High functioning autism and Adapative functioning

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I've read a few studies that indicate that there are discrepancies between Iq and Adapative Functioning in high functioning autism. Adaptive skills are often lower than the individual's iq would suggest, I know this is case with me my iq is in the low average to average range but my adaptive skills are quite impaired.
What do you guys think of think? Adaptive skills refereres to daily living skills and stuff.

Yep....what you say is definitely true. This occurs quite frequently in Asperger's/HFA.

I think Autism is disabling, high IQ is also disabling.

yes, definitely, I have this issue, and I think a lot of Asperger's/HFAs have areas that they are okay or good at, and then areas that have serious impairment. Being organized and managing long-term, complex tasks can be difficult for me, and I have difficulty understanding spoken instructions, especially if there are a lot of steps. I have to make people repeat themselves several times.

I heard similar things to zkydz when I was growing up:
"GW's head is always in the clouds"
"In her own little world" (yep, they were talking about me as though I weren't standing right there)
"You'd get better grades if you'd just pay attention" (I also have ADHD)
"Why did it take you an hour and a half to get home from school when it's a mile away?" (well, there was a bug, and a flower, and an abandoned house, and a dog, and it barked at me, and I was scared to move, and...)

Frequently my boss would yell at me because I was late on a project, over budget, or forgot to follow some company procedure. She'd ask me, "How can you be one of my best technical people but always be forgetting to follow the rules or stay on plan and budget? You're judgement is no good!"

I told her about the autism diagnosis last fall, and it explained a lot to her. I'm working on an important project right now, and she got the excellent idea of pairing me up with a guy who is very organized, good with customers, and good at project management. He doesn't like to code so much, and I tend to forget the organizational stuff and whatever I don't write down, so it's a good match.

I'm seriously working on my adaptive functioning for years now. Secretly, even. Although, I choose more on the practical skills part than on the get-along with others part. The former can be learned through willingness. The latter isn't natural, willing or not in my case.

Sure, I can handle responsibilities of an independent person, but that doesn't mean I get to be an "actress" for one-thirds of my life, for at least 2 hours a week.
In other words, I want wisdom and experience, not acting skills. Acting skills doesn't catch my interest yet and experience tells me 'fake it-to-make it' is detrimental. I prefer social skills to be learned in my own pace, in my own experience, and not enforced or rushed just because.


I can handle changes just as fine... Unless it's a last-minute change, which is just annoying. I can handle chaotic environments too without getting frustrated or overwhelmed or consciously coping with it. And I can still function without plans or directions (not the reckless act-before thinking), improvising is still fun.

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I have a low IQ and my adaptive skills are terrible, too. Thus, there isn't a discrepancy for me, personally.

I am convinced that I am intellectually handicapped but both my psychiatrist and case manager disagree.

My adaptive functioning is terrible. I have IQ of at least* 117, but even though I don't have any significant physical disabilities, I can't live independently. Adult life is too complicated. So many little chores. I can't keep them all straight, or make myself do the ones I can remember. Me being smart is like a sports car having a great engine but no wheels.

I like to think I'll manage living on my own some day, probably even own a well-cared-for pet, but I'll probably never be able to have kids even though I want to

(*My IQ was high enough for my schools "gifted" program, but I never found out the number. When I went to a psychologist more recently, that's where I got 117, but it was a special "brief" test just designed to make sure you're not intellectually disabled or something, and the psychologist opined that my real IQ is probably higher. *shrug* Well, 117 is far from being some kind of genius, but you'd think I wouldn't have any thinking-related problems.)

I agree, being smart is not a disability. But my IQ is high enough that I feel sort of alienated from other people, which is separate from the autism.

It definitely is an asset, but it's one more thing that sets me apart from others. I used to pretend to not be intelligent to fit in with my peers as a kid.

Every once in awhile someone is really surprised by my intelligence, and I often feel embarrassed.

Not that I'm a genius or anything. I'm "gifted". But most people are not, and those that are tend to be successful, whereas I'm not. So I'd likely never have a chance to interact with those that are, and perhaps the difference in financial situations may make it difficult to find common ground.

And many very intelligent people seem to have a superiority complex, which I don't want to have to deal with.

Simply calling yourself smart will be considered arrogant by most people. Any good qualities you may possess, I think it's better to let your deeds and accomplishments show, without verbally acknowledging them, and, failing that, better not to show them at all. Other people don't need to know about them after all, especially if it'll only make them hostile.

A lot of what these commenters are calling common sense or everyday skills or adaptive function are not skills at all but deficits in executive functions.

You can certainly be very smart (IQ) but unable to put it to good use (executive function). There are tricks you can learn to improve executive function, such as using lists, but if you have to put a lot of energy into that, it takes away from just using your smarts (IQ).

I have a more differentiated view of mental strength than I used to. I very much respect someone of moderate IQ but good executive function. I also very much respect someone very smart, but with deficits in executive function.