message, assuring the stranger that the message would be sent to Kim's Dad. I got this very thoughtful e mail in return. "Thank you for your reply. The internet lets us know that humanity should care for one another."

Kim would be very pleased with that e-mail. It keeps alive, even after his death, Kim Peek's message of inclusion and acceptance that he shared with us so often.

Many obituaries appeared worldwide such as the one in Psychology Today or The New York Times.






For more information, please contact:
Darold A. Treffert, MD
St. Agnes Hospital, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison
Personal Web site: www.daroldtreffert.com
E-mail: daroldt@charter.net