Savant syndrome: Rare mental illness

I have an 11-year-old child who is suffering from a mental disability, although he is gifted in mathematics. I took him to a hospital in Dubai and a psychologist diagnosed him with Savant syndrome. Kindly share highlights on this condition.

Rotimi X.

Savant Syndrome is a rare mental disorder. The syndrome needs a special skill in dealing with than a normal disorder.

The fact remains that the syndrome is witnessed among people who are suffering from autism; which is generally defined by mental disability or retardation. However, Savant syndrome includes having special skills in mathematics, arts, music and others in tremendous amounts as you described about your son.

It is worthy to note that:

1. Children with savant syndrome have an exceptional talent or skill in a particular area such as the ability to process mathematical calculations at a phenomenal speed.

2. pproximately one in 10 persons with autistic disorder have some savant skills. In other forms of developmental disability, mental retardation or brain injury, savant skills occur in less than one per cent of such persons (approximately 1:2,000 in persons with mental retardation).

3. As it turns out, approximately 75 per cent of persons with savant syndrome have autistic disorder and the other 25 per cent have some other forms of developmental disability, mental retardation, brain injury or disease. Thus not all savants are autistic, and not all autistics are savants.

Risk factors

Genetic predisposition being the main cause, hereditary mental disorder becomes the main risk factor. Other risk factors include:

• Asperger syndrome in the family • Family history

• Mental illness in family • Prematurity in infants (gestation period <35 weeks)

• Newborn weight remains less than 2,500g

• The effect of unfavourable ecological environment that leads to mutations of the genes and deficiency of Vitamin D.

Causes

• The origin of savant syndrome is still not known.

• Some specialists associate the development of these exceptional characteristics with abnormalities and specific genetic alterations.

Symptoms

The symptoms and signs of Savant syndrome can be found from childhood days. The disease is termed as both a blessing and a curse. At one time the patient is the sufferer of abilities and at other times they are abnormally capable of doing something exceptional. The frequent and observed symptoms of Savant syndrome are listed below.

• Savant syndrome is sometimes seen in people with Down syndrome.

• The children suffering from Savant syndrome tend to show mental retardation. The abnormal behaviour and irrelevant activities are signs of mental disorder. However, they do not show severe signs of mental disorder and can be controlled.

• The children generally have some special powers and ability.

Complications

• Autism is often associated with different disorders and mental illness resulting in communicative difficulties, non-socialisation, etc. that hinder regular life.

• It also prevents a child’s growth and results in depression, loneliness, non-selfrealisation and other problems.

Treatment options Social:

• The child is encouraged to attend regular sessions at social centres that have experts and counsellors and also centres with social, leisure and recreational programmes.

• For a period of time, the child should attend a special class organised by a remedial teacher for mentally handicapped patients at the hospital.

Educational: