David Finch has Asperger’s syndrome and struggled to identify with others socially. That is, until he started taking cues from the likes of Howard Stern and David Letterman.
Finch — who recently penned a book about his experience as an adult newly-diagnosed with Asperger’s — said he learned different things from each talk show host he observed.
Stern, for example, can keep a story going for 30 minutes or more on his radio show, continually peeking listeners’ interest by changing his tone. Even when interrupted, the shock jock uses humor to bring the conversation back to his story, Finch says.
Meanwhile, from Letterman, Finch learned to use facial expressions and other body language to get points across.
It took some practice, but Finch says he eventually learned to model the talk show hosts’ techniques for his own benefit.
“I always thought conversations were overrated. But now that I could actually do it, I thought it was really cool,” Finch told The New York Post. To read more click here.
I’m glad that this man has found a strategy that works for him.
Piquing: present participle of pique (Verb)
-Stimulate (interest or curiosity)
-Feel irritated or resentful.
@Harold: I was just going to post the same thing! Although it might not be fair, poor spelling always drags down an article.
I just ordered David Finch’s book, “The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband”, from the library, and can’t wait to read it!
I read the book, and would have loved to have had David’s wife perspective on living with a spouse with Aspergers. I too live with a man but his was undiagnosed Aspergers. I had to do my own research, and finally figured out that it was Aspergers. My marriage is on the verge of collapse…..David was lucky and was aware of his quirks early on, and their marriage survived……Not all married couples are as lucky as his was.