Diagnosis

I was diagnosed on 20th June 2018 this year. I have high functioning autism. I can speak and I can write. It is cognition where I have difficulties.

Is everyone else with high functioning like this?

[Hidden]

Hi ive similar can read/write and more but dealing with people can be a real chore don't like crowds and far worse since had a stroke get some bad issues

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have spent the morning trying to make phone calls. I hate this task!

[PearCider in reply to Hidden]

I'm wondering what you mean by cognition.

The way a high functioning autistic brain processes information is different. For example, you're probably much better at details than at grand sweeping visions, you probably have trouble knowing how people feel and sometimes misinterpret them, you probably struggle in groups and prefer to avoid them, you probably don't understand why other people often find you utterly exasperating.

Low functioning autism (otherwise known as classic autism or sometimes as Kanner's syndrome) is quite different, and there it would be more obviously apparent that the person had issues. There are probably people you encounter who think you're just annoying, pedantic and obstinate, and that you'd get on with people if only you'd try a bit harder. Low functioning autistics would have more obvious problems with life skills.

[Hidden in reply to PearCider]

i mean what you have written in the top paragraph I just could not put it in words the way you have. Should I say sorry here?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi, no need to say sorry. Pearcyder was just trying to clarify. Like Pearcyder says, you may have cognitive skills that neurological don't have

[PearCider in reply to Hidden]

Aww geeze, I've upset someone again

[Hidden in reply to PearCider]

no i am just very emotional at the moment. I think just a drop of rain is upsetting me at the moment. I seem to cry at a pin drop. Not you!

[PearCider in reply to Hidden]

One thing you live with if you have ASD is emotion, and it cuts both ways - you have trouble understanding other people, but they also don't really understand you even if they think they do. You might get told you're emotionless even though you're really not. And you can be thought rude for talking and rude for keeping quiet.... Don't get me started on that ...

[Hidden in reply to PearCider]

My phrase is I am damned if I do and damned if I do not!

[PearCider in reply to Hidden]

Believe me I know the feeling. In theory you're supposed to say I have Asperger's, deal with it, but you can't really... You get told you're acting up to it or something.... (Sigh)

[emmasue]

My 12 year old son with ASD has just had an EP assessment. He scored highly on his visual processing skills. However, his auditory processing and working memory are very poor. This means that he struggles to take instruction, struggles to remember verbal tasks and struggles to stay organised at school. He is still quite clever and does well, especially in maths and science. He just needs his teachers to make sure he knows what he should be doing and write it down for him. I hope this helps.