Are people with high-functioning autism physically able to change?
Answer:
My sister is a high function autistic. With alot of therapy to has progressed greatly, but she is still Autistic. I from my experience with working with Autistic children, therapy and re enforced behavior like ABA can help there functioning levels but they will always be Autistic and have to adapt.
People with autism are heavily left brain oriented,this is not there fault,its how they are wired.But heavy study,isolation etc really reinforces this dependance.I would imagine the only way to alter that would be to do more things that engage the right hemisphere [art,music etc] to get a bit of a better balance.
I think if the quirks dont bother you shouldnt have to change them.
It is a genetic disorder, so it can't just go away. There are ways to make it more manageable but unfortunately at this point in our history, we can't cure it.
Aspergers is, like all forms of Autism, genetic and cannot be 'reversed'. With intense therapy, like in home supports, people with aspergers frequently live normal, productive lives. It is frequently hard to tell if someone truly has aspergers--they are usually viewed as being 'odd'. Typically, they are the 'know-it-all' in class and beat an issue to death proving that they are right. These are the kids that ALWAYS know all the rules to every board game, but have difficulty reading social cues from others. They have no idea they are annoying you, and often wont allow you to tell them that they are annoying you because they are so busy trying to prove to you the myriad of ways that they are NOT annoying. People with Aspergers are frequently hyper-focused on rules and are Extremely literal--if you tell them to go fly a kite (IE get lost, go away), they will go look for a kite and wonder why on earth you want them to fly it. They do not recognize idiomatic speech and need to be taught it. They are very good at obeying the laws and rules of society, often being the best behaved child in class until somebody tries to prove them wrong or challenge what they say--then they may have tearful 'meltdowns' because they are being challenged and any kind of change for them is VERY uncomfortable. Rigidity is the key word here. People with Aspergers are also usually VERY intelligent, well read individuals.
"Tasha W" said this -
"They have no idea they are annoying you, and often wont allow you to tell them that they are annoying you because they are so busy trying to prove to you the myriad of ways that they are NOT annoying. "
I think she just sat in on a conversation between my hubby and I, starting to think more and more that I passed autism on to my son without ever knowing I had it!! LOL.
Sorry, I really don't have an answer to your question tho, just got tickled by such an accurate description of myself! my youngest son was just diagnosed with high functioning autism and we have just started treatments and from what the docs say it is so mild he should have no learning issues by adulthood although the benifits (like his musical ability) should stay.
What you are asking about is probably the same traits talked about in that quote - I don't know if the behavior can be changed, but it may be possible, think of people with OCD and how they overcome their traits/behaviors, seems possible to me HFA could do the same. Me however? I'll still be convincing my hubby i'm not annoying... lmao
Well I myself have Aspergers and day by day try to adjust myself to fit in better in the non-Autistic world.
Several factors are incredible challenges though. First off, I love my routine and it has been a valued part of my entire life. I do not purposely seek to drive people crazy with my anal-retentive ways but I consider my routine to be sort of a ship's rudder that guides me through the day. Secondly, no matter how hard I try, when a group gets to be five or more, I can not filter out all the chatter and have a hard time keeping up with the conversation. the best thing I can do from there on out is sit back and listen attentively, only engaging the conversation when someone has statistical facts to point out.
As hard as I try, I still struggle to this day trying to understand sarcasm. There just isn't a part of my brain that gets it. I consider that the part of 'mind blindness', that accompanies Autism. It is almost like asking Stevie Wonder to try a little harder to see. Blind people aren't blind after all, for their lack of appreciation for visual beauty, nor do I not understand sarcasm for my lack of appreciation for humor.
Honestly, there comes a point where I am just sick of it and I look at the spectrum of the Human Race and ask: Is there any other group that is different and is under so much pressure to change their ways? I truly ponder that question.
In the end, we Aspies are who we are and if that isn't good enough for most people, then oh well, do what you will do with us. Whatever price we may pay (socially or otherwise) there certainly will come a point when most of us will tire of trying not to be ourselves.
The answers post by the user, for information only, FunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
More Questions and Answers: