Thinking about Thinking

I've been doing a little searching about how kids on the spectrum think. I've got some good stuff here.

They have typical or enhanced abilities in:

• attention
• sensory perception
• elementary motor skills
• simple memory
• formal language
• rule-learning
• visual-spatial processing

They have cognitive weaknesses in:

• Complex sensory perception
• Complex motor skills
• Complex memory
• Concept formation
• Face recognition

It is understood that simpler processing and abilities are intact, but that the information processing capacity is limited. Integrative processing and higher order cognitive abilities are compromised.

These differences in thinking are not a choice; they reflect the way the brain is wired or connected.

What does this mean about their thinking?

• They have enhanced awareness of details
• They have reduced understanding of meaning and reduced capacity for conceptual reasoning in all areas
• They can handle only small amounts of new information
• They have no or limited rapid, automatic thinking; generally, they can think only so fast.
• They understand better if the information is presented visually.
• They can get overwhelmed easily, lacking organizing principles.
• They have difficulty extracting the same meaning that others do, and find it hard to be part of a conversation when their bottom line meaning is different from others
• They can't recognize faces or emotions, themes of books or movies, and also have a hard time telling logical stories.
• They often have difficulty with problem solving or common sense in real life, when rules are not enough.
• They have impaired concept and strategy formation

So what can we do about this? How does this affect education and learning?

• Reduce the amount of material given to them
• Reduce the complexity of the material
• Use one modality at a time: visual or auditory, for example
• Pre-process the material (give them the bottom line)
• Allow for increased processing time
• Use written instruction when possible

Does this mean that an individual with autism cannot bypass these limitations or go above these expectations?

Not at all! We should never give up on our high expectations...we can use their emotions, interest in themes, items, and our energy...we can provide visuals, reduce our verbal instructions, allow them time to think, (perhaps also teach them a phrase to say such as, "I need a minute to think"), engage them in interesting activities of their choosing, use their creativity and challenge them with respect. Each person on the spectrum is unique and each person follows his/her own trajectory. No one, no educator, neuropsychologist, doctor, nurse, nutritionist or other professional can predict what and how a child will learn.

Minshew, N., M.D. (2008). "Understanding Thinking in Autism: The Key to Success in Communication and Intervention"