Asperger's Disorder/High Functioning Autism
Autism: What is it?
- Neurological dysfunction in information processing
- Difference in cognition or thinking
- Difficulties understanding the world
- Difficulties interacting with others
- Normal intellectual functioning
- Inability to turn thoughts into written work (processing not fine motor)
- Helplessness in reading/interpreting nonverbal behaviors
- Inability to maintain attention to more than one thing: listening and taking notes
- Use of language as a monologue, not social interaction
What does it look like?
- Difficulty initiating and sustaining individual and group discussions
- Poor quality eye contact
- Problems understanding personal space
- Restricted interests that may be unusual and rigid
- Unusual speech intonation, volume, rhythm and/or rate
- Literal understanding of language
- Redundant and repetitive writing style
- Difficulties accepting another’s point of view
- Trouble seeing the “big picture”
- Poor organizational and time management skills
Also see Academic Tips for Asperger's and High Functioning Autism