MovieChat Forums > The Good Doctor (2017) Discussion > I have a form of autism and this televis...

I have a form of autism and this television show is really accurate.

posted 7 years ago by gibsonj338-3 (39)
8 replies | jump to latest

I have a form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome. When I first heard of this show via a commercial, I was hesitant to watch, but when I found out that it was a show about a guy with autism working in a hospital it peaked my interest. Freddie Highmore playing an autistic character with the name of Dr. Shaun Murphy is really accurate; I see a lot of him in me. Just about all of the symptoms Dr. Shaun Murphy deals with I see in myself. I struggle with confidence sometimes, especially when it comes to having to deal with something I never had to deal with before. If the situation I am having to deal with gets hard and I do not know what to do, sometimes I do freak out; however, I am learning that with the help of two life skills coaches and my mom's youngest sister of four sisters, I am able to handle situations a little bit better. I live in an apartment by myself without the help of my parents because they have passed on, my dad in 2007 at the age of 48 and my mom in 2009 at the age of 50; I was 24 when my dad passed on and 26 when my mom passed on. Because of the situation with my parents' passing so soon, even though it is very sad, I feel their passing when they did helped me to be the person I am today; I lived with my parents from the day I was born to the day my mom passed away and my mom always helped me with life. About four years ago, I decided to go to community college (Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon) so I can get my degree so I can work as a librarian which I completed my associates about one year ago and now am transferred to an University (Portland State University in Portland, Oregon) to get my undergrad degree and then my graduate degree. I started volunteering at a public library (Cedar Mill Community Library in Portland, Oregon) in 2003 and I still volunteer to this day which is what caused me to want to get my degree to work as a librarian. Anyway, I hope this show does not get cancelled and lasts for many seasons to come.

[–] JepGambardella (499) 7 years ago

All the best to you. Sorry to hear about both your parents passing away at such a young age.

[–] gibsonj338-3 (39) 7 years ago

Thanks.

[–] kellycallie (728) 7 years ago

Asperger's syndrome was removed from the DSM in 2013. Today the diagnostic definition of Autism is going back to its medical beginnings as being a disorder of the sufferer being in a world of their own and having a very high co-morbid of intellectual disability.

People with social problems and non-verbal weakness (picking up on social cues) are not considered to be Autistic. Asperger's was an enormous mistake of a disorder as it created an epidemic of over diagnosis of non-autistic children. You are very likely NOT Autistic OP, especially if you were diagnosed under the old criteria.

And the shows portrayal of Autism is right out of fantasy (even though i understand it's a remake). There is literally not one Autistic person with this presentation of Autism.

Let's have a reality check here, the absolute majority of Autistic people are not employed and live with their parents or in group homes well into adulthood. Savant syndrome is incredibly rare and when it happens it's nothing like this. I feel like mainstream media likes to underplay the severity of Autism...

[–] janoss (214) 7 years ago

I respectively disagree. Though I find the actors verbal behavior annoying, I think the visual portrayal is excellent. Autism is a spectrum and is also about thinking in pictures. He's not a savant by any means, he just has excellent recall and the ability to visualize very rapidly. I'm on spectrum myself and have worked with many computer techs and software engineers that present the same way. Very socially awkward, no understanding of emotional queues, but are easily able to understand complex problems through visualization. Creatures of extreme habit, very sensitive to touching and uncomfortable clothes, panic reactions to minor things,etc.

My daughter is diagnosed autistic and dyslexic but has incredible recall and taxonomic skill when it comes to animals (especially dinosaurs but that's what kids love at her age). To me, autism is about how you process information.

[–] SHADO (85) 7 years ago

Respectfully*

[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

On a side note. I am a librarian too. I love it! I also found that it has helped me with self confidence as well as a number of other issues.

[–] brux (14840) 7 years ago

I think this is a good show too. I like it and hope it survives ... but the operating on a cooled live on the freeway in direct sunlight seems a bit unrealistic.

[–] Johanesse (503) 5 years ago

I happen to know a lot of Ppople with Asperger's Syndrome and the portrayal of Shaun is pretty accurate. I've seen several aspies who behaves exactly like that, though of course some aren't.

Sorry to hear about your parents.