I am interested in this post as my son could read and spell from 2.He picked all the letters from countdown and started spelling and writing on the shower glass. He formed all the letters beautifully without a struggle.His nursery school were amazed too at his ability to spell.He was not diagnosed in those days.
Unfortunately he soon forgot most of these words and has no interest in spelling and reading nowadays although he is not bad at either.Fictional stories bore him.
I will have a look at these links as I often wonder why and how this ability developed and why he is no longer capable of spelling very well.
Elizabeth
Posted by damo73
on 3rd March 2010
at 14:28
Hello Elizabeth,
At the age of 1 and a half - my son could count to twenty. He would struggle to see the point of counting at all now, as he went through a period of regression (aged 2/3). I was terrible at English as a child, yet now I have developed a fascination with words as an adult. I am 36 now and still have no interest in fictional stories (as they bore me also). A great deal of people on the spectrum are similar in this sense. Although I once had a good English teacher who got me interested in poetry (particularly Wilfred Owen). As a child I liked facts and figures, now I like reading philosophy and social science literature. For me, there needs to be some purpose in my reading. A lot of fiction is full of long-winded descriptive stuff and personal relationships - not really 'my cup of tea'!
Damian
Posted by elastigirl
on 4th March 2010
at 13:44
Thankyou Damian,
I think Jack is the same. There needs to be a purpose in reading and personal relationships are definately not his cup of tea either.He did read 2 books at the start of term and he says they were very good.He met the author so got some background information on the books. But I am struggling to find a book to replace them.He has to read at school but not sure if he enjoys it.He also loves facts and figures and can learn poetry very quickly and easily.But is just memory and rote.
I wonder where his enjoyment of words and spelling went!
Regards Elizabeth
Posted by damo73
on 4th March 2010
at 15:15
Hello Elizabeth,
Purpose and motivation have always been big factors for me. I went through a dangerous phase in my late teens when I decided that life itself lacked purpose and meaning + was essentially absurd (funnily enough I finished a philosophy book the other night which concluded with similar arguments!). This led to a stimulus / pleasure seeking viewpoint that was quite self-destructive. It was falling in love with someone that broke me out of it (only for that relationship to fall apart etc.!). A great deal of what people like, I find tedious in the extreme - whilst many of the things I do like are niche interests or 'intellectual' to the point that most people 'glaze over'. Depth of information, literal fact, logical explanation etc. - all help me. My favourite books as a child were 'Observer books' on planes, cars etc. + the Guiness book of answers (and records etc.). I had no interest in poetry at all, until my old teacher showed me WW1 poetry - this was full of 'real' meaning (that I related to, as a somewhat traumatised child). I am a bit of a pattern thinker + my son may be also - he has recited story rhymes and songs purely from memory (with some prompting - finishing off lines etc.) without finding much meaning in them. Although I was singing to him the other night 'you are my sunshine' and he would not accept that skies were 'grey' - when I left the gap, he said 'blue' instead! I find a lot of young people on the spectrum have this rigidity - I know a couple of friends children who will get very annoyed with you, if you get things 'wrong' from their perspective. Poetry works as it is a pattern to follow with repeated sounds etc. - I get a lot of pleasure out of rhythms in music, that do not have to have words attched at all. This way of thinking is much more than 'just memory and rote' - it is a kind of thinking that can lead to great scientific and philosophical ideas (and musical)! Recognising and following patterns is one of my best skills (and a source of pride).
What 2 books did he like? What were they about etc.? I did go through a phase in early secondary school of reading science fiction and fantasy - if I read fiction, it had to be full of 'out of this world' stuff. I liked Micheal Moorcock the best, as his heroes often had a 'dark side' and were more complicated characters. I always related to anti-heroes more than heroes - give me a spaghetti western film over a hollywood western anyday!
Also, I struggled just to hold concentration as a child on small written words - and if the story wasn't going anywhere, I would just get bored and not carry on.
It sounds like you have a little 'logician' to me!
Damian
Posted by elastigirl
on 5th March 2010
at 12:31
Hi Damian,
Thankyou for your thoughts on this.He does like music and has a nice voice, although no interest in school music clubs.That is probably because of the social mixing.
The books he read were Jimmy Coates-Power and Jimmy Coates-Killer.He had to read them at school but he says they were good.Last night he was reading Guiness book of records! He used to read all about space, the human body and science and knew so much about them but he doesnt seem at all interested now.I think he is obsessed with the computer and this has taken his total interest.
Life can be absurd but as the years go on I find it easier. Immerse yourself in things that make you happy.Avoid people and places that make you unhappy if you can.
My other son is also on the spectrum and he does not like words changed although he sometimes does it himself to make himself laugh.But I am not allowed to sing to him. He gets very upset.
If Jack is a little logician what things should I be encouragine him to do.Obviously I just want him to be happy.But one day he will need to go out into the world and work.If i can find his strengths then that will be a big step forward.
Have to go as loads to do but thankyou for your insight Damian,
Best wishes
Elizabeth
Posted by damo73
on 5th March 2010
at 19:06
Hello,
I can believe that he struggles with music clubs - might also be too noisy - or difficult to follow instructions and do what the others want to do etc.
I looked up Jimmy Coates - looks like interesting 'boy stuff' stories. Don't worry about some older interests fading - it may be a case of 'been there, done that' + he may re-engage with these at a later date. The computer is obviously his latest obsession (was also one of mine). This is unlikely to be his only one though + he will gain others.
I do immerse myself in good things, yet sometimes the things that upset me are unavoidable. The world of work is a case in point. Despite being very capable and highly qualified, I have spent about a fifth of my adult life in employment. There are so many barriers, biggest of which is the power of hierarchies in institutions. I don't like to tell others what to do + dislike it even more when someone has power and authority over me (especially when they lack competence themselves). Simply put, managers are often the bane of my life. Add to this - working in certain environments / unrealistic expectations or underestimating what I can do / working with 'the public' etc. are all very difficult.
Job wise, a lot of people highlight computers too much with autistic people (the stereotypical 'computer geek') - yet there are plenty of other types of 'geek'! I would recommend basic philosophy + when older Sociology and Psychology - these have become permanent obsessions for me and led me into work, as a lecturer in FE + HE (eventually - although I was unfairly made redundant...!). 'The philosophy files' is an excellent starting point for teenagers (by Stephen Law)
I am on a mission to advocate for autistic people (+ teach etc.) - eventually things can get better work wise, but we have a long way to go!
How old are your sons? What subjects (or aspects of subjects) to they like + dislike? They do sound just like 'my kind of person'!
Damian
Posted by elastigirl
on 26th March 2010
at 11:39
Hi Damo
Only just seen your reply. I thought i would get an E-mail reminder!
My sons are 11 and 10. Jack(11)seems to be coping well with life but then he doesnt venture far.I am not with him during school day (obviously) so I dont really see whats going on. I dont get any reports back from school. On the contrary I have to remind them where he is coming from!He had his IEP meetings dropped since starting Senior school and I have asked to have them reinstated.The school said they have no worries with him.But I am the one who has to hold his hand to get all his homework done.
He is a dreamy boy. Forever lost in his own world and thoughts so misses all my conversations and his teachers instructions!I dont know how he gets through each day.
I havent thought about work in the future. That seems a mighty bridge to cross. I am still working out what his strengths and weaknesses are.One strength is a very good memory. I think he has a good voice too. At the moment he is just into computer and computer games. Of course technology will have moved on by time he is of working age.
My other son is interested in computers too. He travels round the world looking at parked cars on google maps and then researches into the make and model of the car and this leads him off to where the car was made, history and facts about said car. But he is happy doing this until we have to insist he goes to sleep!
I have to do some research on education now on another thread.
![SiftGroups.com [opens in a new window]](sites/www.talkaboutautism.org.uk/themes/zen/treehouse/images/siftGroupsLogo.gif)
Posted by
elastigirl
on 3rd March 2010
at 13:26
I am interested in this post as my son could read and spell from 2.He picked all the letters from countdown and started spelling and writing on the shower glass. He formed all the letters beautifully without a struggle.His nursery school were amazed too at his ability to spell.He was not diagnosed in those days.
Unfortunately he soon forgot most of these words and has no interest in spelling and reading nowadays although he is not bad at either.Fictional stories bore him.
I will have a look at these links as I often wonder why and how this ability developed and why he is no longer capable of spelling very well.
Elizabeth
Posted by
damo73
on 3rd March 2010
at 14:28
Hello Elizabeth,
At the age of 1 and a half - my son could count to twenty. He would struggle to see the point of counting at all now, as he went through a period of regression (aged 2/3). I was terrible at English as a child, yet now I have developed a fascination with words as an adult. I am 36 now and still have no interest in fictional stories (as they bore me also). A great deal of people on the spectrum are similar in this sense. Although I once had a good English teacher who got me interested in poetry (particularly Wilfred Owen). As a child I liked facts and figures, now I like reading philosophy and social science literature. For me, there needs to be some purpose in my reading. A lot of fiction is full of long-winded descriptive stuff and personal relationships - not really 'my cup of tea'!
Damian
Posted by
elastigirl
on 4th March 2010
at 13:44
Thankyou Damian,
I think Jack is the same. There needs to be a purpose in reading and personal relationships are definately not his cup of tea either.He did read 2 books at the start of term and he says they were very good.He met the author so got some background information on the books. But I am struggling to find a book to replace them.He has to read at school but not sure if he enjoys it.He also loves facts and figures and can learn poetry very quickly and easily.But is just memory and rote.
I wonder where his enjoyment of words and spelling went!
Regards Elizabeth
Posted by
damo73
on 4th March 2010
at 15:15
Hello Elizabeth,
Purpose and motivation have always been big factors for me. I went through a dangerous phase in my late teens when I decided that life itself lacked purpose and meaning + was essentially absurd (funnily enough I finished a philosophy book the other night which concluded with similar arguments!). This led to a stimulus / pleasure seeking viewpoint that was quite self-destructive. It was falling in love with someone that broke me out of it (only for that relationship to fall apart etc.!). A great deal of what people like, I find tedious in the extreme - whilst many of the things I do like are niche interests or 'intellectual' to the point that most people 'glaze over'. Depth of information, literal fact, logical explanation etc. - all help me. My favourite books as a child were 'Observer books' on planes, cars etc. + the Guiness book of answers (and records etc.). I had no interest in poetry at all, until my old teacher showed me WW1 poetry - this was full of 'real' meaning (that I related to, as a somewhat traumatised child). I am a bit of a pattern thinker + my son may be also - he has recited story rhymes and songs purely from memory (with some prompting - finishing off lines etc.) without finding much meaning in them. Although I was singing to him the other night 'you are my sunshine' and he would not accept that skies were 'grey' - when I left the gap, he said 'blue' instead! I find a lot of young people on the spectrum have this rigidity - I know a couple of friends children who will get very annoyed with you, if you get things 'wrong' from their perspective. Poetry works as it is a pattern to follow with repeated sounds etc. - I get a lot of pleasure out of rhythms in music, that do not have to have words attched at all. This way of thinking is much more than 'just memory and rote' - it is a kind of thinking that can lead to great scientific and philosophical ideas (and musical)! Recognising and following patterns is one of my best skills (and a source of pride).
What 2 books did he like? What were they about etc.? I did go through a phase in early secondary school of reading science fiction and fantasy - if I read fiction, it had to be full of 'out of this world' stuff. I liked Micheal Moorcock the best, as his heroes often had a 'dark side' and were more complicated characters. I always related to anti-heroes more than heroes - give me a spaghetti western film over a hollywood western anyday!
Also, I struggled just to hold concentration as a child on small written words - and if the story wasn't going anywhere, I would just get bored and not carry on.
It sounds like you have a little 'logician' to me!
Damian
Posted by
elastigirl
on 5th March 2010
at 12:31
Hi Damian,
Thankyou for your thoughts on this.He does like music and has a nice voice, although no interest in school music clubs.That is probably because of the social mixing.
The books he read were Jimmy Coates-Power and Jimmy Coates-Killer.He had to read them at school but he says they were good.Last night he was reading Guiness book of records! He used to read all about space, the human body and science and knew so much about them but he doesnt seem at all interested now.I think he is obsessed with the computer and this has taken his total interest.
Life can be absurd but as the years go on I find it easier. Immerse yourself in things that make you happy.Avoid people and places that make you unhappy if you can.
My other son is also on the spectrum and he does not like words changed although he sometimes does it himself to make himself laugh.But I am not allowed to sing to him. He gets very upset.
If Jack is a little logician what things should I be encouragine him to do.Obviously I just want him to be happy.But one day he will need to go out into the world and work.If i can find his strengths then that will be a big step forward.
Have to go as loads to do but thankyou for your insight Damian,
Best wishes
Elizabeth
Posted by
damo73
on 5th March 2010
at 19:06
Hello,
I can believe that he struggles with music clubs - might also be too noisy - or difficult to follow instructions and do what the others want to do etc.
I looked up Jimmy Coates - looks like interesting 'boy stuff' stories. Don't worry about some older interests fading - it may be a case of 'been there, done that' + he may re-engage with these at a later date. The computer is obviously his latest obsession (was also one of mine). This is unlikely to be his only one though + he will gain others.
I do immerse myself in good things, yet sometimes the things that upset me are unavoidable. The world of work is a case in point. Despite being very capable and highly qualified, I have spent about a fifth of my adult life in employment. There are so many barriers, biggest of which is the power of hierarchies in institutions. I don't like to tell others what to do + dislike it even more when someone has power and authority over me (especially when they lack competence themselves). Simply put, managers are often the bane of my life. Add to this - working in certain environments / unrealistic expectations or underestimating what I can do / working with 'the public' etc. are all very difficult.
Job wise, a lot of people highlight computers too much with autistic people (the stereotypical 'computer geek') - yet there are plenty of other types of 'geek'! I would recommend basic philosophy + when older Sociology and Psychology - these have become permanent obsessions for me and led me into work, as a lecturer in FE + HE (eventually - although I was unfairly made redundant...!). 'The philosophy files' is an excellent starting point for teenagers (by Stephen Law)
I am on a mission to advocate for autistic people (+ teach etc.) - eventually things can get better work wise, but we have a long way to go!
How old are your sons? What subjects (or aspects of subjects) to they like + dislike? They do sound just like 'my kind of person'!
Damian
Posted by
elastigirl
on 26th March 2010
at 11:39
Hi Damo
Only just seen your reply. I thought i would get an E-mail reminder!
My sons are 11 and 10. Jack(11)seems to be coping well with life but then he doesnt venture far.I am not with him during school day (obviously) so I dont really see whats going on. I dont get any reports back from school. On the contrary I have to remind them where he is coming from!He had his IEP meetings dropped since starting Senior school and I have asked to have them reinstated.The school said they have no worries with him.But I am the one who has to hold his hand to get all his homework done.
He is a dreamy boy. Forever lost in his own world and thoughts so misses all my conversations and his teachers instructions!I dont know how he gets through each day.
I havent thought about work in the future. That seems a mighty bridge to cross. I am still working out what his strengths and weaknesses are.One strength is a very good memory. I think he has a good voice too. At the moment he is just into computer and computer games. Of course technology will have moved on by time he is of working age.
My other son is interested in computers too. He travels round the world looking at parked cars on google maps and then researches into the make and model of the car and this leads him off to where the car was made, history and facts about said car. But he is happy doing this until we have to insist he goes to sleep!
I have to do some research on education now on another thread.
Take care
Elizabeth