Long response to Bill Re: Questions

[Guest guest]

Hello again Bill,

I hope you are/were able to catch some of the ASAN Webcast. I myself, busy with

other stuff. I really enjoyed watching the lunar eclipse until the moon slipped

below the urban horizon.

You have said in the past that you don't have the slower processing issues that

other AS do. I certainly don't resent you for that, just kind of envy you, LOL.

Slower processing or slower speed may be sloppy way of saying it but lots of

folks, AS themselves in particular, use that term in internet forums like

WrongPlanet.Net and Aspies for Freedom.

We are completely on the same page when we speak of this as a co-morbid issue. I

rather dislike that term tho, LOL. However, it's the accepted one. Taking the

neurodiversity tack here for a moment (tho sorry, I'm no fan of some of their

tactics against some autism organizations) it could be argued that *some* of

these " co-morbids " do serve a function .. but in a different setting than most

ASD folks find themselves thrust into nowadays (CJ's point in response to

another post of mine.) I, too, bristle when every human pathological trait is

ascribed to AS or ASDs. Not every ASD is a sociopath or is obsessed with

stealing trains. Just a few of them are, and in the same proportions as can be

found in the NT population.

I really have to bite my tongue when someone says, " My spouse has no empathy. I

think he/she has AS. " Granted, it may be a case of semantics - you know, like,

our " slower processing " discussion However, being mindblind is not

equivalent to being totally lacking in empathy. With the former, if you could

get thru to them, they would be contrite, but because they lack a common frame

of reference, they don't " get it. " Well except with a properly aimed plank. With

the latter, they know, but they don't care. 'Course, try explaining the

difference to the poor newcomer who has CADD. That would be tantamount to some

doctor explaining to the patient, in great clinical detail, the source of their

physical pain, while the patient is in the throes of agony. The patient need

the pain to stop first before they can take anything else on board. Usually,

later, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that there are many

complicating issues, not the least of which is a very messy family of origin

history, I certainly agree with what Liz has to say about the nurture component

of ASD outcomes. The suffering spouse, once validated, starts to see that too.

CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder .. also co-morbid with ASDs) is one

diagnosable co-morbid that contributes to " slow processing. " Sensory

integration, proprioconception and other issues come into play as well. As you

know, it's a whole cluster of factors that contribute to the outcome.

There are also those who are hyposensitive but I'll leave that one to anyone on

the list who has it, or has a loved one with it. It's not as common with ASDs

as ultra sensitivity seems to be.

Nan furnished an excellent example of processing issues play out in a practical

scenario. Another example, which is one that affects me, comes into play in a

very crowded and noisy venue. I can keep it all working together for awhile, but

as the hours pass, all the incoming stimulus, the sounds, the smells, the

people jostling into me, the fluorescent lights start overwhelming me. I can

feel myself becoming disoriented and grumpy. Unlike my un sensory processing

disordered brethren, I can't sustain the action of continually filtering out

stimuli that is extraneous to my immediate situation. Now, I am much less

moderately affected than others, and I have developed awareness and even more

strategies to deal with this, but for those that don't have this awareness - or

maybe do, but are overwhelmed before they can use compensatory strategies, it

makes it hard for them to *think* .. they can become distracted, overwhelmed,

anxious .. and finally melt down. Even if they don't melt down, their " output "

is compromised. Processing in this context isn't just the collating of

information but its final output so in this context this *one* example of how

sensory issues (same as SPD) affects processing.

Why? Many folks on the spectrum don't integrate all incoming stimulus in the

same way that non spectrum folks can. I'll be including a link from on old

article of Temple Grandin's with her take how autistic brains operate. Depending

on the circumstances, the ASD's way of processing incoming stimulus (and here

I'm speaking *strictly* about high functioning ASD) could be an asset. But As CJ

suggests, increasingly, everyone has to be a generalist, and that poses more of

a challenge to the Aspie whose senses are wired differently. I read your latest

response to me Bill, yes, that's what I'm trying to say, I use the word

" senses " here loosely.

Bill, I will preface the following by saying (again) that this is my unschooled

opinion, so puleeeze don't ask me for references later. Unless you want to pay

me Here goes: I do believe SPD (sensory processing " disorder " ) has a function

... depending on how markedly it's manifested of course. Too much, not good, but

in the right amount, helpful in certain fields.

I do believe the effect of SPD drives one's focus inward. The individual focuses

on the parts of things, perhaps as an attempt to self regulate, but also because

this is what gives them meaning in their lives, and keeps them engaged. They are

in their element. If a well adjusted and reasonably intelligent Aspie with this

trait works in the field of science and research, it could be very useful.

Proper investigation requires meticulously methodical examination, many hours of

thinking and so on. All in all, it's a process that (generally speaking) would

drive the average NT crazy.

However, this same trait would not work so well for a cop. 'Nuther story

altogether!! And since modern life does seem to require more of the mental

processing ability of a police officer more than it does the mental processing

of a scientist, the processing ability of a *typical* Aspie can be (and often

is) a liability. We need more time to sort through the data and come up with a

quick response and in many situations, we don't get that time. So, generally

speaking here, we spectrum folks do need NT to help us navigate that world more

effectively, just as they need us to fix their computers, hahahaha!

Now, the References .. A " google " search will unearth many references. Here are

a few, pasted in below my signature. Sorry Bill, some of these are abstracts,

and you'll have to subscribe or pay to view the full articles.

- Helen

Autism Might Slow Brain's Ability to Integrate Input from Multiple Senses

A new study found that kids with autism were slower to integrate stimuli from

different senses, providing possible explanations for behavioral differences

By Harmon | August 21, 2010

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=autism-slow-sensory-integration

Event-related brain potentials reveal anomalies in temporal processing of faces

in autism spectrum disorder

McPartland1,

Geraldine Dawson1,

Sara J. Webb1,

Heracles Panagiotides1,

J. Carver2

Article first published online: 27 AUG 2004

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00318.x/abstract

Autism: Processing of novel auditory information assessed by event-related brain

potentials & #9734;

Courchesne

Beverly A Kilman

Galambos

Alan J Lincoln

http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/eep/article/0168-5597%2884%29\

90063-7/abstract

Deficient auditory processing in children with Asperger Syndrome, as indexed by

event-related potentials

Eira Jansson-Verkasaloa, b, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The

Corresponding Author, Rita Ceponienec, d, Marko Kielinene, Kalervo Suominenb,

Ville Jänttib, Sirkka-Liisa Linnae, Irma Moilanene, Risto Näätänenc

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304394002014052

Central Auditory Processing Disorder and Its Connection to Autism

Feb 20, 2003 - © Olga Bogdashina

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/autism_world/97340

Event-related brain potential correlates of the processing of novel visual and

auditory information in autism

Courchesne, Alan J. Lincoln, Beverly A. Kilman and Galambos

http://www.springerlink.com/content/p0np5l55u4g1t025/

Slower Sound and Language Processing Speed Could Account for Communication

Delays in Autism

From Jo Rudy, About.com Guide December 1, 2008

http://autism.about.com/b/2008/12/01/slower-sound-and-language-processing-speed-\

could-account-for-communication-delays-in-autism.htm

Brains of autistic children slower at processing sound

18:09 01 December 2008 by New Scientist staff and Reuter

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16174-brains-of-autistic-children-slower-a\

t-processing-sound.html

In this oldie but goodie, Temple Grandin offers an interesting theory as to how

autistics process information. Upon reading her article the reader may conclude

that it is not inferior, but rather serves a different function.

My Mind is a Web Browser: How People with Autism Think

by Temple Grandin

Cerebrum, 2000

Winter Vol. 2, Number 1, pp. 14-22

The A. Dana Foundation, New York, NY

http://www.grandin.com/inc/mind.web.browser.html

If the researcher's supposition proves to be correct, what if .. an autistic

person could develop at his or her own pace?

Slow Brain Growth Could Explain Autistic Behaviors

By Shaun Heasley October 28, 2011

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/10/28/slow-brain-growth-autistic/14334/

t Mottron, a Montreal researcher, may be a familiar name by virtue of the

fact that he has employed Dawson, the well known autistic self

advocate, to check his research. He has studied the central processing of

autistics and came to surprising conclusions. Not so surprising though if you

consider an autistic's ability to problem solve. I have come across a PDF

versions of one of his papers on central coherence in autistics, but can't find

it at the moment. But here's one abstract:

Perceptual Processing among High-functioning Persons with Autism

t Mottron1,

A. Burack2,

Johannes E. A. Stauder3,

Philippe Robaey4

Article first published online: 13 OCT 2003

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1469-7610.00433/abstract

... and finally, is it a disability or is it brain wiring designed for a

slightly different purpose? Once again, it would depend what you were trying to

do with it..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_central_coherence_theory

> >>>

> >>> Liz/Bill

> >>>

> >>> There is a branch of research that explains this slow thinking in

> >>> people with AS. I am no expert and sorry I don't have any

> >>> references at hand but there are plenty of open domain accounts

> >>> on the internet. This theory is probably old hat to many on this

> >>> site so apologies first.

> [ snip ]

>

> - Bill ...AS, 79

>

> --

> WD " Bill " Loughman - Berkeley, California USA

> http://home.earthlink.net/~wdloughman/wdl.htm

>