Sunday, May 2, 2010

A Genetic Drive To Love, Yet Distanced By Differences : NPR

A Genetic Drive To Love, Yet Distanced By Differences : NPR

This makes it difficult not only to hold a job as an adult, but also, Pober says, to fulfill one of their most intensely felt needs: because they are compulsively social they yearn to be surrounded by dear friends.

"To me it's one of the heartbreaks, the sadnesses of Williams syndrome," Pober says. "Most are rather socially isolated."

Pober says this is because in order to get to know someone you have to do turn taking in dialogue. "You listen to what I say, I listen to what you say, and then we build on that," Pober says. "But to sustain the attention and build on the dialogue enough to really get to know someone is hard for many folks with Williams syndrome."

Pober says few people with William's syndrome marry, and even fewer have children. But this may be changing, Pober says. Now there are new social training programs for people with Williams. These new treatments might ultimately transform the long term prospects of people with William.

1 comment:

The Lady of the Holler said...

I'm so encouraged by those last few paragraphs -- that training can help WS kids....