Can aspies have learning problems?

[aj]

Now I'm back on dunno ware i stand spot, I'm really confused and stressed about always ending up in the same spot. What i mean is i am in this state of mind that i live not knowing whats wrong with me. Since i was a kid till december 2013 i grew up not knowing whats wrong with me. Why do i suffer with anxiety, why do i have meltdowns, why do i live by a routine which keeps me happy and away from the outside world, why is it impossible for me to understand peoples feelings? Theres more to it but I'm just giving some examples.

I done allot of researching on aspergers and it just answered all my questions and felt so right. Now 4 minutes ago i researched if aspergers can have learning disabilities, the answer said yes for dyslexia, ADHD ect.. But im really confused because heres my situation:

In school i found it hard to understand and learn on most subjects, i found it hard to get interested and keep the information safe in my mind. I found it hard to remember and learn. Not only did i not want to be in a class full of other kids (even though i got put into a small group which is known as learning support) but i wasnt interested in what the teacher was trying to teach us. All my school years since primary i was put into a smaller group (learning support) they was teaching me the easy things. I dunno if i made a mistake when i pretended to seem like i didn't understand to begin with then had it easy for a while. I use to be naughty which got me sent to a room for naughty kids which sometimes i would be alone in but rarely it would be full. When i was in secondary school i use to go out of school for the whole day to get me away where i can be alone. It was scary but i use to got to the leisure centre where it was safe. So my intelligence is poor and im not sure id i am dyslexic because i can spell many words and my reading is ok. Understanding the big words is a struggle and also to remember the meaning of it. I can learn better with practical things like using my hands and if i am shown something by someone i know i can do it without any problems as long as they show me exactly how to do it and give me all the information i need to know.

now I'm really scared of what your replies are going to be, please if i was wrong im so sorry i just never felt like knowing what it is and from what i researched aspie was right till the learning problems, im not smart and i struggle with alott not only social but this learning thing aswell. 8 months i spent researching aspies and its only this learning problem that i dont understand,

Thank you for all your comments and sorry if i have caused any problems

 

[King_Oni]

Well, comorbid disorders are a thing. Meaning that you can be on the spectrum as well as have ADHD, Dyslexia and other issues going at the same time. It doesn't mean everyone has, but it tends to be quite common.

What's also important to remember is that the way your mind works differs from "the regular routes". It's essentially what makes you an aspie. The sad part of it is there's no single solution and it's often trial and error to see what works for you and what doesn't.

My issue with learning tends to be that if someone hurls information at me, that I might not make out of it what the intention is. I will get something out of the information provided, but perhaps not the correct angle as to why I was told this. That's my aspie brain (mis)interpreting stuff sometimes. Perhaps this is something for you to think about as well.

 

[aj]

I just read a bit of it and im pretty shore i dont have that, there must be something. I cant remember why i didn't attend my classes and why i didn't learn anything. Art was my favourite subject and they let me go when i wanted. When i watch documentaries on tv i learn better like: a female praying mantus calls a male to mate with, when they finnish the female kills the male. Not always but sometimes. And studying asperger syndrome i learned well but most times i want to play computer games. So when i want to learn a subject im interested in i suppose i can do it. In school it was different for some reason and i believe i have learning problems because of it. It just makes me think and I'm desperate for the answer. I hate being confused im just blank minded when i try think of the reason

 

[Andy R]

I did very badly at school, despite the fact that I have an IQ of 148. I too didn't find out the reason for this until much later. The truth is that we Aspies learn differently to NT's. I find that I *Must* be interested in the subject matter to learn it. Then we all know how deep our knowledge can be on our chosen hobbies/interests. I have come to realise that the classroom environment is totally wrong for someone with Asperger's. I also found that I cannot study in the traditional ways. The information will not sink in, no matter how many times I force myself to read it. Yet conversely, if I read an article or book on something I am interested in it I have excellent recall on the facts etc.

 

[Cogs Of My Cranium]

I also ended up doing badly in school. I was built up as this kind of intelligent wonder boy in one school only to feel isolated in a different school of clever kids. I felt my problems stemmed from not knowing about my aspergers at the time, the Catholicism of the school, general dark moods of puberty, and the environment I was in. I was never there for year 8 of school. I just walked in the gates and walked back out again only to spend whole days downtown for hours. I think another problem was I didn't get involved in class discussions or ask for help when I needed it/didn't understand something. I think these were the reasons I failed rather than a particular learning disability but that's just me.

 

[aj]

I also wonder how you get your words that describe the time perfectly. I can never think and put it like that which is annoying because I'm trying to describe as best as i can and cannot do it like you do. Basically i was in the same position as you both kind of and couldn't explain it very well. Im just confused and hard to remember the reasons. This is one of the reasons why i don't talk to people haha it makes sense in my head but when i try say it it doesn't turn out the way i want it to.

 

[Cogs Of My Cranium]

Well I think one thing to keep in mind is some folks are better at some subjects and expressions than others...this is the case whether you're on the spectrum or not. I was always a strong reader and writer ever since I was a kid. I hardly talked until I was 16 and when I did I realised I knew a lot of words and was quite articulate. I then went on and studied English in university...so I would say I'm quite good at English and art. Some people aren't and are more proficient in other things. A lot of NT people are not great with words.

 

[aj]

I wouldn't waste my time on something for 8 months if i wasn't shore i was an Aspie. I just hit a confusing part, i did do a iq test and i have above average haha. Problem was i didn't have a lot of time so the last 10 questions i had to rush. Now im wondering how the hell did i work out the right answers. First time i took the iq test aswell haha. It made me happy because im not as stupid as i thought i fancy learning about some of the questions from the iq test aswell and want to improve my score.

 

[Jimbo]

I am always amazed at how much other aspies are exactly like me. I went through the same thing. I was awful in school but knew I had pretty high intelligence. Schools just don't understand our learning style, which for me is visual. I went to a community college for air conditioning repair after high school and we had to take a physics class which was somewhat visual. It was something I could relate to and did great in that class as well as learning how HVAC systems operate.

I am guessing that you are smarter than you think you are and you will find that out at some point. And you are probably way smarter than the schools think you are. If you haven't already, you should check out some of Temple Grandins videos on youtube. She is trying to help schools understand that we have a different learning style.

 

[artfull dodger]

I find I am the same as Andy above, if I am not interested in the subject to be learned, I totaly suck at it and score poorly on tests. BUT, if its something that either involves my obsessions or special interests, then I do extreamly well. I havent taken an IQ test in years, but I do know that in my grade school years I tested very high in the IQ dept. I could get A's in certian subjects in high school and college, and barely pass classes like math.

 

[King_Oni]

The notion of being able to learn what interests someone resonates with me as well. I'm like that as well. I've always figured that learning for me has to become intrinsic. I need to be interested in it myself to get into it, to learn it and eventually get good at something.

Too bad my interests shift over time and I rarely stick to something longer than a few months. This by itself has led to many unfinished projects. Sometimes interests come back again though. Depending on how much I like it, how easy I picked something up and stuff like that, I might keep going at it for a bit longer. It's probably along the lines of "well, I have this knowledge anyway.. .and I can't unlearn it either".

That all said I think that, I'm not the only one who has his own method to madn.. erm learning. I never really felt I got out of a book or a class what it was intended for and eventually had to gain the knowledge that was being taught in another way. Eventually I got there. And back when I was younger and tests where often only at the end of the year I had plenty of time to educate myself; college was a bit different with trimesters and such. In the end it fell in place, but if you'd look at the entire year and my progress... I guess the best way to compare it is as if I were reading the books backwards.

Learning in school reminds me of something else I had a few times and clearly no teacher would believe me.

While I wasn't really that problematic and disruptive in class, every once in a while I'd get in trouble. Some teachers just sent you out, some gave you extra assignments and some told you to copy a chapter from your textbook (with pen and paper, not a copy machine, lol). To them this kind of punishment was also a way to make sure you'd learn since you're writing all the information from the book.

My issue always was, and will be; I can write something like that and not learn a thing. To me it's just letters in sequence. It has little to do with the context; and perhaps because it's forced I'm less inclined to get something out of it. It seemed more of a nuisance. Hence the concept of this kind of educative punishment always fell flat on it's face for me personally.

 

[AspieSam]

Hi Aj! I'm really glad your so motivated to understand the roots of your differences. And the internet does have some GREAT helpful info. Talking about different issues, and obviously more. However, it also has some confusing, incorrect, and misleading info. So, it's key to know, what's what. Out their. With the limited info in this thread about you. It's hard to be absolutely certain of what else you have. But, like some others have said, and thank goodness some of your research now too has shown this, you can certainly have other diagnosis's, just like me, and several other's with ASD.

May I ask what you've read that has been your most helpful pieces?

 

[DarkLady]

I too wonder if I have NVLD because all of my vocab stuff is fine and I can learn languages and write well but I still can't even multiply properly. I also have trouble absorbing things I read or hear in school.

 

[aj]

Hi Aj! I'm really glad your so motivated to understand the roots of your differences. And the internet does have some GREAT helpful info. Talking about different issues, and obviously more. However, it also has some confusing, incorrect, and misleading info. So, it's key to know, what's what. Out their. With the limited info in this thread about you. It's hard to be absolutely certain of what else you have. But, like some others have said, and thank goodness some of your research now too has shown this, you can certainly have other diagnosis's, just like me, and several other's with ASD.

May I ask what you've read that has been your most helpful pieces?

Hello sam and thank you for your message. I have trouble understanding exactly what you mean when you asked "what you've read that has been your most helpful pieces?".

If this is about my research on asperger syndrome then i can easily tell you.

At first i was talking to my Aspie friend about it, she helped me learn the basics as in symptoms. I needed more detail on the symptoms and she told me. Asperger syndrome is one of her obsessions and it is becoming one of mine. I want to fully understand it so i started doing my own researching using google. I didn't know what anxiety was until i read it back in january and i understood it strait away because i got anxious in the same situations. E.g new situations and people/ strangers walking towards me. I dont ever feel safe when im out of my house so i do stay inside apart from once a month i go out shopping. I do have 3 books about asperger syndrome and 1 story book about autism. I read through and if i read something i dont understand i will search it up. In case you are interested in the books i read i will type them in at the bottom.

Like i tried explaining before i do struggle learning and try to keep the information in my head but it isnt easy. I read yours and other peoples comments and you put it in a way that explains the same problem i have perfectly. I wish i could do that
i am anxious about my diagnosis when the time comes and i want to explain to them how you all do on here just in case they do not understand me it is hard to cope but i am who i am and i need to learn to except it and not fight against it. Sorry i dont really know what to say but i will leave it at that. Hopefully you all understand what im trying to say.

P.s heres the books i read
Asperger syndrome in adults a guide to realising your potential (written by dr ruth searle) autism and asperger syndrome the facts (simon baron-cohen) cognitive behavioural therapy for adult asperger syndrome (valerie l. Guas) and the story i read which is my favourite book - the curious incident of the dog in the night-time (mark haddon)

 

[aj]

Can an aspie have NVLD?

 

[aj]

Oh yeah, I have it. In addition to being an Aspie and having PTSD, I have a Non Verbal Learning Disability (or Disorder,as some may call it). In fact, AS is very similar to NVLD.

Thank you

 

[toothless]

aspies/HFAs by definition cannot have learning disability [as defined in the UK/ICD manual] or intelectual disability [as defined in america/DSM manual]-theyre both the same diagnosis but just use different names.
LD/ID is diagnosed with a profesional IQ test [not a online quiz test,usualy using the WAIS] as well as a functional assessment and also a hell of a lot of talking with parents about developmental history,its not like ASD;if had got this far without a diagnosis have not got it as it is a global functioning disability and visible from a very young age.

ID is very different to what people with learning difficulties [these are what americans call learning disabilities] experience.
was reassessed from last september onwards whilst sectioned in a intelectual disability acute hospital and was rediagnosed with mild intelectual disability instead of the old severe learning disability label.
we have significant global functioning difficulties in all areas,require twenty four hour care,need medicating for severe challenging behaviors and it 'flavours' our autism so we appear very different to aspies/HFAs,this is why we are known as LFA as we have many different needs even as adults such as nappies,alternative communication,sensory integration equipment,multiple medications to calm severe challenging behavior,low stimulous bedrooms with specialist tough furniture,wall padding,padded helmets,we are usualy reliant on PECS timelines etc.

people with learning difficulties [as per the uk definition] have specific areas of weakness not global functioning problems although some people have multiple learning difficulties,and many people on the HF spectrum mistakenly believe their functioning is low when its actualy the severity of their autism traits such as executive dysfunction clashing with daily living that causes the problem.

 

[AspieSam]

In the US, you can defiantly now be an aspie with 1 or more LD's. Previously, in the US, diagnostically, you couldn't be an aspie and have any learning disability (ties). But, that's no longer the case anymore. Especially with
high functioning autism (Not aspie), previously always permitting LD's additionally. However, any/ most LD's ( examples are nonverbal LD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, apraxia, and dyscalculia,) and ASD, are separate conditions, regardless of if you have them co-morbid, or not. The same is true with ADHD, OCD, and schizophrenia.

 

[aj]

Its all good i have had my diagnose and i am an aspie so my mind is at rest now thanks for all your help

 

[Randomperson]

I know I had an issue that prevented me from finishing school. Anything academic wise I could do, even excel at with little effort when it came to science and mathematics, vocabulary no problem. But public speaking? Imagine if you will that your anxiety might manifest itself as a physical object, mine was a small moon of incredible mass, and it would try to crush me every time I tried to give a speech to pass this wretched course. Needless to say I never could, and since public speaking was a required course for a bachelors degree I never did get one, which is a shame because it took me over a decade to repay the loans school cost me.

Oddly enough in 2002 there was a very harsh heat wave and I had 3 heat strokes in the span of a month, each one landing me in the hospital due to the severity of the incidents, along with losing my photographic memory for new things, I found the greater portion of my anxiety wiped out as well, brain chemistry and personality changes due to neurological damage is a fascinating thing.