Comments on: Nuance

By: Teen Autism » Blog Archive » Metaphor

Teen Autism » Blog Archive » Metaphor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:44:30 +0000

[...] The occupant has autism and, although he eventually learned to talk, he is characteristically literal-minded and often has difficulty understanding various figures of speech. Those close to him have learned to [...]

By: Tanya Savko

Tanya Savko — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:56:49 +0000

Kate – thanks so much for your input re people acknowledging what you/Nigel/anyone says. I try to at least say an “oh, really?” or “okay” or “mm-hmm” to Nigel to let him know that I heard what he said if it doesn’t require an answer. Often times, my mind is so full with trying to juggle my jobs, a second child, household duties, errands, appointments, etc. that I’m always thinking ahead reminding myself of what I have to do and when. It’s hard to always be fully in the moment. Sometimes I’m so focused on what I’m thinking about that one of my sons will come in the room and say something and I literally do not hear them. But that’s just me – I can’t speak for other NTs who probably have their own reasons for why they do things. I’m definitely with you on ASD people having more associational thinking, though. Nigel has demonstrated this since early childhood, when his speech was largely echolalic. His therapists used to call him “Mr. Association” for that reason. Thanks again for the discussion, Kate! I always like what you have to say.

Mama Mara – I should see if Nigel would get into Star Trek. I wonder if he’d identify with Data!

By: mama mara

mama mara — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:56:08 +0000

When it comes to autism and humor, I always remember my favorite character, Data, from Star Trek: Next Generation, in his quest to understand the concept of “funny”
(Episode – “Suddenly Human”)

DATA: I fail to understand why this is amusing.
CMDR. RIKER: Access your databanks under humor, subheading slapstick.
DATA: Comedy stressing farce and horseplay. Aw. This no doubt is a variation on pie in the face.
RIKER: Now do you see what’s funny ?
DATA: No, sir, but I will take your word for it. This is very amusing.

By: M

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:49:16 +0000

I love the way he just calmly made note of the sarcasm, it’s funny. “Hmm…I detect humor”. Indicative of his analytical mind. Very Nigel of him.

“My brain is the size of twenty yellow lemons,”

and phrases like this are great because they’re so unique. Nigelisms are basically like snowflakes…unique, unlike any other, his own trademark expressions. “Nigel-esque” will be my new word for a novel turn of phrase.

By: jess

jess — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:54:48 +0000

it’s such a marvel to see them start to put it all together .. to decode what was once indecipherable. your pride is well deserved!

By: Em

Em — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:47:50 +0000

I love when our son points out such things…cause I do look right past them. But for his mind, each detail is something to be observed and appreciated. Or at least observed. LOL

By: Fearless Females

Fearless Females — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:31:22 +0000

Nigel is definitely going places!! It’s so nice to see how our kids are progressing each year and learning to understand concepts and why people do what they do… Nick is so similar that way; finds people interesting and will always ask me why a person did what they did or said what they said even though he knows that answer—he is quite amused!!

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:30:05 +0000

But seriously. I have a response, a thought, a comment for every single thing a person says to me, no mater how small, unimportant, off the wall, whatever. It just seems like good conversation to respond.

So I can’t understand why other people don’t. What are you, the NT, THINKING when we talk? Aren’t you always thinking about something? Why is it so hard for NTs to then translate those thoughts into words?

If I make for example a comment about something I did that day – a normal thing to say nothing off the wall – in a phone conversation, it is quite likely the person will say nothing. NOTHING. I just said something and they say nothing. Why? What is the reasoning and rationale behind this? Do they truly have no thoughts about what I just said? No emotional reaction, it doesn’t spur any thoughts in them?

I’m just trying to understand how the other side thinks.

Maybe people with ASD have more associational thinking?

I could go on but I’ll stop there…
Kate

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:25:41 +0000

“My son’s autistic mind usually takes nothing for granted and makes no assumptions. If he makes a statement such as “This mixes my face” while looking into a disco ball, he will repeat the statement until someone acknowledges him. He does not take for granted that I’ve heard him, that I don’t know that he is expecting a response, or that I don’t have one for him. He doesn’t understand why no one is responding to him, so he repeats himself. He doesn’t mind repeating himself five times while I am formulating a response, especially when his statement is something as, um, unusual as “My brain is the size of twenty yellow lemons,” which he said at age eight. I had no idea where that came from.”

Wow, that describes me to a tee. It really, really bothers me when no one replies to something I’ve said. Sometimes it will even make me quite angry. I wonder where I buy the “Learn how to understand conversational nuances 101″ toolkit?

I also never assume someone has heard me or understands me. This is actually probably my biggest and most frustrating communication deficit with autism. Why can’t people acknowledge what I say? Especially when they are family and I have asked them a million times to? Interesting.