I have this handicap

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Always knew I have a zero sense of direction, but it turned out it does have a name.
My level is close to “getting lost even in familiar areas”due to “failure to form a cognitive map”, especially in large urban nested routes - making driving or even walking without a gps impossible, hence why I prefer public transportation.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdnjFmISnPk

My sense of direction is pretty good except when I'm with someone else. I think it's anxiety-related.

this is so interesting to me because I love maps and can read them easily. I do get lost sometimes but most of the time I can find my way. Most people I've been in a car with say I'm the best navigator they've ever had. I was wondering if I should try and hone my abilities and take some orienteering courses or something.

I wondered if it was something to do with being autistic because my friend's 22 year old son is highly autistic, he can barely talk let alone live independently. But he is an awesome navigator, he can find his way anywhere and direct others correctly.

But anyway, obviously skill at map reading and navigating isn't to do with autism is it, because not everyone here is good at it. That was my lecture today, thank you for reading. lol.

My daughter is the same way, Boo. She got lost driving on a road we use every day which is between my house and her grandmother's. She'll refer to going "up to _________" when it's actually a southerly direction, or "over to ________ " when it's in the north. It scares me because she's on my car insurance and I always picture her doing u-turns or checking her phone when driving.

She can't read analogue clocks very well either. She knows how cognitively but she has to stare at them for a while before the information makes sense.

Her reports say it's a spatial-sense thing. She also has Dyscalculia, if that's related. I've heard even Dyslexia could be part of it but she wasn't screened for that.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that you're not alone. I'm really good with directions and don't even use GPS, but many others find it difficult like you do.

You are not alone, as others have said.

I am poor with directions also, without a map.

sh***y genes?

Spatial sense actually was tested on my ASD assessment. I think there might have even been maps involved. I think it fell under the non-verbal IQ category. I'm not saying all autistic people have a problem with directions, or that it's a sign unto itself, but it did get measured in my test.

Read over veiw maps well, of areas.. digital and paper maps both.Not good at memorizing them,if driving might need to pull over many times to go back and look at maps...can be slow at reorientating myself on maps sometimes.

I don’t view as a blessing. To me, it’s more of a difference although my life probably would’ve been and would be easier without it. I wouldn’t be NT even if I could just take a pill to stop being autistic. Then I wouldn’t be me.