What is it you dont understand about autism !!!!!!
Discussion
Ok
Just a poll.
who knows the implications of autism?
who knows someone with autism?
who is a teacher and has been trained to recognise autism?
Who is a parent of an autistic child?
for the record I have and Aspergic child .
for those of you in the dark this is on the autistic spectrum.
Just a poll.
who knows the implications of autism?
who knows someone with autism?
who is a teacher and has been trained to recognise autism?
Who is a parent of an autistic child?
for the record I have and Aspergic child .
for those of you in the dark this is on the autistic spectrum.
jessica said:Jess,
Ok
Just a poll.
who knows the implications of autism?
who knows someone with autism?
who is a teacher and has been trained to recognise autism?
Who is a parent of an autistic child?
for the record I have and Aspergic child .
for those of you in the dark this is on the autistic spectrum.
I had to work yesterday.
A colleague brought his autistic son in.
7 years old. Member of MENSA. This child, and I don't use the phrase lightly, is a genius.
He was set up with some sort of strategy game on a PC in the morning, and had completed it by 5pm.
I'm still staggered.
And a bit shy, yes, but my....what a prodigy....
I don't know a lot.
I have just read the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night".
Clearly I don't know how true or accurate this is. I was certainly moved by it, and, if its largely true, I think I have some empathy and maybe understanding from it.
The condition appears totally frustrating, depressing and wonderful all at teh same time. I was moved to tears - and that doesn't happen very often. I found I thought I was so lucky, and strangely thought the character in the book was also very lucky at the same time.......
I have just read the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night".
Clearly I don't know how true or accurate this is. I was certainly moved by it, and, if its largely true, I think I have some empathy and maybe understanding from it.
The condition appears totally frustrating, depressing and wonderful all at teh same time. I was moved to tears - and that doesn't happen very often. I found I thought I was so lucky, and strangely thought the character in the book was also very lucky at the same time.......
This colleague was telling me:
His son loves maps. And navigating.
If the family are going somewhere for the day, the son insists on planning the route. So they sit him down with the atlas, and he plans, not one, but FOUR routes.
Then he commits them to memory. He doesn't need the atlas for prompting.
So if they hit traffic, he reroutes his dad, he just knows which way to go.
Incredible.
His son loves maps. And navigating.
If the family are going somewhere for the day, the son insists on planning the route. So they sit him down with the atlas, and he plans, not one, but FOUR routes.
Then he commits them to memory. He doesn't need the atlas for prompting.
So if they hit traffic, he reroutes his dad, he just knows which way to go.
Incredible.
My Mum specialises in teaching kids with autism and Asperger's syndrome. I'm interested in psychological matters anyway so I leafed through her books and asked her questions.
The way I see it, autism isn't a 'disability' as such, but just a different way of living and looking at the world. There are areas of memory, mathematics, problem-solving and recall that autists are literally physically more capable of dealing with. It's a fair bet that a lot of famous scientists were autistic, simply because they are geared towards 'not giving up' and having a mind that continues to inquire when many others would have given up.
Judging this alongside some of their more unusual behavioural aspects, it's easy to see that someone who hyper-rationalizes the world around them finding 'our' world chaotic and disorganised. I feel I can empathise strongly.
The way I see it, autism isn't a 'disability' as such, but just a different way of living and looking at the world. There are areas of memory, mathematics, problem-solving and recall that autists are literally physically more capable of dealing with. It's a fair bet that a lot of famous scientists were autistic, simply because they are geared towards 'not giving up' and having a mind that continues to inquire when many others would have given up.
Judging this alongside some of their more unusual behavioural aspects, it's easy to see that someone who hyper-rationalizes the world around them finding 'our' world chaotic and disorganised. I feel I can empathise strongly.
I am interested in this and have a very basic laymans understanding of it. I always thought I had aspergers syndrome actually because my interpersonal skills with other people are terrible and I get on better with older people, always have done since age 12.
Back on subject, isnt full-on autism where someone doesnt "filter" all the information properly coming in via the senses hence sees the world as a (probably) very frightning place?
Back on subject, isnt full-on autism where someone doesnt "filter" all the information properly coming in via the senses hence sees the world as a (probably) very frightning place?
gh0st said:I think we're all possibly on a line on this one where parts of our personality can tend towards these types of behaviour.
...some interesting stuff...
I class myself as "bl00dy pedantic" or "pig-headed" at times. I got to wondering if this isn't related (as in a sort of discount cousin, twice removed - you know, not anywhere seriously close to the conditions)?
I found the most intriguing theory the 'extreme male brain' theory.
Basically, the majority of autists are male, so it's a fair bet that it's linked in some way to male hormones or chromosomes in the brain. There was a scientist (I forget the name) who managed to devise a scale that one could be measured on, with an XY-graph on the scales of rationality-irrationality and emotion-logic. Basically, autists fell into the rationality/logic 'extreme', hinting at the strong possibility of an 'opposite' condition the scientist termed 'extreme female brain', though it's uncertain as to whether it would predominantly be found in females. In short, there must be some condition biased towards irrationality/hyperactive emotions that is the clinical opposite of autism, but we've yet to diagnose it.
Also underlines the point that the spectrum as a whole contributes, not detracts, from an individual's personality - I mean, if no-one was autistic or the opposite, we'd all be the same, and doubtlessly frustrate the hell out of each other.
Basically, the majority of autists are male, so it's a fair bet that it's linked in some way to male hormones or chromosomes in the brain. There was a scientist (I forget the name) who managed to devise a scale that one could be measured on, with an XY-graph on the scales of rationality-irrationality and emotion-logic. Basically, autists fell into the rationality/logic 'extreme', hinting at the strong possibility of an 'opposite' condition the scientist termed 'extreme female brain', though it's uncertain as to whether it would predominantly be found in females. In short, there must be some condition biased towards irrationality/hyperactive emotions that is the clinical opposite of autism, but we've yet to diagnose it.
Also underlines the point that the spectrum as a whole contributes, not detracts, from an individual's personality - I mean, if no-one was autistic or the opposite, we'd all be the same, and doubtlessly frustrate the hell out of each other.
jessica said:
Ok
Just a poll.
who knows the implications of autism?
who knows someone with autism?
who is a teacher and has been trained to recognise autism?
Who is a parent of an autistic child?
for the record I have and Aspergic child .
for those of you in the dark this is on the autistic spectrum.
Handsup - I dont know much...
I got introduced to a little lad a couple of years ago who had a form of 'brain injury' that was put under the autism banner. Very distressing to hear how he would try and hurt himself etc but very little as an outsider I/we could do.
We did a couple of charity gigs to try and raise some money and awareness for the local charity.
So far I am impressed with the replies.
THE DOG AT MIDNIGHT.......is a little insite into the minds of these people.
having an Aspergic child.I think it is a label for a high achiever,a genius,someone who thinks differently and moves to a different beat.
Without these people we would be lacking in science and its recent discoveries.
I am a scientist and so is my husband so there is maybe your answer
the enquiring mind.
THE DOG AT MIDNIGHT.......is a little insite into the minds of these people.
having an Aspergic child.I think it is a label for a high achiever,a genius,someone who thinks differently and moves to a different beat.
Without these people we would be lacking in science and its recent discoveries.
I am a scientist and so is my husband so there is maybe your answer
the enquiring mind.
jessica said:Thanks for this feedback. I was puzzled, by the end of the book, as to whether it was a close reflection of the condition, or not. Without first hand experience it is impossible to know. I felt I wanted it to be true, but was worried that I might be being duped by someone who was, for want of a better word, a charlatan.
THE DOG AT MIDNIGHT.......is a little insite into the minds of these people.
beano500 said:
THE DOG AT MIDNIGHT.......is a little insite into the minds of these people.
Thanks for this feedback. I was puzzled, by the end of the book, as to whether it was a close reflection of the condition, or not. Without first hand experience it is impossible to know. I felt I wanted it to be true, but was worried that I might be being duped by someone who was, for want of a better word, a charlatan.
I have read the book but having a crap memory have forgotten the ending
some bits the literalism are very acurate and the kicking off at the policeman for grabbing the boy are real.
My son hates to be touched,unless he initiates it.
as for my life it has been a long hard slog getting this label for my child,most people assume he is very naughty and we are crap parents neither being true.
As the director for a SPECIAL NEEDS CHARITY.
I feel that as many people i can make aware of this condition the better,
My son WILL be a high flyer no doubt about it .
I just wish the education system would revel in this knowledge and not abuse such intelligence.
I don't know if this will shed some light, but maybe it will:
www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1409903,00.html
www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1409903,00.html
Can't say I know much, but I read a fascinating article recently about the real-life person that 'Rain Man' was based on. He had brain damage at birth, and is unable to carry out certain daily things we take for granted (like dressing yourself), so I guess he would be at the more extreme end of the scale.
BUT, some of the things he was capable of were truely astounding. After listening just once to a recording of a piece classical music, he'll go see it performed live, and come out with things like 'the second clarinet came in a fraction late just then'. Or you tell him your date of birth and he'll instantly tell you which day of the week it fell on every year since you were born. He's currently being studied by NASA.
BUT, some of the things he was capable of were truely astounding. After listening just once to a recording of a piece classical music, he'll go see it performed live, and come out with things like 'the second clarinet came in a fraction late just then'. Or you tell him your date of birth and he'll instantly tell you which day of the week it fell on every year since you were born. He's currently being studied by NASA.
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