Exceptional Memory
“Our son seems really smart,” commented parents of a four-year-old diagnosed with autism. “He can count to 100 and recite the alphabet and he knows the words of nearly every song he hears.” Some pre-school children diagnosed with autism display extraordinary memories and an intense interest in sequences. The trick is to help these young geniuses to learn to use this gift in a productive way and to help moderate the obsession they often have with sequences and facts.
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Family members, teachers, therapists, and others interested in the well-being of gifted youngsters might want to consider the following points.
SHOWING OFF. It is certainly tempting to put our bright young friends in the limelight so they can demonstrate their extraordinary talents. We are, naturally, proud of their accomplishments and other people are intrigued by their remarkable skills. But there is a fine line between demonstrating aptitude and showing off. As our young prodigy grows up, his talents may not seem as extraordinary and people may not find their skills so cute. That is not to say that a youngster with special talents should never be showcased. The secret is moderation.
MODERATING OBSESSIONS. Having an excellent memory and being able to recall sequences are gifts that can certainly be useful. But some individuals with autism who have exceptional memories can become obsessed with the sequence or the movie script or dates or numbers. Their obsession becomes a liability if it interferes with their willingness or ability to interact with other people or the world around them. We will share some ideas and strategies for helping moderate obsessions in a future podcast.
USING GIFTS PRODUCTIVELY. The trick is finding balance. It is helpful if a person who can name the capital city of every country in the world also knows the names of students in his class or the names of people in his family. A youngster who can say the alphabet forward and backward also needs to grasp the concept that different combinations of those letters form words, and that words help us express our needs, our wants, and our opinions. The exceptional aptitude of an individual with autism can be shaped into skills that are helpful in everyday life, but it often takes a concerted effort to make that happen.
We welcome your input about challenges you have encountered and about strategies that have helped in these situations. Just send an e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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