I'm not feeling a little better.
One correction: Unlike you, I have not had any kind of mild retardation medically diagnosed.
Why someone else would place in that group--offhand--because I have low self-esteem (Tigger) is beyond me.
Why do you seem to insinuate here (esp. in the bolded print) that you possibly do have some form of mild retardation in specific areas?
Why do you seem to insinuate here (esp. in the bolded print) that you possibly do have some form of mild retardation in specific areas?
Perhaps, and what is really wrong with that?
In my opinion, a lot. I know I wouldn't be able to cope with the knowledge that I have mild retardation in any specific area--for me, it would damage my self-esteem. I won't lie.
Learning disabilities are one thing, mild retardation is another thing entirely.
For example dyslexia is considered a learning disability by most people, however it is not considered mild retardation. I'd like you to make the distinction for yourself before jumping to conclusions, please.
What you may be talking about is learning disability, instead of mild retardation. Dyslexia and dyscalculia are common among Aspies; I suspect I probably have Dyscalculia. But if I concentrate really hard and get interested in Math, I'm able to be as good as the average person. Problem is--Math was never one of my interests.
Yes, that was a sarcastic comment, in all honesty.
Aliengirl I have read many of your posts and generally you are a better/more effective writer (esp. considering your flawless use of grammar) than many NTs I have encountered throughout life.
Considering the above point, I do not understand how/why you would be considered to have mild retardation. You've just clarified the reason as this: "because I have been consistently told so." That does not explain much to me, though.
One issue you mentioned before is that you can only learn some things by rote... and I'm thinking to myself... "wait a minute, isn't that how SO many Aspies learn?" A lot of Aspies absorb information by capturing it in raw form and "filing it away." In other words, for MANY Aspies, it's more about storing information (rote) than the actual processing of information. This also relates to Weak Central Coherence and trouble getting the Big Picture--many Aspies only see loose details that don't connect to anything. You can also see where Echolalia fits in here.
The "rote learning" is a learning style, not an indicator of retardation. I don't understand why you think dependency on rote learning means cognitive weakness.
The other issue you have mentioned before is "low IQ." I received an IQ score of 99 (the only IQ test I've ever taken) and you write/use language just as well as I do, if not better.
I'd like to state that I'm also very echolaliac, I take in and store words/phrases that I don't *always* understand, and can use them later at any given time. I would not call this tendency a sign of disability or trouble--but in fact a gift that would be very useful in terms of writing ability.
Regardless, I have read that a lot of Aspies have this same problem. We can store the information but cannot always figure out what it means.
I don't generally see why this is such a problem.
I don't see why you are acting snippy toward me.
I was merely arguing that in my opinion, you sound quite bright, which is not in keeping with the label you have been given. This is a positive thing.
Can you explain the above in a different way? I do not understand what you mean, here.
Are you saying the NT brain always has high intelligence, and therefore compensates for learning disabilities?
I really need you to clarify this.
For starters, I consider most neurotypes off the autistic/PDD spectrum to be under the NT umbrella. I don't know if you have that same definition, but I use it, because it makes sense to me. I have met a lot of ADD/ADHD kids and basically they have a very similar outlook on life to "plain ol' NTs" and have strong instincts and social ability. The "herd mentality" is mostly intact with people who are not on the autistic spectrum, be it ADD, Bipolar, or what have you.
A short definition for autism is lack of instincts. This statement cannot be applied to neurotypes such as ADHD and Bipolar, except in extreme cases.
Mate I found your last post to be very interesting and insightful, but for some reason I am still thinking that you didn't really explain what you mean above, here. I am not trying to be rude by repeating this same question again. I'm just the type of person that needs a "direct answer" to any lingering questions.
In that statement, are you suggesting the NT brain is, overall, more intelligent than the neurodiverse brain?
How would the NT brain be able to compensate for learning disabilities?
I feel like an idiot for needing to ask so many questions--sorry.
Well said, I have been that way when I was in school, and I still am. School to interact with people and home to follow my interests.
Aliengirl,
Have you had a karyotype test? These are tests that can check for things like Fragile X Syndrome CGG repeats (the higher the repeats, the greater the chance you have the premutation--it is now being speculated that the Fragile X premutation may cause an Asperger's/ADHD thing in some people who have it). Not to say you would have Fragile X or anything, but I read somewhere that people with autism should take a karyotype test for that reason among others.
It can also be used to check for Klinefelter's Syndrome in males, among other conditions. Apparently you can have Klinefelter's and not know it, although oddly enough, it does seem to carry significant Executive Function deficits.
Let me know what he says on the topic, as I've been considering possibly getting a test like this myself. I don't know enough on the topic tho, so any insight would be useful. thanks again.
You and your paranoia, eh? 8Magus8 rubbing off on you?
No, I've had neurotypical friends in the past. There have also been times when I would have been "included" with NTish people, had I only been able to read the signals that they were sending correctly. Now that I know I have AS, I've looked back into the database of my past and saw that positive signals have been sent to me, but I simply didn't notice them.
I've not seen convincing evidence to suggest NTs can read minds while Aspies cannot. This looks like a fantasy, to me.
People with manipulative personalities, or bullies, will notice sensitivity or poor social skills and take advantage of this. That's pretty much the extent of what you're seeing.