Today’s post is surround by a question that the professor Levy asked us on last class , “What question or questions would you be interested in researching about communication? Why?” The answer that first pop out to my mind is autism. How they interact with others through communication? What is/are verbal or nonverbal communication meaning to them? Are they struggling with/ trying to communication/ expressing their thoughts with others or they just don’t bother to communicate with others at all?
This notion of interested in researching on autism comes from a drama that I recently fall in love with, “ The Good Doctor”. This drama is surround by the main character Shaun Murphy, an expertise autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome. This drama is not only covers lots of strange medical cases, but also illustrated specifically on how Dr. Murphy plays an important role in cases with different patients while struggling to gain acceptance from the coworkers ( hospital staff) and the families of patients due to his social challenge as an individual on the autism spectrum. Because of his autism, the way he express himself through communication is dramatically unique among all other doctors. For example, he will truthfully speak to the patient about his/her situation which makes it worse on patients and the family’s emotion. It is difficulty to understand his emotions or how he feel through his body gesture and movement. Perhaps all this examples contribute to autism is related to their lack or few social interaction. But this behavior or living circumstances makes the lots of difference when they have conversation with others.
In this short video, the patient lots of his ability to communicate and acts aggressively leads medical staff misunderstood him as psychotic. Dr.murphy said: "He's Not Psychotic, He's Autistic "