Do people with autism have the same problem as me?
CockneyRebel
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Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 121,204
Location: In my own little country
I can remember years and dates, but I have a hard time keeping track of mathematical numbers. I guess that you and I are the rare ones of the WP bunch. Most people on the spectrum are very good at math. I'm horrible at it. I can't even do multiplication and division without a calculator.
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The Family Schlager
How do you cope with these problems?If you do have them.
The surrounded by people thing sounds familiar.
In what situations do you have a hard time? What amount of numbers? What amount of digits in a number? Any particular numbers that throw you off?
I'm bad at maths and science, both the subjects what Aspies are stereotypically supposed to be good at. I hated science lessons at school. They were so boring, we never learnt anything interesting, just done equations all the time, so BORING and also very pointless and difficult. I never did get it.
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Female
I can keep track of EVERYONE'S birthdate, anniversary, age, etc. I remember phone numbers from when I was 5. I still remember my junior high teacher's licence plate number. But do NOT ask me to remember where I last put my keys! :O
I think a lot of people on the spectrum are good with numbers, and there are also a lot who aren't. There is a disorder involving numbers and math called dyscalculia or something like that. You can look it up and see if it applies--if so you can get help to learn techniques people with the disorder use to get through life more easily. If not, maybe you simply don't have a good memory when it comes to numbers. In that case, it might be a good idea to carry an agenda to keep track of numbers you need over and over again. I bought an agenda from Walmart once that had blank paper in it as well along with a calculator in it that you can carry with you everywhere.
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Diagnosed with classic Autism
AQ score= 48
PDD assessment score= 170 (severe PDD)
EQ=8 SQ=93 (Extreme Systemizer)
Alexithymia Quiz=164/185 (high)
I can only do math if I write it down. Even if it's just tracing numbers onto whatever surface is near with my pointer finger, I have to "see" the numbers or I can't process them. I could do something like 8x3 in my head because those are memorized.
If I have a set of data that I am exposed to every day like I had when I was doing inventory control a year ago, I can become an accurate calculator without having to consciously think about anything, but it's because I "get to know" the same numbers and their relationships with each other (in regards to simple mathematical calculations). And I start assigning human characteristics to them. The number 8 becomes "laid back" and the number 9 is a "sly and tricky" one.
How do you cope with these problems?If you do have them.
My daughter is autistic and she loves math.
That really doesn't have anything to do with what I said o_ 0?
Sorry, just saying she has autism and no problems with keeping track of numbers in her head.
How do you cope with these problems?If you do have them.
My daughter is autistic and she loves math.
That really doesn't have anything to do with what I said o_ 0?
Sorry, just saying she has autism and no problems with keeping track of numbers in her head.
Oh okay, what about concentration?
How do you cope with these problems?If you do have them.
The surrounded by people thing sounds familiar.
In what situations do you have a hard time? What amount of numbers? What amount of digits in a number? Any particular numbers that throw you off?
Uhm, usually when literally anything is going on even music. I need the room to be absolutely still and quiet for me to concentrate at all or I get VERY easily distracted and forget what I was doing with the numbers.
I don't have autism myself, but I'm terrible with numbers, except few main phone numbers. I forget them as I literally hear them. I tried improving this by playing little Ds games that make you memorize numbers lol. Those type of games were fun and sometimes helped me a bit with practice, but I still have the issue. I also mix up my numbers. I also have concentration issues.
My bf with "Autism" traits, is amazing with numbers, he reads a license plate and is like bam in his head. My boyfriend gets distracted by things, and it really irritates him as he loses his place, especially when coding/doing computer stuff/compiling So he uses music. It's funny, teachers would always yell , music distracts you blah. Actually for my boyfriend it allows him to concentrate. Instead of getting distracted by 100 things in the room, he will get distracted to the music, when his mind wanders, then he goes back, that way it's loss of concentration between two things, instead of 100s.
But like people are saying, some people are actually autistic with amazing creative skills, and are artists, but arent really great with math. Everyone has their strong points and weak points in life, I'm sure you have your own set. But you can probably improve these things a tiny bit.
How do you cope with these problems?If you do have them.
My daughter is autistic and she loves math.
That really doesn't have anything to do with what I said o_ 0?
Sorry, just saying she has autism and no problems with keeping track of numbers in her head.
Oh okay, what about concentration?
Variable, depending on her level of interest. She is on medication for ADHD so mornings are better for concentration than afternoons.
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