FAQautism

Although children with autism certainly do not have a corner on the market of exceptional memories or extraordinary gifts, some do indeed stand out when compared to other kids in their class or community.
Family members and teachers often mention youngsters with phenomenal memories, intense interest in sequences, or extraordinary reading, math, or music skills. The trick is to help these young learn to use their talents in productive ways and to help moderate the obsessions they often have with sequences and facts.

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We are, naturally, proud of their accomplishments and other people are intrigued by their remarkable skills, so it is certainly tempting to put our bright young friends in the limelight to demonstrate their extraordinary talents. 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 or outstanding. That is not to say that a youngster with special talents should never be showcased. The secret is moderation and 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 communicate with other people. 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.

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 consuming passion becomes a liability if it interferes with their willingness or ability to interact with other people or the world around them. Preoccupation with facts can interfere with learning. So sometimes it is necessary to take steps to moderate obsessive interests in facts or sequences or scripts.

We welcome your input. Please feel free to share challenges you have encountered and strategies that have helped in similar 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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