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7 Positive Traits of Asperger’s Syndrome

7 pos traitsThere is so much focus on the difficulties and disabilities of those of us on the autism spectrum, let’s for a moment focus on the positive!

Focus

Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome are known for their ability to focus on tasks for long period of times without the need for supervision. At the times the autistic person may focus or hyper-focus on a task to the exclusion of everything else (pursuing their special interests), but it is this ability that makes these individuals extremely productive.

Motivation

Often those on the Autism Spectrum have a large degree of internal motivation. This is the kind of motivation that is born out of sense of personal pride and accomplishment, opposed to being motivated by outside factors such as money, or praise.

Higher Fluid Intelligence

Research has shown that children with Asperger’s Syndrome have a higher level of fluid intelligence than non-autistic children. Fluid intelligence is the “ability to find meaning in confusion and solve new problems. It is the ability to draw inferences and understand the relationships of various concepts, independent of acquiring knowledge.” (Wikipedia 2009). Many with Asperger’s Syndrome have a higher than average I.Q.

Creative Thinking / Problem Solving

As Temple Grandin famously put it, many autistic people “think in pictures”. It is the visual, three-dimensional thinking that birth numerous creative inventions and allow for creative problem solving.

“Out of the Box” Thinking

People with AS spend much time thinking independently, often in solitary. They tend to develop their own way of looking at the world, and develop their own unique views. The idea of going along with the crowd often never crosses the Aspergerian mind.

Detail Oriented

To say that the autistic person is detailed oriented is an understatement. Despite the issues surrounding a weak central coherence, where the autistic individual can become completely lost in the details, it is that same “weakness” that enables the person to focus intensely on details.

Honesty

Many people with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome do not see the need for lies, especially the “white lies” that are told in social situations. Although this may make social situations awkward at times, it also credits the autistic individual with placing a higher value on truth and honestly than social niceties. If you want the truth—these are the people to ask.

 

Jeannie Davide-Rivera

Jeannie is an award-winning author, the Answers.com Autism Category Expert, contributes to Autism Parenting Magazine, and the Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. She lives in New York with her husband and four sons, on the autism spectrum.

4 Comments:

  1. Pingback: How To Appreciate Your Husband With Asperger’s Syndrome  -

  2. Thank you for listing just some of the positives about being on the spectrum. Our son is definitely honest, creative and focused and his intelligence is obvious to all who meet him!

  3. What if it is us that see the world clearly and the NT’s are the one’s with the ‘disability’?

  4. Pingback: 7 Positive Traits of Asperger’s Syndrome. | Appalachian aspie part two.

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