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July/August 2010 (Volume 25, Issue 4)
(2010) 31 min. DVD: $49.95. Center for Spectrum Services.
PPR. ISBN: 978-0-615-33516-2.
Produced by the Center for Spectrum Services,
The Asperger's Difference focuses on 13-year-old Annie, 16-year-old Noah,
and 19-year-old Jeffrey-all bright and articulate teens who introduce themselves,
discuss their interests, and recall how they found out they had Asperger's
syndrome. Through their stories, this educational documentary attempts to
define Asperger's (symptoms of which vary from one person to another), while
also exploring some of the condition's characteristic strengths and challenges.
As the narrator notes, the program might even help those who don't quite
fit the diagnosis but share some of the traits, such as fidgeting, problems
with communicating, and trouble with eye contact. According to Annie, who
prefers to socialize with adults, "I'm not the life of the party; I'm the death of
it." Jeffrey isn't so hard on himself, although he does find slang and
metaphors confusing (like many with Asperger's, Jeffrey does best with
unambiguous language). Both Jeffrey and Noah find it easier to chat with
friends over the Internet, where they aren't distracted by facial cues and
verbal inflections. All three have struggled with symptoms that mimic
obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as Annie's need to repeatedly watch
The Phantom of the Opera and Jeffrey's inability to stop playing video games.
The film points out that despite the deficits, people with Asperger's tend
to compensate with superior memorization and reading comprehension skills,
among other beneficial abilities.
Offering an informative and personal overview of the topic,
this is recommended.
Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy)
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