What are the assets of autism spectrum disorder? Part I
After diagnosis, it would be difficult to think about the assets of an autism spectrum disorder. The diagnosis alters your life, your family’s life, your child’s life. In amongst the grief, denial and anxiety there are many assets of autism spectrum disorder.
It is important to note though that most characteristics can be a strength in the right environment! Relative strengths can play a crucial role in helping individuals compensate for deficits, leading to a more productive and fulfilling life.
I have listed a few below and want to reinforce that every person on this earth has gifts, some just take a while to unwrap theirs. Look for your child’s strengths and focus on those. The quicker you can uncover what your child can do, has strengths in or is drawn to, the quicker you can begin to develop their self-esteem and self-concept. I will explore all these assets in my next three blogs as I want to reinforce just how important these are.
Assets of ASD include:
- Memory
- Visual thinking and skills
- Factual learning strengths
- Attention to detail
- Deep focus
- Skills in maths, science, computing areas
- Specialised interests
- Observation skills
- Absorb and retain facts
- Indifference to peer pressure
- Rules-based
- Refreshingly frank and logical
- Thought processes
- Honest, loyal and resilient
- Novel approaches
Memory
I’m not sure about you, but I need all the help I can get to remember and memorise particular details these days! I have three different calendars, alerts on my phone and the computer! Autistic people may have remarkable memories!
This again is dependent on how severely this area has been affected by the child’s autism.
Children with autism spectrum disorder are generally good at learning through rote memory.
Many children with ASD can recall large amounts of info, such as lines from movies, song lyrics, number plates etc. Encouraging your child to use rote memory for learning useful information such as telephone numbers, address, times tables etc is a way to develop this skill further.
Since the early 1940s Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger were writing about the link between autism and superior long-term memory regarding historic events, in addition to outstanding rote memory skills. Evidence of a vast vocabulary was also noted in children with ASD studies by Asperger. A recent study found that excellent memory capacity ensures that autistic individuals will not forget or get confused with dates.
Visual thinking and skills
Visual thinking can be an asset for children with ASD. Children with ASD may focus on features, rather than the whole picture in daily situations. Also, children with ASD can be visual learners and thinkers. This might be because visual information is more concrete and stays longer after spoken words have disappeared. This may assist children with ASD, who need longer to process information and make choices as to how to move forward. Using visual strategies is an evidence-based practice and intervention programs using visual strategies can work well in teaching and supporting children with ASD. Temple Grandin’s book titled Thinking in Pictures is a wonderful book that highlights the visual thinking in ASD.
Factual learning strengths
They are able to absorb and retain information that has been learnt years ago due to their excellent long-term memory and superior recall. Children with ASD generally achieve higher in IQ tests when tasks (puzzles) require rote memory, short-term memory, or physical manipulation and visual-spatial skills than they are at solving problems using language. Having said this, other children with ASD who have better language skills typically achieve well in tasks that require verbal thinking and less well in non-verbal activities.
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Temple Grandin (2009) states that she perceives the world in pictures and to form a concept she sorts pictures into categories and uses the analogy of computer files. An example she uses to illustrate is the concept of orange. She sees different orange objects to form the concept. She describes the three cognitive types as
- visual thinkers which she classifies herself as who are generally low achieving at algebra
- pattern thinkers who are good in maths and music however may struggle in the areas of reading and writing
- verbal specialists who are competent in talking and writing while lacking visual skills.
These are just two of the many assets in autism spectrum disorder. In my next blog I will continue to outline how they are an asset and what the research says.
Keep a look out for “What are the assets of autism spectrum disorder? Part I” coming soon….
Until next time
Voula