Bailey agrees with Alex that the new heart surgeon, Dr. Virginia Dixon,
is a bit off. She makes eye contact a little too intensely, her speech
pattern is strangely formal and she can't seem to bend the rules, any
rule, even a little bit. When Bailey and Dixon disagree about a
patient's care, Bailey undermines Dixon's authority as an Attending
Physician rather than dealing with her strange behavior. It turns out,
Dr. Dixon has a neurological condition called Asperger's syndrome. Dr.
Dixon may seem like she doesn't have emotions, but it isn't the case.
Dixon stands up for herself in the end, and is a brave advocate for
herself and her condition.
Asperger's is one of a group of developmental disorders known as autism
spectrum disorders (ASD). People with Asperger's have trouble fitting
in to "normal" social interactions. They have difficulty interpreting
and sending social cues. They tend to take things literally. They often
stare a little too intensely, talk too loudly, have monotone
intonations or use an antiquated speech patterns. They adopt repetitive
routines and rituals. They'll often become fixated on one thing and
study it intensely. For Dixon, her one passion is hearts.
No one knows what causes any of the autism spectrum disorders. They
range in severity from disabled to perhaps a little "off" by normal
conventions, but truly gifted. Though an ASD may be diagnosed as early
as three years old, the eventual manifestation of the disorder can
change dramatically throughout a person's life. Early intervention,
changes in diet and nutrition, some medications and theraputic
socialization can all assist a child with ASD to connect to others and
gain life skills. Specialist intervention to help with at an early age
significantly improves a child with ASD's social and behavioral
development, so if a child you know exhibits symptoms, it's good to
have a pediatrician do an exam.
During the course of working on this episode the research department
stumbled upon the story of Dr. Temple Grandin. She's an autism expert
(which is how Moira found her) and lectures all over the globe. She's
also one of the world's foremost animal behavior specialists. Her
journey to understand her own condition made her uniquely qualified to
connect to animals and she has used her gift to improve the conditions
of livestock worldwide. She's a fascinating free thinker who makes me
strive to be a better smarter person. If you want a special treat,
catch out some of her lectures online. Oh, and here's a link in case
you'd like more information about autism.
