Intelligence

[ScienceGeek]

I talked to my biological father for the first time in a while last night on the phone. I needed to get in touch with him about the wedding, we then got on to the conversation about my progress towards getting a dx. He said he couldn't see why I was going to the learning disabilities service and I couldn't possibly have dyspraxia or aspergers as I was far too intelligent. For some reason he has the idea that to get that diagnosis I must be of lower than normal intelligence, I'm not sure where he got that from, unfortunately it seems to be a common misconception that I have come across. Anyone else find this?

 

I was looking through my ed psych report from last year, and all my scores were in the average or superior-very superior range. My verbal comprehension was in the 97th centile.

[jo4themo]

Hi there

We have encountered a few people who assume that N either has a below-average intelligence because she has Aspergers or that she cannot have AS because they know her and know she is quite bright.

N has had a few assessments over the years (to put it mildly!) and one that sticks in my mind was her first one. I think she was 3 at the time, and even though she scored just above average in most areas, in one section where she had to copy patterns of bricks she scored extremely well - I think she was around the 99th percentile for it.

Now at 9 years, she has a reading age of a 12 year-old (although she prefers books for younger readers as they have coloured pics in) and is very good at spatial awareness things like jigsaws. However, she is about a year behind in maths thanks to her bad start to her school years. Alos, even though her handwriting is not very good, her drawings and other art work is fab

[Kinda]

Hi SG

 

Unfortunately this is not an uncommon assumption that AS people can't be intelligent. For me that general public are gradually becoming more aware but it is a slow business.

 

You never know in the future we may even have University Special Needs Co-ordinator's who understand what AS is and how it affects people but guess the first step is getting them to acknowledge there is even a need for them to understand.

 

What I find frustrating is that there is so much ignorance out there and I know that in 10 years time we will look back in horror at how students were treated and ask ourselves how did we let this happen, how could we treat them so badly, why didn't someone do something etc etc.

 

From my experience I would have liked to have legally challenged them under the education act or disability act or some other such law to make them more aware and to provide better help for my son and other students. I don't think the educational establishments do it knowingly they just don't realise their failings.

 

Any ideas anyone how we could do something both to change the support the education establishments provide and to support the students? Any thoughts gratefully received.

Edited March 19, 2008 by Kinda

[Karen A]

Hi ScienceGeek.People have also found it difficult to accept that Ben has DCD because he is very bright.

Missconceptions unfortunately go both ways some people think that people who have AS cannot be intelligent whilst others think that all people with Autism are extremely gifted in one area..l :wallbash neither veiws are very helpful.Karen.

[Mumble]

You never know in the future we may even have University Special Needs Co-ordinator's who understand what AS but guess the first step is getting them to acknowledge there is even a need for them to understand.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Sorry, love the Utopian dream ...

[BusyLizzie100]

Our experience with DS1, who has AS, has been that because he's so very clever and knowledgable etc, he can't possibly have SEN or any other difficulties because 'he's doing so well'.

 

Why, then, does he have severe anxiety attacks night and day, hate school with a passion and can barely read his own writing? Rhetorical questions, of course, but it's incredibly frustrating.

 

My understanding (from the literature) is that people with a dx of AS have average or above average IQ.

 

Lizzie xx

[Mumble]

My understanding (from the literature) is that people with a dx of AS have average or above average IQ.

It's part of the diagnostic criteria.

[Kinda]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Sorry, love the Utopian dream ...

 

Hi Mumble

 

I also live in hope but if you think back to 5-6 years ago very little was known and if you search engined AS there was very little about. If we can continue with the same improvement we will get there.

 

I think what it needs is some legal action whereby the Universities are made to become more responsible. My son's co-ordinator wasn't even aware of how it affected him and a lot of the provisions such as written lecture notes where not provided. They had even failed to let his lecturers know of his AS!!!!!! All of which is so frustrating.

 

I do think it will improve but very slowly at present.

[LizC]

yes in my experience, I have come across people like that too including my mother in law who thinks he can't possibly be because he isn't stupid or thick, or if he was that bad he would be in an asylum!!! talk about old school! she does my head in totally. Matthew is very bright and very intelligent. He can't wait to be a man! he talks like an old man in his mannerisms and what he says lol. he talks about history and is this house refurbished lol (he is only 7) people with aspergers can be very intelligent but again that is only a small part of it because again it is such a complex thing!

[pookie170]

There will always be people who do not understand this. I say do what you can to re-educate them, but accept that some folks won't budge. Their loss, sez I.

 

The important thing is that the people closest to those on the spectrum do understand and can give support....

 

However, I agree higher education has a long way to go with regards to supporting students on the spectrum. Having said that,(and it's a point of pride for me and many of my colleagues, ) i've found the college where I work (mainstream again!) has a fab attitude to providing support for those with extra needs, including ASD students, of whom there are many in my dept. especially. (Science and computing!! Who'd-a-thunk-it??? ) Not saying we always get it right, but we do try our best and there is a constant availability of Student Services and Learning Development Workers to all students. (I am one, as a matter of fact!) We recently had an HMIE inspection, and got a 'Very Good' in this area. So some establishments are at the very least, trying their best to get with the programme!

 

I have to say, that i have found further education establishmets who have an inflated sense of their own importance and practically display their elitism like a badge, are more likely to be unsympathetic. I do try not to tar all with the same brush, but that is my experience. Snobbery is not conducive to good SEN practice!! Make sure and do your homework, ask questions etc. Any establishment worth its salt will agree to see and answer questions from prospective students or parents of same where SEN's are an issue- if they are evasive, ill-informed etc then chances are the support system will be pants.

 

Rant over!

 

Yet again though, its a matter of training, which I think will improve as time goes on.

And my lad is 10, with fabby art skills, an bright and inquisitive mind and a reading age of 14 and a half!

Thick, my behind!!

 

(actually, it IS looking a little chunkier these days..... )

 

Heheh!!!

Esther

[ryansmum2]

hi,

 

my 7 yr old ds has an IQ of 113 (done when he was 5yrs) , he has Aspergers and Dyspraxia,

 

mel xx

[sugarplum]

My son has SLDs which is obviously seperate from his autism, I usually get the opposite end of it... I get the 'oh, he'll be a genuis when he's older' type of malarky

[Shnoing]

My understanding (from the literature) is that people with a dx of AS have average or above average IQ.

 

It's part of the diagnostic criteria.

 

Well, yes and no. As far as the diagnostic critera are concerned, everyone between the 2nd and the 98th percentile has an average IQ. If someone happens to be tested in the first two percentiles (IQ 70 or lower), he cannot be diagnosed with Asperger's, he has to be diagnosed with "low-functioning autism". So, for 98 % of the population, average or above average IQ has no discriminatory value. Everyone has it. There's nothing to it. And: it's only a test result.

[Mumble]

Well, yes and no. As far as the diagnostic critera are concerned, everyone between the 2nd and the 98th percentile has an average IQ. If someone happens to be tested in the first two percentiles (IQ 70 or lower), he cannot be diagnosed with Asperger's, he has to be diagnosed with "low-functioning autism". So, for 98 % of the population, average or above average IQ has no discriminatory value. Everyone has it. There's nothing to it. And: it's only a test result.

So 'yes' but people's understanding of what average IQ means is poor. Average in statistical terms is within two standard deviations of the mean, i.e. where approximately 96% of the population would fall.

[Canopus]

I have to say, that i have found further education establishmets who have an inflated sense of their own importance and practically display their elitism like a badge, are more likely to be unsympathetic. I do try not to tar all with the same brush, but that is my experience. Snobbery is not conducive to good SEN practice!! Make sure and do your homework, ask questions etc. Any establishment worth its salt will agree to see and answer questions from prospective students or parents of same where SEN's are an issue- if they are evasive, ill-informed etc then chances are the support system will be pants.

 

You have hit the nail on the head.

 

I have a strong suspicion that many senior academics think that university is meant to be the way it is, and any deviation from the system is anathema to a true academic. If an academic deploys "student friendly" teaching such as supporting students with SEN then it can jeopardise their academic career.

 

My psychologist has sacrificed much of his academic career in order to provide useful services to people with AS. He is only a lecturer (the lowest rank) and cannot progress to a higher rank unless he publishes papers in academic journals. His establishment of services to help people with AS do not enable him to progress to a higher academic rank under the present university system. In contrast, there are some senior academics who have done surprisingly little research themselves (and are often only of average intelligence for an academic) but have progressed to a high rank because of all the papers with their name on the top resulting from the research done by the PhD students they have supervised.

[Corcaigh]

Canopus, your description of most academic environments is strikingly (and sadly) true. I must add, things are slowly changing, also thanks to many people, like your admirable psychologist, who are trying to change direction.

In the Psychology dept where I research, not many people ever talked or had any kind of rapport with a person in the spectrum. When they learn that I have an AS son they look at me with admiration, wondering "how i manage it". Of course, I rarely mention that I have many traits myself and yet I survive!

However, as I said, there are people who are trying to change the establishment "from within". For instance by giving support not in a snobbish way but with proactive research. Even though I am a pessimist by nature, I am quite optimistic regarding this matter and I really hope things will get better in the future.

For instance, in the College where I work (Cork, Ireland), I know for sure there are some Asperger students and even a coupe of Asperger lecturers who carefully keep their diagnosis hidden. I wish it was different, I wish there was more acceptance and pride.

This is my hope for the future: no more hiding in the dark.

 

Martina