Aspies and math
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Aspies and math
| Sun, 12-02-2007 - 4:05pm |
My 10 year old daughter is a probable Aspie (we don't have a medical diagnosis yet), and it seems like many Aspies are GOOD at math, but she is not.

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The thought that aspies are good in math is totally an innaccurate stereotype. Some may be but certainly all are not. Being good or not good in one particular subject is not a aspie or non-aspie thing. Many assume Aspies are really good in academics and to a point they may be at least initially but there are often academic challenges that go with it just as much so.
Most people with AS have significant problems with what is called executive functions. They also have problems with abstract concepts. Both of these things are central to most math concepts. Rainman was good at basic computation which is a concrete skill. He was also a savant with is a VERY rare condition. I am sure if you through a word problem or algebra function at Rainman he would have NO CLUE what to do.
My dd always struggled in math. Beginning in 6th grade those struggles turned into C to F grades. There are some math functions she does great in and those will get B or A, but those things which involve multistep problems and thus executive function (the brains ability to organize, etc) or abstract concepts like fractions/decimals. Forget it. She is 50% Cait.
My ASD son on the other hand is a math whiz. He is MR Routine and therefor multistep problems once he gets the formula down are not a problem.
Once again this goes to if you meet one child with autism you meet one child with autism.
Renee
I can see how as Josh gets older that whole Exectutive Function and the lack of it is really coming into play with Josh.
At the time where they expect him to learn how to be more independent. He is having an increasingly hard time. I am starting to understand why he lies. He can't keep things straight so as a defense mechanism he lies. And he tries to manipulate the situation to avoid thinsg that make him have a hard time.
I am so hoping to get that 1:1.
Rina
Nick has problems when you break down money as well. He doesn't understand that 4 quarters equal $1. When I do his milk money, I have been giving him 2 quarters. He freaked the day I switched it up and gave him 5 dimes. He couldn't understand that it still equaled $.50. Also, when he wants to go buy something with his piggy bank money, he cant understand that he can trade in his money for dollars, ie. $4 in quarter equals 4 dollar bills. He thinks he is getting less because he doesn't have as many items. Yet he can count to 100 by 5's and 10's...go figure...
Christine, Supermom to Nick, My Superkid, 5, Asperger's/ADHD, Loves all things Monster Trucks
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Christine
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