Darold Treffert

Darold A. Treffert (born March 12, 1933 ) is an American psychiatrist and researcher who has been dealing specifically with the " Savant Syndrome " since 1962 . He is known, among other things, for his work on the film Rain Man (1988).

Career

Darold Treffert graduated from Wisconsin Medical School in 1958. This was followed by an internship in Eugene (Oregon) and a job as resident physician in psychiatry at the University Hospital in Madison (Wisconsin) . He moved to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in 1962 . Here he set up the department for children and adolescents. From 1964 to 1979 Darold Treffert was the institute's superintendent. Subsequently, he worked in his own psychiatric practice and at the same time worked as director of the Fond du Lac County Health Care Center and was also medical director of the unit for alcoholism- convalesence at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac . He resigned from these positions in 1991 to pursue his practice and writing.

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Darold Treffert is considered to be one of the leading experts on savant syndrome . He often appeared on television shows such as B. Expedition into the brain to raise awareness of autism and savant syndrome. Treffert wrote two books on the subject of Savant Syndrome.

Treffert's book Extraordinary People: Understanding “Idiot Savants” , according to Publishers Weekly, conveys the author's amazement at the incredible talent of these otherwise cruelly disadvantaged people and their families. The book was published in an expanded edition in 2006.

In his book Islands of genius: The bountiful mind of the autistic, acquired, and sudden savant , published in 2010, Treffert deals with the question of how the savant's brain works and whether it is also possible for those who are not affected to awaken their extraordinary talents. According to Psycnet, the book would fascinate anyone interested in Savant Syndrome. It is also helpful for therapists, teachers and relatives of those affected.