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Does your Autism account for most of your intelligence?

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LupaLuna
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01 Feb 2016, 2:24 pm

Yigeren wrote:
I do think that my hyperfocus and attention to detail are caused by autism. It can give the impression of extra intelligence. I don't think I personally know any person in real life that notices details like I do.


Do you think it's by "direct" means or "indirect" means. As I was saying in an earlier post. I still think it's by "indirect" means, and the reason I think that is is because, we have to have some kind of coping/adapting mechanism to compensate/make-up for the loss of something.

I think that your "hyperfocus" talent is the result of the fact that because you have difficulty with social situations. You're not distracted by the social norms (i.e going to parties. etc.). And that alone, had allow you to develop that so-called "hyperfocus" talent you have. I don't think it's as simple as a strait trade-off of one talent for another.



btbnnyr
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01 Feb 2016, 2:43 pm

I don't think my cognitive strengths are compensations for cognitive deficits.
I have too many strengths and too few deficits for the above to make sense.


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Yigeren
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01 Feb 2016, 3:03 pm

LupaLuna wrote:
Yigeren wrote:
I do think that my hyperfocus and attention to detail are caused by autism. It can give the impression of extra intelligence. I don't think I personally know any person in real life that notices details like I do.


Do you think it's by "direct" means or "indirect" means. As I was saying in an earlier post. I still think it's by "indirect" means, and the reason I think that is is because, we have to have some kind of coping/adapting mechanism to compensate/make-up for the loss of something.

I think that your "hyperfocus" talent is the result of the fact that because you have difficulty with social situations. You're not distracted by the social norms (i.e going to parties. etc.). And that alone, had allow you to develop that so-called "hyperfocus" talent you have. I don't think it's as simple as a strait trade-off of one talent for another.


That's not supported by any of the evidence of the way the autistic brain works. Those with ADHD also hyperfocus, and don't have the social problems that aspies do. It has a lot to do with executive functioning differences, but not with socializing.

My hyperfocusing has been with me since I was a toddler. I certainly wasn't aware of any social issues at that point in my life. It's not a matter of "not being distracted by social norms" it's a matter of becoming obsessed with things very easily and being unable to take my attention away. It's not even close to being the same thing.

What it feels like is that I am "pulled" into certain activities, and I am unable to focus on anything else. I am consumed by the activity. Socializing has nothing to do with it.



Austinfrom1995
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01 Feb 2016, 3:37 pm

No, reading books for more than a decade of my life has accounted for my intellegence.


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01 Feb 2016, 4:32 pm

BrainPower101 wrote:
What do you people think?

I'm a Little Dreamer, (not a Little Professor) my inherent Autistic gifts are right brain orientated.

This picture should give you an idea of kinds of things that my Autism gives me a clear advantage in.

Image

I do have qualifications in Computing, English and Mathematics, but their not very high, and I had to work twice as hard as everyone else did over the years just to get that far.


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01 Feb 2016, 5:16 pm

I think the idea that high-achievers in general (autistic or not) are born, not made, is something that is oddly more common in western culture than the rest of the world. In the US we honor "gifted" people. However in reality, even for kids with great potential for success, practice and learning are necessary. Not just learning facts or memorizing, but also learning how to practice effectively, learning how to learn, learning how to teach yourself, learning how to motivate yourself. They are different learned ways of thinking.

I was told for a long time by many teachers that I had no potential in math and science, or literature, even art. I was told that I was slow in picking things up, that something was wrong with me, that I was disabled. All of those people were discounting effort. Ironically, 20 years later I am a published scientist, artist and poet.

Is it because I am on the spectrum? I may never know. Is it because I am motivated by a love for what I do, and because I am stubborn and work longer hours than everyone else around me? Definitely.

I think it's easy to write off another person's hard work. It's easy to think "Not fair, he/she is a natural. I'm the only one who has to work hard."



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01 Feb 2016, 7:41 pm

Fern wrote:
I think the idea that high-achievers in general (autistic or not) are born, not made, is something that is oddly more common in western culture than the rest of the world. In the US we honor "gifted" people. However in reality, even for kids with great potential for success, practice and learning are necessary. Not just learning facts or memorizing, but also learning how to practice effectively, learning how to learn, learning how to teach yourself, learning how to motivate yourself. They are different learned ways of thinking.

I was told for a long time by many teachers that I had no potential in math and science, or literature, even art. I was told that I was slow in picking things up, that something was wrong with me, that I was disabled. All of those people were discounting effort. Ironically, 20 years later I am a published scientist, artist and poet.

Is it because I am on the spectrum? I may never know. Is it because I am motivated by a love for what I do, and because I am stubborn and work longer hours than everyone else around me? Definitely.

I think it's easy to write off another person's hard work. It's easy to think "Not fair, he/she is a natural. I'm the only one who has to work hard."


This has happened to me on several occasions.


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Ettina
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02 Feb 2016, 12:00 pm

Fern wrote:
I think the idea that high-achievers in general (autistic or not) are born, not made, is something that is oddly more common in western culture than the rest of the world. In the US we honor "gifted" people. However in reality, even for kids with great potential for success, practice and learning are necessary.


You really think so? I'd say the opposite - gifted people are generally seen as arrogant and entitled unless they hide their gifts. And their parents are stereotyped as 'living through their kids', bragging excessively and pushing their kids to perform. It really sucks to be gifted in the US (and in Canada).



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02 Feb 2016, 12:32 pm

Ettina wrote:
Fern wrote:
I think the idea that high-achievers in general (autistic or not) are born, not made, is something that is oddly more common in western culture than the rest of the world. In the US we honor "gifted" people. However in reality, even for kids with great potential for success, practice and learning are necessary.


You really think so? I'd say the opposite - gifted people are generally seen as arrogant and entitled unless they hide their gifts. And their parents are stereotyped as 'living through their kids', bragging excessively and pushing their kids to perform. It really sucks to be gifted in the US (and in Canada).


I think it depends on the social environment.
I grew up in college towns with many highly educated people, so gifted kids were considered gifts instead of arrogant and entitled, there was no need to hide gifts.


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