How savants perform such tricks is as puzzling to the medical world as it is to Jackie and the others like her. Certain common characteristics have, however, emerged. Strangest of all, perhaps, is the fact that about 85 percent of all recorded cases are male. What no one knows either is why the range of savants skills is so restricted. These include music (usually the piano), calendrical or other mathematical calculation, art, extra-sensory perception, extraordinary sensitivity of touch or small and (more unusually) mechanical ability.
It has been suggested that autistic people do not suffer; that they are perfectly happy to remain in their own world and that a cure is only necessary in order to reduce the terrible pain of rejection felt by the victims' families. This controversial option is, however, only held by a few.

The subject became the focus of particular media interest after Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for his brilliant performance in the film Rain Man, where he plays the part of an autistic savant. This has increased public awareness of the disease and hopefully will result in more money begin given to research and a cure begin found sooner rather than later.