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INSIDE PERSPECTIVES of AS & Neurodiversity |
LEARNING DisabilitiesDYSLEXIA
Dyslexia sometimes co-occurs with ASD and ADHD and is considered part of the Neurodiversity spectrum. All those I know who have dyslexia are wonderful people and often have other gifts instead. Jay Leno is dyslexic, for example. And in a TV-interview with the real Erin Brockovich, she said that her Dyslexia was part of what enabled her to memorise numbers and facts in such an amazing way and spot patterns in huge amounts of text.
“In hindsight, Dyslexia is my greatest gift. It taught me how to work and think outside the box.” - Erin Brockovich, famous dyslexic
“I do have other useful skills that i probably would not have if i was not an illiterate aspie. I am referring to my skills and ability in electronic engineering. Even though i could burly read or write when i left hi school i did have well above average results in all the non word intensive subjects (physics, maths, tech drawing) which managed to get me an apprentice at British Aerospace in 1983.
“My unlimited enthusiasm (obsession) earned me the position as the most successful apprentice ever and i am the only apprentice ever to be offered a permanent position in one of the most technical departments in the organization (machine tool electronic maintenance) from just hearing of my reputation only.
“Shortly after i joined the department i picked up a large circuit board that looked technically interesting, tested it just for my curiosity to see how it works and in doing so found a fault which i repaired. I was informed that the reason it was left on the bench was because all the other engineers had tried and given up in repairing it.
“From then on all the interesting faults came my way which i succeeded with nearly all them. That department was heaven when you have an obsession in finding out how electronic systems work.” - John, dyslexic Aspie from UK
Sometimes the combination of AS & Dyslexia + living in a country where English is the primary language, can make things extra difficult since Aspies want things to be logical & consistent. The English language contains so many irregularities when it comes to spelling, grammar and pronouncing (depending on which language the word was originally imported from) that it can be very confusing, especially if you don’t know the history of each word.
“Another difficulty of my primary school is where dyslexia and Asperger meet such as the stupid way many words are spelt. “Words such as ‘one’ (1), i all ways spelled it as ‘won’. No mater how many times the teacher would loose her temper or remind me how useless and hopeless i am, could get me to under stand why this word is spelt wrong. I spent many hours worrying why i was the only person who could not see how to get ‘o’ to sound like ‘w’. “The meaning of the word gullible springs to mind, was i the only person who is not gullible, “I have got it, it was a printing error when the dictionaries was made, or what if it not that, maybe the teacher is right and that i am as stupid and thick like the teacher says i am, my mum says that i am a retard.” - John, dyslexic Aspie from UK
‘HYPERLEXIA’
I must admit that don’t really see the problem with so-called Hyperlexia. As already mentioned, it is very common for Aspies to be fascinated with words and many start reading long before they start school. If one starts very early, it is only natural that most effort first goes into the decoding while the actual content can be focused on later. How can it be a disorder to start reading early?? Isn’t it rather a sign of being gifted?
“Mom HATED the way some of the teachers were. One of them was MAD because i could read in kindergarten and she did not know what to do with me (and a couple other kids who could read, not quite as well as me though). She wanted to make us take the reading lessons even though we could read.
“Then they came out with this stupid thing called ITA. It was phonics but not good like Hooked on Phonics. It taught kids to spell things like they sound at first, then re-teach them the usual way. I think this caused lots of cases of so-called dyslexia.
“My folks, and the parents of the other readers did not think we needed this crap and petitioned that we not have to take it, but the school made us. They said they had no money for gifted students, and one teacher said i was 'eccentric' because i liked to talk to animals and read Shakespeare (in first grade). Nowadays many lawyers would have offered to sue the school pro bono, but back in the early '70's they were more worried about dress codes.” - Kajira, adult Aspie
“But these kids behave oddly, are sensory hypersensitive, stim, and don’t learn social codes like other children,” some say. Well, of course - they are probably little Asplings! Such behaviour is perfectly normal for ASD children and nothing to be alarmed over.
DyscalculiaWhile some Aspies are extra good at math, others have big difficulties with anything to do with numbers, calculations and mathematical concepts, now called Developmental Dyscalculia. May have different causes in different people, e.g. sequencing or visual processing difficulties. May also occur in some who are artistic, visual learners and right-brain dominant.
“I definitely have dyscalculia. I have huge problems remembering numbers and have to dubble-check calculations several times to make sure I use the right numbers etc. A huge problem when I have to pay my bills and learn new number codes. I also have poor perception of what numbers mean when judging weight and measurements etc. But I have no difficulties understanding logic, quite the contrary.” - ‘Mixpippi’, male adult Aspie from Sweden
DYSGRAPHIADysraphia is difficulty with handwriting.
“Handwriting... There have been times when people seriously thought I was pulling their leg when they've seen my writing, and I've had questions about motoric difficulties by a teacher in school. I didn't think I had (then) so then I was just told to shape up. That worked... not overly well. - Savanten Svante, male adult Aspie from Sweden Dyspraxia
Some on the Neurodiversity Spectrum have Developmental Dyspraxia, with poor fine- or gross motor skills, coordination difficulties, problems copying movements (e.g. in dancing or exercising) or catching a ball, lack of normal muscle tone, joints that are very stiff or overly flexible, balance & posture problems, odd gait, tendency to drop things, bump into things, trip or fall, general poor body control.
“My hands have little fine motor control, which makes handling small objects like needles rather difficult. There are other times when it just feels like my fingers are too big and don't want to cooperate. I used to enjoy building models, but it got too difficult after a while so I had to give it up. Catching is hit and miss with me. If you throw a ball or something, odds are I won't catch it.” - William, adult Aspie from USA
“Nothing much wrong with my ball-sense. I've played tennis since 1977. /.../Golf a little more sporadically./.../ Have hopelessly hypermobile joints. Have had my right shoulder dislocated 4 times due to hypermobile joints. It's now operated. Often lose things due to holding them too lightly. Not to mention coordinating dance-steps! - ‘ASterix’,’male Aspie from Sweden
“Dance steps? I gave that up years ago and can’t even manage the coordination for regular workout like aerbics. I spill things, bump into things sometimes, tend to lean on something because I have some difficulty standing up without support.
“Team sports I’m lousy at but that’s probably more because I have difficulty judging other people’s intentions and don’t read them well enough. /.../ Baseball... *horror* /.../ I’ve tried to learn riding but had problems with balance even if I thought it was fun.
“But I was great at being a judge. Rule interpretation is my best sport.” - Titti, adult Aspie from Sweden
“I am hyper-mobile, which has given me jaw problems. My oldest son is also hyper-mobile. He literally had his thumb in his palm and had to use braces to keep it at a straight angle.” - Magnus, adult Aspie from Sweden
“I have problems with stiff muscles and joints which can become achy or painful, especially when it is cold or rainy.” - Ilah, adult probable Aspie from USA
“I find it hard to stay upright without thinking about it all the time.” - Emma, adult Aspie from Sweden
“I was clumsier when I was younger, now it’s not like one falls over when out walking exactly, and my ball sense I’ve improved by practice. Ping pong has done a lot there, but weight lifting only gives me muscle pain. Imitating others I’m lousy at and ball sports where one is in a team with more than 2 members I’ve never managed. Not that I’ve tried much. The football in school was not something I would chase so I was among the last to be chosen.” - ‘Parvlon’, adult Aspie from Sweden
LINKS
Nonverbal Learning Disorder Wikipedia Nonverbal Learning Disorders Dr Rachele Jones
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Dyslexia from Dyslexia, the Gift site for dyslexics Dyslexia test for adults including list of some famous dyslexics My world is not your world by Alison. An inside perspective on Dyslexia & AS
Dyspraxia Foundation List of symptoms
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