NeuroTribes– 2
September 14th, 2015 by drcoplan Dr. Coplan continues his discussion of Steve Silberman’s new book.
I have just finished reading NeuroTribes – The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity, by Steve Silberman. It is a worthy read.
I spent most of my career as a developmental pediatrician in academic medical centers, surrounded by trainees. And for the last 10 years, when I was in private practice, I extended myself to several of the nearby universities (PENN, where I held two teaching appointments, Villanova, PCOM, and others), with the object of having a trainee (nurse, physician, social worker, other) with me in the office, looking over my shoulder, at all times. The trainees always thanked me. My response was always: “It is I who am in debt to you. You are bright, observant, and inquisitive. What’s more, you haven’t reached that stage in your own professional development who you have begun to sort information into 2 categories: ‘Received Wisdom, Never to be Challenged,’ and ‘Everything Else.’ Because you do not come at the subject with this handicap, you have the refreshing habit of asking questions in novel ways, or forcing me to explain things that I generally tend to take for granted.” Silberman brings the same outsider’s eye to the subject of ASD. Read the rest of this entry »