Are there any autistic people here who get lost easily.

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yes

This is definitely one thing where I'm just about opposite of most other Aspies and those with HFA... People say I have a "map in my head". I can "see" the whole city of Los Angeles and surrounding areas, and I know just about every little canyon shortcut, and even most of the fire roads through the Santa Monica Mountains. That city will confuse even seasoned taxicab drivers who grew up there. I would say it's virtually impossible for me ever to get "lost". I've driven all over the USA, alone and with my wife, and never felt lost. Dallas is still new to me, but I got a decent image of the overall Dallas map in my head almost right away. I go to Reno once a year for the Hot August Nights car show, and I didn't even try to memorize Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe, but it happened by default. Even Philadelphia, where I have not set foot since I was 10 years old in 1977, I still retain a basic map of it. I don't know how/why I'm this way, but it sure helps when I'm going someplace.

One thing that WILL get me disoriented, is huge parking lots such as Disneyland or a major shopping mall with many entrances. If I don't pay attention to a number or letter on a post nearby, or memorize that I'm "x rows east of x store", etc., I will forget where I parked, and have to think hard, and maybe make a couple hit & miss passes to find the car.

I'm not much into hiking or walking in the forest, but I have done it many times, and never worried about staying on trails, or remembering landmarks. I can just "feel" where I am, and I always am conscious of where the sun (or stars/moon) are in the sky, relative to the direction I'm facing, and I automatically compensate for how they move as the time goes on. I've never been able to comprehend how any hiker could "walk in giant circles" and stay lost in a small area. I just don't get it. But I respect it, and of course would not want to be in that position nor wish it on anyone. When I was 8,9, and 10 years old, my family went to Yosemite every summer. I used to like to go for long walks alone in the woods, and I never felt lost or scared. I never was late to come back, and if I took a wrong turn, or if I saw a danger and deliberately altered course, I'd easily still know where I was, and could get back.

Charles

Yes, I get lost VERY easily. Thank goodness for my GPS!

~Kate

Not me, maps, direction, planning routes; these are my skills. (The thing I am awesome in as my only real super ability! Yay)

I get lost all the time, even in my neighbourhood. One winter I got lost in the woods for hours.

I have aspergers and I always have to draw a detailed map of the destination area to be able to find it.

If I don't go down to Orchard Road (the main shopping area in Singapore) for a few months, I tend to be unsure of where to walk especially if there is renovation going on.

I get lost in the corridors of Doctor's offices. I follow the EXIT signs and hope for the best.

I have lost confidence in my sense of direction long ago. I entered the wrong classroom twice within the same year. The first time I did, the teacher asked, "Hey! What are you doing here?" The second time I did, my schoolmates shooed me out of their classroom. I even overheard some of their snide remarks while packing my stuff up.

I get lost all the time when it comes to driving, but not when I'm walking.

Aspie here, and perpetually lost. All my life I've had to know to allow extra time, just for getting lost and finding myself again. I get lost inside buildings with too many "left-left-right-left" corridors, forget outside. I probably should get myself a GPS, but I don't drive unfamiliar places anymore, and will probably soon need to give up driving altogether.

Reading down this thread, it looks as if Asperger's/Autism does have _something_ to do with it: we're either very, very good, with maps and compasses in our heads, or very, very bad, getting lost in our own back yards as soon as we can't see the house. Has _anybody_ just average checked in here yet?

As I said before in other thread, I tend to get lost, but I'm able to use maps as well. Google Maps is my friend. I also use GPS sometimes.As I said before in other thread, I tend to get lost, but I'm able to use maps as well. Google Maps is my friend. I also use GPS sometimes but I don't want to be lazy and avoid it when I'm able to solve my problem with my brain.

Yeah, I often describe myself as "directionally challenged". I don't think most people really get it though. My mom still says it's because of inexperience, I didn't drive until I was 21. Didn't drive out of town by myself till at least 24 (31 now). My sister gets it, she sees me get lost. I'll ask her not to help, let me figure it out, then I get lost and she guides me back. She's one of those "driving there once makes you an expert types". I have a costco membership, but can't drive myself there, because I can't get back to the right road (and it's in a big town where there's traffic and merging...).

Doctors offices are not easy either. You go in a door, down a hall, then another door, another hall, then a room. When the appointment is over, they just toss you out the door to fend for yourself.

This post might have been kinda rambly, migraine mixed with too much caffeine...my brain might be broken.

I have no sense of direction whatsoever for where I am, generally. The exception is if it's a place I've been a lot and getting there is fairly straightforward. But I am NOT a person you want to ask for directions! I still can't tell you how to get from my house to the nearest city 10 min away, that I go to all the time. But I CAN tell you how to walk from one location in the downtown district to another, as I've done it so many times, and it's really easy to navigate.

You could drop me anywhere in Glasgow, even parts I've never been to, and I could find my way home, no problem. But, when I'm on holiday, I seldom get my bearings. Thankfully, my husband has an excellent sense of direction. However, we've been to Dublin 3 times and got completely lost each time, whilst trying to find our way out of the city.