posted November 13, 2007 08:29 PM         

It is a mental abnormality for sure.

This person has these same social skills with everyone, why would someone purposefully want to alienate everyone around them? If that were the case, they probably would just not talk to anyone.

posted November 13, 2007 08:38 PM         

I used to know a guy with Asperger's. He really used to get on the wrong side of people and one day vented to my hubby about his Asperger's after someone had told him off. He knows he's "different" but doesn't realize it as it's happening that he's not reacting in a socially "normal" way. That's part of what makes it Asperger's. He used to joke he was just wired differently. Anyway, after reading up on it a bit, I realized how hard it must be for these people. It's not like some other well-known conditions where people are more compassionate or patient with you. And he was Gifted also, which made it even worse, socially, for him.

There's a lot of stigma attached to being "highly intelligent" and also to being "unable to socialize" even if that's just how you are. I felt really bad watching his interactions sometimes just devolve without his understanding why. He just didn't *get* what he was doing *wrong* until someone explained it to him or until he had time to reflect on it ... assuming he had the time and the interest to figure it out and many times the interest just wasn't there enough for him to even realize he had done something *wrong* after the fact. He was just "used to it".

I think BlueRoamer summarized it pretty well ...

quote:

---

I wouldn't say it's nice, or not nice, or that I feel superior. I am this way, and peoples with aspergers are that way, and that's fine.

---

Few people get easily exasperated with people who have Down's Syndrome. There is (nowadays) this unspoken and understood expectation of patience, and an acknowledgement of how wrong it would be to expect them to be "normal" or that they're inferior human beings just because of their mental "wiring". I hope people who deal with less commonly known issues, like Asperger's, find the same compassion and patience from people in their lives.

And, yes, it does get annoying sometimes. We're all just people and none of us saints. But my old friend used to say that if people who were close to him (like people he'd trusted with his diagnosis) would just take the time to politely point out what he did or was doing wrong ... just interrupt and take him aside out of mercy for both parties ... that he'd really try to do better. Social behaviors are learned for them and they can't learn it all on their own.

posted November 13, 2007 09:12 PM           

quote:

---

Can you describe your situation?

---

lol, yes. i've noticed a few people whom i know to be self-aware, talk incessantly at me, usually on the phone, knowing exactly what they they were doing, knowing that i will listen politely, as that's how i am. it usually drains me of almost all energy.

once it happened, in the middle of the day, and afterward i went into a deep sleep that lasted hours. beforehand, i was energetic and busy.

these were people firmly entrenched in my close sphere of influence; one was a supervisor. i think it's a form of emotional vampirism -- intentional annoyance.

posted December 21, 2009 01:35 PM         

But my son has had big problems developmentally. He's now 16. But when he was a baby he didn't walk until he was 2. Wasn't potty trained until he was a month short of his 5th birthday. And for years he talked like he was underwater. At least that's what he sounded like. He's better with the speech now.

But he just required so much patience. And his anger... when he was around 2 yrs old he threw one of those heavy metal John Deere toy trucks at his brother who is only 20 months older. Hit him right in the back of the head. As he got older he would do things deliberately after I would talk to him about safety. Like one time when his younger brother was around 3 months old, he gave him a grape after I told him not to. Luckily I got it out of his mouth before he tried swallowing it. And as a teen ager, he pushed his younger brother down the stairs knocking him unconsious. (he was alright)
And again, he punched a hole in the wall with his fist, punched a hole in the ceiling with a broom... just a very bad anger problem.

He's still a teen ager... just turned 16. But also, he's huge! He's always been the akward one out in school. Always picked on. But at 14 yrs old he was 6'4 and a size 13 shoe. He is 16... with a beard. He now lives with his Dad in another state so I haven't seen him in awhile. I'll have to see if I can post a pic of him for anyone interested. But aside of his temper, he's mentally not much older than my 10 yr old son.

posted January 17, 2010 08:41 PM         

I was similar as a kid. I was in special education for 3 years including 1st grade with the mentally retard. I had auditory therapy,speech therapy,phonics, and fine motor skills therapy and that helped me a great deal to function almost normally that I was back in mainstream class in 2nd grade for most of the day,returning to special ed class in afternoon for phonics training.
I am Dyslexic,Dyspraxic,ADHD. My mother had me repeat the 2nd grade because she didn't think that I was mature enough to advance. She told me that I could have skipped a grade. I was found to have above average intelligence,and so I was placed in a more appropriate special education class that was for neuro-divergents. Heck..I was the most inarticulate person in that special education classroom. Some of the kids fit the criteria of Aspergers.

Dyspraxia has strong overlap with Autistic Spectrum conditions.

Some people are believing in changing the criteria for Aspergers by adding problems with motor skills,coordination to it because a lot of Aspergers have that problem.

A lot of Dyspraxics have problems with emotional/social cues, taking things to literally. However, it could be from having Aspergers Syndrome.

co-morbidity seems to be the norm when it comes to neurodivergent conditions

The following is from DANDA (Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association)

About DANDA

DANDA – the Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association has been set up for people with Dyspraxia, Asperger’s Syndrome, AD(H)D and other related conditions such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

It became a registered charity in December2003 - No 1101323. It is run by adults with one or more of these conditions, thus following the Madrid declaration of 2001, which stated that no decisions about the disabled should be taken without their active involvement -'Nothing about us without us'.

DANDA has grown out of the Dyspraxia Foundation Adult Support Group, as it became clear that most people connected to the Group did not have dyspraxia alone. Most, in fact, had AD(H)D (Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome or dyslexia as well. It was the norm rather than the exception.

Dyspraxia will remain one of the main priorities as there are very few groups catering for the needs of adults with this condition. However, more and more people wanted to know more about the other conditions they had, especially those with Asperger’s and AD(H)D. Many dyspraxics in fact joined groups for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome, but very few are run by Asperger’s adults themselves in the UK; and there are very few established AD(H)D groups, just for adults, here, either. http://www.danda.org.uk/pages/about-danda.php

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted January 17, 2010 08:50 PM         

I believe in the Neuro-Diversity movement.

Neurodiversity is an idea which asserts that atypical (neurodivergent) neurological development is a normal human difference that is to be recognized and respected as any other human variation.[1] Differences may arise in ways of processing information, including language, sound, images, light, texture, taste, or movement. The concept of neurodiversity is embraced by some autistic individuals and people with related conditions.

Origin of the term

According to an article in New York Magazine, the term was put forward by Judy Singer and first published by Harvey Blume.[4] The earliest published use of the term appears in a New York Times article by Harvey Blume on September 30, 1998:[5]
“ Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general. Who can say what form of wiring will prove best at any given moment? Cybernetics and computer culture, for example, may favor a somewhat autistic cast of mind. ”

Previous to this, although Blume did not make explicit use of the term Neurodiversity, he wrote in a New York Times piece on June 30, 1997:[6]
“ Yet anyone who explores the subject on the Internet quickly discovers an altogether different side of autism. In cyberspace, many of the nation's autistics are doing the very thing the syndrome supposedly deters them from doing -- communicating.

Yet, in trying to come to terms with an NT-dominated world, autistics are neither willing nor able to give up their own customs. Instead, they are proposing a new social compact, one emphasizing neurological pluralism.

The consensus emerging from the Internet forums and Web sites where autistics congregate (...) is that NT is only one of many neurological configurations -- the dominant one certainly, but not necessarily the best.
”

Blume is also notable for his early public advocacy and prediction of the role the internet would play in fostering neurodiversity.[7]
“ There is a political dimension to this bond with the Internet. A project called CyberSpace 2000 is devoted to getting as many people as possible in the autistic spectrum hooked up by the year 2000, reason being that "the Internet is an essential means for autistic people to improve their lives, because it is often the only way they can communicate effectively."

[ ... ] the community of autistics, which may not have matured and come to self-awareness without the Internet, presents the rest of us with a challenge.

The challenge we will all be increasingly confronted with, on-line and off, is, to look at ourselves differently than we have before, that is, to accept neurological diversity.
”

The term mostly appears within the online autistic community, but its usage has spread to a more general meaning; for example, the Developmental Adult Neurodiversity Association (DANDA) in the UK encompasses developmental dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger syndrome and related conditions.[8] Usage of the term has seen a boost with a 2004 New York Times article by Amy Harmon, "The Disability Movement Turns to Brains".[1]
[edit] Neurodiversity as an ideology

The language surrounding neurodiversity has been a major point of contention. Those proposing the medical model label learning differences as “disorders, deficits, and disfunctions.” From this point of view, neurodiverse states are viewed as medical conditions that can and should be corrected.[9] Others see neurodiversity as an inclusive term that refers to the equality of all possible mental states. Still others reject the word because it sounds too medical and overshadows the needs of people with learning differences.[9]

Neurodiversity as a word does capture the discovery that autism has a biological basis, representing a move away from the “mother-blaming” theories of the 20th century. Before the scientific advances in the 1980s, autism scholars including Bruno Bettelheim popularized the belief that autism came from “extremely abnormal mother-child relations.” Bettelheim, a researcher and author of many books about autism, pioneered the "refrigerator-mother" idea, saying the cold and distant parenting was a cause of autism. Though Bettelheim later admitted to falsifying his credentials, the stigma has remained until recent genetic research has debunked this myth.[10]

The post-1980 geneticization of autism, wherein the condition is said to have a biological basis, was a change that prompted the idea of neurodiversity. Since the condition is innate, it is able to be accepted as a natural difference in individuals. It is important to note that the true cause of autism is contested, and could result from a variety of factors that genetic, biological, or environmental in nature. The important shift is that autism is no longer believed to have a social basis.[10]

There has been a large increase in the number of autism diagnoses in the past few decades. Though the cause of this “autism baby boom” are disputed, ranging from childhood mercury poisoning to increased healthcare, there has been an undeniable growth of the autistic population.[11] Public attention has grown to match this rise, with articles in Newsweek and Time to showcase new research. This has propelled autism and neurodiversity, to center stage in the cultural and political arena.
[edit] Goals of the neurodiversity movement

Proponents of neurodiversity are striving to re-conceptualize autism and related conditions in society. Main goals of the movement include:

* acknowledging that neurodiverse people do not need a cure
* changing the language from the current “condition, disease, disorder, or illness”-based nomenclature
* broadening the understanding of healthy or independent living; acknowledging new types of autonomy
* giving neurodiverse individuals more control over their treatment, including the type, timing, and whether there should be treatment at all[12]

Autistic supporters of neurodiversity want their way of life to be considered as a respectable, autonomous, and equal way of living. Since autism is inseparable from daily perceptions and decisions, some believe it ought not be separated from the person and treated as a curable disease. Rather, autism should be recognized as a different but equal way of understanding and approaching the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted January 17, 2010 08:54 PM         

Developmental dyspraxia is an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. It is associated with the problems of perception, language and thought. Other names for dyspraxia include Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD), Perceptuo- Motor Dysfunction, and Motor Learning Difficulties. It used to be known as clumsy child syndrome and Minimal Brain Damage.

The condition is thought to affect up to ten per cent of the population in varying degrees. Dyspraxia sometimes runs in families. There may be an overlap with ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder), Dyslexia and Asperger’s Syndrome.

People with dyspraxia usually have a combination of the problems described below.

Gross Motor Co-ordination Skills

· poor balance and rhythm e.g. bicycle riding or dancing

· poor posture and muscle tone; clumsy gait and movement

· poor hand–eye co-ordination, causing difficulties with bat and ball sports and car driving

Fine Motor Skills

Lack of manual dexterity, and poor manipulative skills, causing problems in many areas such as:

· Grooming and dressing

· Housework and cooking

· DIY and craftwork

· Handwriting and keyboarding

Speech, Language and Oral Skills

· Continuous and/or repetitive talking

· Difficulty organising content & sequence of language

· Problems with pitch, volume, rate and pronunciation

· Difficulty listening to people; can be tactless and interrupt frequently

· Tendency to take things literally; may listen but not understand

· Difficulty reading non-verbal signals, including tone & pitch of voice

Perception (i.e. Interpretation by the different senses

· Poor visual perception

· Lack of awareness of body position in space, causing tripping, bumping and spilling

· Poor sense of time, speed, distance or weight

· Poor sense of direction and left/right discrimination

· Poor eye-movement e.g. keeping place while reading or looking from TV to magazine

Learning, thought and Memory

· Unfocused and erratic; may become messy and cluttered

· Poor short-term memory; may lose or forget things

· Poor sequencing, causing problems with maths, spelling and copying sounds

· Difficulty following instructions, especially more than one at a time

Emotion and Behaviour

(These are not direct symptoms of dyspraxia, but a reaction to it)

· Impulsive and easily frustrated; difficulty working in teams

· Slow to adapt to new or unpredictable situations, often avoiding them

· Tendency to be stressed, depressed or anxious; may have difficulty sleeping

· Prone to low self-esteem, emotional outbursts, phobias, compulsions and addictive behaviour

Many of these characteristics are not unique to people with dyspraxia, and not even the most severe case will have all the above characteristics. But adults with dyspraxia will tend to have more than their fair share of co-ordination and perceptual difficulties.
http://www.danda.org.uk/pages/neuro-diversity/dyspraxia-in-adulthood.php

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted January 18, 2010 11:49 AM         

Clumsy gait for instance. He has always been this akward, tall kid and he walked kinda like bigfoot. Keeping in mind that at the age of 16 he is over 6'4, size 13 shoe and a beard.

Grooming.. he has problems correctly bathing himself. He will shower and when he is finished, you can still smell body odor on him.

Dressing.. If you don't lay out what he should wear, he will come up with the most funky assembly of outfits lol.

Continuous talking.. This kid can go on and on about anime or a game he's playing.. on and on and on lol. And in a loud high pitched voice. I remember telling him "inside voices" lol.

But he's a sweet kid. Unlike a lot of autistic kids, he can cuddle you to death.

posted January 18, 2010 02:57 PM         

That's what neurological testing neuropsychological testing which always includes mental health screening is for.

to differentiate neurodivergents from neurotypicals.

Of course, it also helps to prevent neurodivergents from being misdiagnosed as having certain psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar.

Neurodivergent symptoms can easily be misdiagnosed as psychiatric disorders,psychological problems. Dr. Harold N. Levinson pointed that out in his book, SMART BUT FEELING DUMB. He is both a psychiatrist and neurologist. That's one of the main things that I raise awareness as a neurodiversity advocate.

also they range from mild to severe too.

It's usually people with severe cases that qualify for special education services like I did. Of course,we're more like to be misplaced with the mentally retarded. That's what Dr. Levinson termed "pseudo-retarded"
The people with mild cases don't,and they tend to be the ones that get help late or no help at all. They might not even realize that they have a neurodivergent condition until their kids are diagnosed. It runs in family.

Also the co-morbidity of neurodivergent conditions can also factor. In some ways, the neurodivergent symptoms tend to be similar. For example, Dyslexics,Dyspraxics,ADHDers tend to have problems with organization,rote memorization,short term memory. Dyspraxics and Dyslexics tend to share problems with direction confusion (especially left/right), and can share problems with speech (Dyspraxic's are coordination-related,Dyslexics are language-related).

The level of intelligence is also a factor.
Neurodivergents have at least average intelligence. Many of them have above average intelligence. Giftedness is often combined with neurodivergence.......hence the term, "twice exceptional"

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted January 18, 2010 03:35 PM         

Dyspraxics are said to have certain strengths too.

THE GIFT OF DYSPRAXIA
The Gift of Dyspraxia Updated 14/05/07

It is vital that the person living with dyspraxia is identified in order to help develop the persons self esteem. Most of what I have mentioned so far is very negative, so I have researched into the gifts of dyspraxia.

Adults Living with dyspraxia can be creative original thinkers, Mary Colley et al (2001) In my experience they are often good at creative writing and art, using abstract designs as a coping strategy. They can be good at photography where there is no need to be able to draw.

Adults living with dyspraxia can have a high verbal ability. This helps them to develop a sense of humour in adversity.

We are often fond of and good at caring for animals, because pets give unconditional love and do not judge a person by their appearance or ability.

We can be very good at looking after children because we sometimes prefer their company than peer their own age. This can also be true when working with older people.

We often have empathy with others who are experiencing oppression because of their own experiences. Many Adults who have dyspraxia have careers in the caring or teaching profession and those who facilitate support groups are community workers.

Kirby (2002) "Many adults with D.C.D. are very understanding of the feelings of others, They may be good with the young, elderly and with animals."

In my experience many develop their own coping strategies to overcome problems associated with dyspraxia, which could become useful to enable other people living with dyspraxia or with differing types of disabilities.

We can be hard working and determined to succeed in overcoming the obstacles that society confronts us with. "Good Computer skills may have been developed because of a need to bypass writing" Dr Amanda Kirby (2000) "They may have an excellent long term memory and retain a lot of information" Kirby (2002)

I have found that most Adults living with dyspraxia are usually honest genuine and sincere, because they do not put on a false act in order to impress others.

The Positive characteristics of dyspraxia was discussed on the dyspraxia email group http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dyspraxia
Thos prove how divers dyspraxia is and what one person with dyspraxia may find hard another person may find very easy or have developed their own problem solving strategies to remove disabling barriers, in their community, in education or work place.

Nat asserts that he has the following strengths.

Organisational Skills

Due to lack of innate organisation skills, I have developed and practiced very good disciplined time management and self management skills since my school days.

I am able to apply the same organisational skills to projects – defining smaller short term tasks, applying priorities and moving non-'core' tasks until later without failing to do them when they become important. I know to look at a problem as soon as it is given to me and ask questions at this point, rather than leaving
everything until there is time to do the entire task.

Long Term Memory

I have an above average long term memory, if I've discussed something verbally or read about it, I'm very likely to remember details of what was discussed for a long time afterwards. This is especially useful for keeping details of a large specification in my mind and remembering everything requested or mentioned by a client during requirements gathering.

Verbal Reasoning
I have verbal reasoning and problem solving skills in the 98th percentile (top 4%). This means that given a little time to think I can solve problems, find good solutions or explain my reasoning.

I have verbal comprehension skills in the 95th percentile (top 6%). This means that I can correctly interpret the meaning of complex descriptions and work out what someone means to say even when it isn't described clearly. This is very useful for requirements gathering and technical project management ie correctly interpreting what is required from the bug report or specification.

Literal interpretation of Language
Due to literal interpretation of language, I don't make assumptions about other people's meaning, I ask questions to test my understanding and ensure that all jargon terms are clearly defined so both sides are using the same negotiated vocabulary. This is very useful for requirements gathering and technical support.

Literal interpretation of language and lack of innate organisational skills mean that I will tend to follow the established procedure or rules unless I am unable to. I make use of the central calendar system, accurately and reliably fill my timesheets and will always do things the standard way or ask for clarification if there is no defined procedure.

This is generally a positive trait within an organisation. If there are no procedures or processes, I will work to create some. I am a completer-finisher and I thrive in an environment where there are clear deliverables and deadlines, even if I am defining these myself.

Attention to detail
Many dyspraxic people and people with other non-verbal learning disabilities tend to focus on the incongruent details in a story rather than automatically form a coherent narrative. In general, this gives me a good eye for detail. In requirements gathering or specification
writing this allows me to easily identify small problems which stop the system from working as a whole in advance of implementation, thus saving time further down the line.

Public speaking
I am not intimidated by public speaking and giving presentations, in fact my difficulties in more social situations mean that I am far more comfortable in a clearly defined situation where I have a role such as speaker or when the audience is expected to ask questions. This also means that I am not afraid to 'use my voice' within the organisation and raise any concerns with my line manager and department head as soon as they are apparent.

Proofreading
Do to the increased likelihood of minor mistakes in my writing, I always carefully proof read and re-read any written materials I produce such as tenders, specifications, client communication etc. As such, my written communication tends to be well structured and accurate.

Nancy adds that:
Sense of Humour

I have a really dry sense of humour (more like someone from Britain than America) and I am a riot. As a young person I never understood why people laughed at what I was saying because I was just being honest and serious. I have
been able recognize a pattern to what people think is funny and now for 90 % of the time when I make people laugh I am doing it on purpose.

Vocabulary
I have a pretty good vocabulary. I do not know the dictionary definition of the words, but I have an intuitive sense and feeling for the words.

Swinging hips!
I have weak pelvic muscles so I can move my hips when I dance. In my younger days I could MOVE!

Public speaking

When I talk about myself in a support group I am an excellent public speaker, I am not boring. I am funny, engaging and am able to package the information in an interesting way.

intuition.

In college whether in my science classes or humanities classes I often had the feeling of being on the edge of seeing something in a way that no one else has seen it before(maybe delusions of grandeur)

Analytical skills
I really strong analytical skills and pick up on patterns that interest me and am able to remember them and readily recognize them when I encounter them again.

I can write simple sentences in a clear way.

I was really exceptionally good at archery and for some strange reason the obstacle course in gym. Other than that PE was a nightmare.

Mark adds:
I am involved in an adult support group and have contributed to the newsletter of our association, the dyspraxia association of Ireland.

I can write down words when I need in essays for example

I have extra strong leg muscles for some reason, which means I can
push a lot of things!

I can really get good marks in a presentation by knowing what i want
to see and it works some how.

I know a lot of really weird facts for some reason.

I write assignments totally different to everybody else.

I know what goes where in the back of a computer, might be because i
have seen it before.

I can describe something really well, just as long as it doesn’t
include anything to do with distance.
http://www.colsal.org.uk/sites/daa/THEGIFTOFDYSPRAXIA.asp

Positive aspects of dyspraxia

Most books and web sites on dyspraxia focus on difficulties. Dyspraxic people often have strengths as well, such as:

* Creativity
* Determination
* Motivation
* Strategic thinking
* Problem-solving http://brainhe.com/students/types/dyspraxia.html

Students with dyspraxia can possess the following strengths:

* Creative and original thinking.
* Good strategic thinking and problem-solving.
* Determined and hard-working.
* Highly motivated.
* Able to develop their own strategies to overcome difficulties. http://www.scips.worc.ac.uk/disabilities/dyspraxia.html

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted January 18, 2010 04:15 PM         

page 4 - 5

Dyslexics don't all develop the same gifts, but they do have certain mental functions in common. Here are the basic abilities all dyslexics share:

1. They can utilize the brain's ability to alter and create perceptions (the primary ability)
2. They are highly aware of the environment.
3. They are more curious than average.
4. They think mainly in pictures instead of words.
5. They are highly intuitive and insightful.
6. They think and perceive multi-dimensionally (using all the senses)
7. They can experience thought as reality.
8. They have vivid imaginations.

These eight basic abilities, if not suppressed, invalidated or destroyed by parents or the educational process, will result in two characteristics: higher-than-normal intelligence, and extraordinary creative abilities. From these the true gift of dyslexia can emerge---the gift of mastery.

The gift of mastery develops in many ways and in many areas. For Albert Einstein, it was physics. For Walt Disney, it was art; for Greg Louganis, it was athletic prowess.

He was referring to neurodivergence in general.

page 7, he wrote:

Dyslexia was the first general term used to describe various learning problems. Eventually, these problems were subdivided and categorized to describe different learning disabilities. Because of this, we might call dyslexia the Mother of Learning Disabilities. By now, over seventy names are used to describe its various aspects.

CHAPTER 11
Clumsiness from GIFT OF DYSLEXIA by Ronald D. Davis

Some dyslexics suffer from a particular type of chronic clumsiness called dyspraxia. It isn't always associated with dyslexia because it doesn't directly affect reading,writing,spelling,or math. It is one of the multiple facets of the gift of dyslexia.

It's likely that the phrase "He can't talk and chew gum aat the same time" was invented to describ a severely dyspraxic person. "Accident prone" is another common term for dyspraxia in our culture. One mother told me her son never grew out of his awkward stage. When we consider distorted perception as the root of the problem, dyspraxia makes sense.

Dyspraxia has two causes. First, the senses of balance and movement are distorted because of disorientation. This is obvious, because disorientation can cause the sensation of dizziness. However, distortion in perception can occur even when the person isn't disoriented. This because their natural orientation isn't optimum. Even when the perceptions stop distorting and become consistent for a while, they aren't accurate.

To better understand this consider the two fundamental characteristics of optimim orientation: consistent perception and accurate perception. If we have consistent perception, even if it isn't accurate, we can learn how to read,write,spell,and do math. Most non-dyslexic people have consistent perception because of their stable orientation, whereas dyslexics do not.

For all the senses except balance and motion, some degree of accuracy won't greatly affect the person's ability to read,listen,speak,or write. A person who is tone-deaf won't be able to sing well, but can carry on a conversation with no trouble. A person who is color-blind won't be able to paint a realistic picture,but can easily read a newspaper article.

However, distortions in the senses of balance and motion will always cause some degree of clumsiness. The primary source of our senses of balance and motion are the vestibular organs in our inner ear. These organs have tiny "motion sensor" hairs in liquid-filled chambers that work on a similar principle to a carpenter's level. Imagine hanging some pictures on the wall with a level that is not aligned properly. You will end up with a wall full of consistently crooked pictures.

The senses of balance and motion are regulated by gravity and the environment. For uncorrected dyslexics with dyspraxia, even when they aren't disoriented, the orientation they experience is not providing them with accurate vestibular perception. Any distortion---even if it is consistent---will give the person an incorrect sense of the physical environment, and will become obvous in the person's physical responses.

Dyspraxia makes sense, because if the senses of balance and movement are either temporarily distorted or inherently inaccurate, we would expect to see clumsy behavior.

All dyslexics will, from time to time, experience some degree of dyspraxia because of disorientations. It shows as up as a chronic condition in only about 10 to 15 percent of dyslexic children. Like the other aspects of dyslexia, it varies in severity.

The chronic clumsiness caused by inaccurate perception is solved when the Fine Tuning procedures described in chapters 29 and 30 are done. The sporadic clumsiness caused by disorientation will be gradually resolved as the dyslexia itself is solved by gaining mastery of the symbols of language.

Raymond

------------------
"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted January 18, 2010 05:14 PM         

I wanted to get him into basketball so bad because that kid could take aim at something and be spot on. And I haven't seen him in quite awhile but he's at least 6'4 too. He'd make an awesome basketball player. But he just isn't interested in sports...sighs.

posted January 18, 2010 05:48 PM         

They both support that neurodivergent conditions tend to overlap in symptoms and be in co-morbidity and that share a common source.

Dr. Harold N. Levinson believes that it's cerebellar vestibular dysfunction aka inner ear problems

What is Dyslexia

Dyslexia is not just a severe reading disorder characterized by reversals. And it is not due to brain damage as traditionally thought for the past century. It is a syndrome of many and varied symptoms affecting over 40 million American children and adults.

Ever since the early 1970's, Dr. Harold Levinson's groundbreaking research has continued to demonstrate that the symptoms of dyslexia or Learning Disabilities (LD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and related Phobic symptoms are due to a simple signal-scrambling disturbance of inner-ear (cerebellar-vestibular) origin.

In other words, the inner-ear acts as a "fine-tuner" for all motor (balance/coordination/rhythm) signals leaving the brain and all sensory and related cognitive signals entering it. As a result, normal thinking brains will have difficulty processing the scrambled or distorted signals received. And the final symptoms will depend on: (1) the degree of signal-scrambling, (2) the location and function of the varied normal brain centers receiving and having to process these scrambled signals, as well as (3) the brain's compensatory ability for de-scrambling.

By contrast, the brain-damage theorists mistakenly believe that vital processing cells scattered throughout the thinking brains of dyslexics are severely impaired. And thus normally-received signals can't be properly interpreted. Were this brain-damage theory true, then the IQ's of dyslexics would be severely impaired and their prognosis or outcome would remain hopeless — despite all efforts and therapies — since abnormal processing cells within the thinking brain can't be significantly compensated for. And as might have been expected, despite escalating research efforts by gifted scientists, this flawed 100-year-old brain-damage theory has led absolutely nowhere in so far as medical ways of diagnosing, treating, and explaining the dyslexic syndrome.
http://www.dyslexiaonline.com/information/whatis.html

I saw Dr. Levinson in 2005. I actually flew to New York to see him after reading his books. It was reading his books that helped me understand that the psychiatrists misdiagnosed me schizoaffective bipolar disorder because of my neurodivergent speech which strongly resembles psychotic speech. The psychiatrists never did any medical nor psychological testing. They only went by what they observed and just made judgments. This common thing that many neurodivergents tend to endure with many neurotypicals.

The following is the testing that he done.

This page shows my diagnosis of cerebellar vestibular dysfunction http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=Dr_Levinso n_exam_000

These pages shows the testing that he did.

The following is neurological testing for the cerebellar vestibular system. It's the same type of testing that police give to test drunk drivers. That means that people who fail these tests aren't necessarily drunk. They might be neurodivergents. I was very abnormal on the testing. http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=Dr_Levinso n_exam_002

The following is electronystagmography which tests eye movements. The cerebellar vestibular system controls eye movements.
I was very abnormal on the tests which indicated problems with eye movements,coordination,tracking. I was also abnormal on auditory scanner which indicated problems with auditory processing,processing speech,listening. I was also abnormal on posturography which indicated problems with balance,posture,and overall sensory integration http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=Dr_Levinso n_exam_003

I took Dr. Harold N. Levinson's test results to Veteran Affairs neurologists, and they did neurological testing on me.

The following shows the confirmation of abnormal cerebellar system which includes:
1. nystagmus opticokinetic with slowed saccades but symmetric horizontally and vertically, difficulting initiating saccades to command and to read.
2. dysdiadokinesia present symmetrically in all 4 extremities.
3. Ataxia, on target finger-nose, my dysmetria with moving target showing again slow saccadic eye movements. http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?s et_albumName=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neurology_Assessment_and_Follow_Up_002

Overall, they confirmed the findings of Dr. Levinson. They told me that I wasn't suffering from bipolar nor schizophrenia. I was vindicated.

MMSE (Mini Mental Status Exam) was given to me. It test cognitive functioning. It's the test that they give to people suspected of Dementia,Alzheimers to see if they have mental decline.

I scored 28 out of 30 during neurological testing http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?s et_albumName=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neurology_Assessment_and_Follow_Up_002

I scored 29 out of 30 during neuropsychological testing http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_album Name=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neuropsychological_Exam_page_1

Both scores are well within the normal range. Therefore there is nothing wrong with cognitive function. There is no cognitive decline.

The following is was the Veteran Affairs neuropsychological testing, and it confirmed that I fit Ronald D. Davis' theory about picture thinking in neurodivergence.
Block design test was an area of strength for me that included earning time bonus points on the final most difficult design. This is consistent with my belief that I am a visual thinker. The psychologist wrote "Persons with strong visual skills who lack comparable verbal facility can often be frustrated because they have difficulty communicating their ideas in a highly verbal society. I scored high average on list generation to a sound cue. She noted both tasks require complex and strategic thinking and suggest that I have some well-developed mental skills. http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_album Name=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neuropsychological_Exam_page_4
http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_album Name=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neuropsychological_Exam_page_5

It also confirmed my difficulties with processing information. language scores ranged from high average to borderline impaired.
My verbal memory score was in the borderline impaired range for immediate memory,and it improved to low average with a delay. Visual memory score was in the impaired range,and it improved to low average with a delay. http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_album Name=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neuropsychological_Exam_page_4

It was noted that the difficulty appeared to be with organizing and encoding the information, as I retained most of what I learned after a delay http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_album Name=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neuropsychological_Exam_page_5

The following shows confirmation of Dyslexia and Dyspraxia by the Veteran Affairs neurologists and that it's genetic rather than acquired after the conclusion of neurological and neuropsychological testing. http://astynaz.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?s et_albumName=album01&id=Veteran_Affairs_Neurology_Assessment_and_Follow_Up_007

That will give you an idea of how a neurodivergents might perform on neurological and neuropsychological testing as well how their minds works. It also shows how contradicting and complexed that they can be that it can frustrate neurotypicals that don't understand them.
Ronald D. Davis said that the only thing consistent about neurodivergence is their inconsistency. It shows how neurodivergence can fit with the theories of both Ronald D. Davis and Harold N. Levinson in regards to picture thinking and cerebellar vestibular dysfunction as well as the overlapping symptoms/traits and co-morbidity of neurodivergent conditions.

Dr. Harold N. Levinson and Ronald D. Davis seemed to agree on some things about neurodivergent conditions. They both believe that neurodivergent conditions have highly significant overlapping symptoms and co-morbid. That's why Dr Levinson refers to the whole neurodivergence as Dyslexic Syndrome, and Ronald D. Davis believes that root of neurodivergent conditions is Dyslexia which he views as a perceptual talent. That's why his first book was called GIFT OF DYSLEXIA.
They both believe that the neurodivergent conditions and disorientation/confusion are strongly connected. The only difference is that Dr. Levinson believes that it stems from cerebellar vestibular dysfunction,and should be treated with antimotion sickness medication. Ronald D. Davis believes that it stems from being a highly visual,picture thinker, and that it can be resolved with mind's eye focus therapy.

I believe that cerebellar-vestibular dysfunction can be in synchronicity with neurodivergent conditions and not just cause and effect. It could be one of those " what came first....the chicken or the egg" I believe that it's possible that the neurodivergent person can be ultrasensitive to sensory input to the point that the cerebellar vestibular system is overwhelmed which results in disorientation/confusion. Therefore, cerebellar vestibular problems could actually be the symptoms of hypersensitivity. I am just coming at it from a neurodivergent perspective.

Things like Omega 3 fatty acids not only found to decrease the symptoms of neurodivergence but also decrease hypersensitivity too. Neurodivergents tend to be hypersensitive any way. Certain vitamins and minerals help with cerebellar vestibular functioning too,and they also can decrease hypersensitivity...especially Vitamin B complex which is known as the stress vitamin. Motion sickness medications are used to treat cerebellar vestibular dysfunction. They could actually decrease hypersensitivity. Motion sickness could stem from hypersensitivity to movements.

I used to take cod liver oil,fish oil for my Omega 3 fatty acid DHA intake. After converting to lacto ovo vegetarianism, I take DHA capsules made from algae.

Raymond

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"Nothing matters absolutely;
the truth is it only matters relatively"

posted April 09, 2010 06:02 PM         

Asperger's simply a variation in human neurological make-up. It's a difference, not a disorder or a disease. Only very neurotic, myopic modern humans would think it is, for people with Asperger's traits have been tolerated and accepted within local cultures for generations and for centuries.

posted April 10, 2010 06:39 AM         

My future nonprofit Developmental Neurodiversity Association (DNA) is going to promote that same view.

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Raymond

Supporting the Neurodiversity Movement

A Different Mind Is Not A Deficient Mind.