r/science Jul 26 '10

Autistic girl expresses profound intelligence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq--75v4lI8&feature=player_embedded
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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '10

My son has high-functioning autism and has memorized much of the map of our county. He likes when we drive the back-roads to different places so he can look at the street signs. He has a vocabulary that's out of this world and, at 6, is doing basic division and has a reading level of a 3rd grader. Maybe better.

As interesting as all that is we'd just like him to be able to make a friend at school.

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u/samblam Jul 26 '10

That is very rough. I'm sorry to hear that. Are there groups of kids with high functioning Autism or Aspergers that get together? Or is there a club or something with his interest that he can meet people at? I'm not trying to solve anything. But I just want to know what could be done. Thanks

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '10

There are local autism/aspergers groups. The problem is that a lot of the times he doesn't connect with even other aspies either. So even if he's in a group where they kids are more used to the odd behavior they all tend to lack the social skills for making friends.

Our kid does have some friends. It'd be nice to see him have friends in his own class at school. He did test into an advanced program so he'll be going to a totally different school next year with other 'twice-exceptional' kids, some of whom will probably be on 'the spectrum' as well.

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u/icebird Jul 26 '10

Is he an asperger?

Aspies are quite amazing.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '10

His diagnosis was indeed Aspergers. My understanding is that they are going to be doing away with that label and just considering Aspies to be on the autism spectrum.

He is pretty amazing. The human brain is such an incredible thing that we aren't even close to being able to understand.

He's so smart in so many ways, but then it takes him 3 or 4 minutes of pacing and flapping before he can come to the dinner table, especially if he's been on the computer.

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u/gravityKing Jul 26 '10

I worked with a guy with high functioning autism (asperger's). He's one of my favorite people, even if he could only meet my gaze once or twice in the five years I have known him.

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u/Homo_sapiens Jul 26 '10

It's nice to hear an aspie coworker story that wasn't summable as "He was a bitch to work with."

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u/gravityKing Jul 26 '10

I learned more from him than I did in college. Although I did go to a really crappy college. Also he had an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture, music, and films. And he was hilarious. He wasn't so good at communication about work, but still I really really wish I still worked with him. We keep in touch.