THIS Answers A LOT.

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http://www.sengifted.org/articles_socia ... fted.shtml

This answers a lot of things that I noticed about myself, mainly the psychomotor, sensual and intellectual overexcitiabilities.

This may answer some things about yourself.

PS: I don't overeat.

This is me.

Except I haven't got a clue what I'm supposed to be gifted IN.

I just seem to get all the negative stuff.

How does this explain anything to anyone here? They are describing AS!! !! ! Gifted? Intensive? Over Sensitive? Over excitability? Teach Non verbal??? Countering various autistic tendencies?

Steve

Gifted:
Overexcitabilities are inborn intensities indicating a heightened ability to respond to stimuli. Found to a greater degree in creative and gifted individuals, overexcitabilities are expressed in increased sensitivity, awareness, and intensity, and represent a real difference in the fabric of life and quality of experience


Autistic:
Children and adults with autism, as well as those with other developmental disabilities, may have a dysfunctional sensory system. Sometimes one or more senses are either over- or under-reactive to stimulation. Such sensory problems may be the underlying reason for such behaviors as rocking, spinning, and hand-flapping. Although the receptors for the senses are located in the peripheral nervous system (which includes everything but the brain and spinal cord), it is believed that the problem stems from neurological dysfunction in the central nervous system--the brain.


Seems like these two groups of scientists need to pool their research and both start writing in a neutral way - not positive or negative as they do now



I have read that there are many similarities between aspergers and giftedness - no one seems to be able to figure out which is which. I suppose it all comes down to how much trouble the individual is facing. Then the research gets even more confusing (and stupid) when they try to compare a gifted child with a gifted aspergers child with an aspergers child.

Table 1
A Comparison
of Gifted Traits
and Asperger's
Syndrome Traits

Asperger's

* Advanced vocabulary
* Unaware of another's perspective
* Literal thought
* Poor language comprehension
* Intensity of focus
* Introverted
* Excellent memory
* Sensory sensitivity

Gifted

* Advanced vocabulary
* Ability to see another's viewpoint
* High abstract thinking skills
* Good language comprehension
* Intensity of focus
* Introverted
* Excellent memory
* Sensitivity toward others

Twice Exceptional

* Advanced vocabulary
* Unaware of another's perspective
* Intensity of focus
* Excellent memory
* Sensory sensitivity
* Introverted
* Enjoys "rote" exercises
* Poor language comprehension

Note: There are many similarities between
the lists. Therefore it is imperative to look
for the motivation behind the behavior.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-82739903.html

oohpretty colors:

Do most AS people REALLY have a dysfunctional sensory system? I, and many I have heard of, and that are on this board just seem to have it skewed. It is almost like the range, or resonance, is changed. A good example is sound. I can hear what the average person hears but apparantly tune some things out because they conflict(I didn't hear the "locusts" outside in VA until I heard them alone. THEN, in the SAME place, the sound was DEAFENING. I was suprised I never really noticed it.), and certain pitches and volumes(Like alarms and PA systems) can cause me pain while everyone else doesn't seem to notice or care. Light can blink at a rate that bugs me, but others don't notice. Is that dysfunctional?

As for cold an heat, I CAN feel it, it is simply that there isn't pain until it is closer to a point where it matters. Nobody, not even myself, understands how I can be in such cold with no ill effect.

Even the developmental deal is simply skewed.(Generally not really deficient, outside of social, but some are increased) Is it REALLY a disability?

I DO rock. I don't know the precise reason I can stop, and it doesn't happen all the time. I doubt it has to do with any deficiencies. I can't speak about the other stims.

As for the difference in the brain, there ARE fewer connections in the amygdala and corpus callosum that COULD explain the lack of pain on my skin, which isn't that unusual in autistics. Some sites mentioned it specifically. I guess it is possible that senses are more coarse. That could explain a LOT, including the pain, and voice volume control, with FEWER sensory connections.

AGAIN, I realize it IS a spectrum! Some have BIG problems. Some may even have fewer than I list here. I am talking about basic symptoms, and ones I and some others have.

Steve

ME

* Advanced vocabulary
* Ability to see another's viewpoint
* Literal thought
* abstract thinking skills
* Good language comprehension
* Intensity of focus
* Introverted
* Excellent memory with good recall on most things
* Sensory sensitivity
* Has some empathy

GRANTED I am middle aged, and my talents have changed a bit. I TRY to show some more emotion, and thought I just had unusual ears, and my lighter inner iris might explain some light sensitivity, and I never went out with my jacket, so I figured I was just used to it. I never really thought about the rocking. As for the mental abilities, etc... I figured it was due to how I used time because I was SHY. I remember picking up a light switch at a store about when I was 3 or so. That little switch morphed into an interest that led to studying resisters, capacitors, transistors, etc.... ICs, SCRs, etc.... Computers, Languages, etc.... I figured THAT was because I was an only child, and moved a lot. Until I saw AS, I kept IGNORING autism!

Since then, people on this board have echoed my life! So WHERE do I fit?

So how many here REALLY have poor language comprehension?

BTW There are aspects of my character and behaviour that have made it CLEAR I was unusual. Even a couple years ago I flew off the handle and, in retrospect, I wonder really WHY!? Looking seriously at autism, I wonder how I could have so easily overlooked it.

Steve

Yes, I realise that there are obvious errors in this, as it is only ONE article.
It does describe giftedness, not AS. But oh well, I am "diagnosed" gifted, and it DOES match me.
I'm sure that you all find yourself having some of these characteristics.
Thanks for the information though.
Good stuff!

Overexcitable in all categories

High Five!!

My Mum has also got psychomotor overexcitability. Heh.

Tiny things can make me hyper for hours. Docs used think I was Type 1 Bi-Polar with a weak depressed state. Turns out it's just an energy hangover.

I don't think that your doctor's diagnosis was right... :S

Just seeing an organic molecule structure makes my day!

I actually showed this document to my mom and she seems to think that it does fit me (both now and when I was a child)... does that make me gifted?

I'll go even one better than medusa. I considered myself gifted, and so have others.

Steve

Sounds like me on all accounts.

When I start thinking about something I get really excited and filled with joy and I have to get up and walk around. Especially when I find a connection between something or discoverd something new. That gets me going real good and just makes my day!

The sensual part screams me. I love to touch soft furry things. I once jumped into a cage filled with soft furry pillows and loved every second of it until my boyfriend pulled me out. Sad part is it was about 3 monthes ago I did this! The negative part to it are smells. Strong smells like smoke,perfume, deoderent Gives me very bad headaches. Infact I have one right now because the heater kicked on and I can smell that burning smoke stuff.

We are rather similar! I have the same feelings when I find something new. I go red with excitement when I see a benzene ring. I am addicted to Yahoo! Answers too.

INFORMATION. IS. LIFE. KNOWLEDGE. IS. MY. FOOD.

Sensory... Hell I adore the smell of sewage (?!?!?! crazy), but I cannot stand the smell of some everyday things such as when you heat up avocado in a dinner. But I adore the smell of the new London Underground District Line trains. (I adore District Line trains full stop)
I have some smooth skin on my finger (probably has become smooth due to healing from a very old wound), which I cannot stop feeling with my other fingers. My fingers are very sensitive.
I will also smell the slightest smells that nobody else can smell, such as the smell of someone eating a sandwich at the other end of the carriage on the Underground.
I can also smell carbon monoxide (!) which is very, very strange. The boiler in my house broken down and I smelt the smell (which I cannot describe, it is very strange) of what I believe was carbon monoxide, as my Mum was falling into unconsciousness at the same time, and I dragged her out of the house and called the ambulance. It was, guess what, carbon monoxide inhalation.

I also notice the smallest details in what I see. Whereas other people will see a leaf on a plant, I will see a defect in one of the leaf veins.

Hearing? I was born 60% deaf, so I cannot say much for my hearing! My Mum still complains that my music is too loud when I cannot really hear it!