Strengths and Weaknesses

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Ok, I need your help. I need a list of strengths and challenges about Autism that an [immature] 12 year old would understand. Help me break it down so the terminology is not too techie where I'd have to explain each item too much.. he will shut down in the process.

My son has high functioning. He does not meet the "average to above average intelligence" and possibly because of a brain injury he had in the past.

It varies from individual to individual. There is more commonality when it comes to weaknesses than strengths, because the diagnosis is based on weaknesses, however both areas vary a lot. I recommend describing only those traits that describe him. However, here are some common ones:

strengths:
* can make a clear picture of something in their mind
* good memory
* can mimic sounds well
* good at math
* good at spelling
* can pay attention for a long time if interested
* become experts in something they're interested in
* sharper senses - hearing soft sounds, etc
* honest

weaknesses:
* trouble understanding why other people do the things they do
* upset by change
* sharp senses cause ordinary things to be painful or unpleasant
* poor at sports
* difficulty understanding what they're reading
* difficulty paying attention if not interested
* trouble shifting attention
* poor organizational skills - messy room, messy desk, often loosing things
* poor sense of time
* find eye contact painful or unpleasant
* accidentally hurt people's feelings
* get overwhelmed by too much noise, light, touch, activity, etc
* poor handwriting
* difficulty understanding speech when there's background noise
* difficulty recognising people's faces

There are also a few traits that aren't really strengths or weaknesses, such as stimming.

bump

I am going to second the fact that it really does vary with the individual child. There is too much variance, so you will have a better of which checklist items apply to you. I will start with the following list, anyway.

Weaknesses:
pragmatic speech/other speech issues and communication issues
rigidity/difficulties with transitions/repetition
issues with executive functions/organization/impulse control/ temper
Clumsiness/motor skill issues
Sensory reactions
Difficulty understanding NT perspective on things and social protocols.
Trouble fitting in.
Co-morbids of anxiety and depression as well as general difficulty with stress and frustration
Poor working memory
Reduces or excessive or weird eye-contact (sometimes)


Strengths
Ability to look at things from a unique perspective and acquire unique insights.
Visual based memory
resistance to peer pressure
ability to focus on things of interest
honesty
good at following rules when they make sense and don't have sensory or other difficult components


The strength list is smaller only b/c there is more variation with the strengths, I think.

I need language that he'll understand. This list is too techie and I'd have to break it down too much for him to understand.

Ah OK: Tell us which specific items apply to your son, and we can try to help you rephrase them.

Weakness:

Pragmatic Speech:
tell stories in a disorganized way
giving background information to an unfamiliar listener
taking turns in conversation
rephrasing when misunderstood
how close to stand to someone when speaking
repetition (repeating questions)

Rigidity
Difficulties with transitions (improving)
Organization
Impulse control
temper, meltdowns
clumsy
auditory sensitivity
tactile sensitivity (showers, labels, socks)
difficulty understanding other's views
trouble fitting in
poor working memory
functions best with structure and routine


Strengths:

ability to focus on things that interests
good memory (spelling, basic math facts, dates, events)
attention to detail
interests in technology
open-minded to trying new things (extra-curricular activities)
social (even though he struggles with social rules)
friendly
happy
affectionate


for start

id like to tell him tomorrow since he's home grounded

A lot of this is already well-worded.

I would say something like: Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes common combinations of strengths and weaknesses are given names so that people can understand them better.

A lot of the strengths and weaknesses you have are put in a grouping called "autism." Autism includes some good things and some things that make life hard. The fact that you are so good at finding information others might miss, or able to pay attention and spend so much time on your interests without losing patience, are examples of good things about autism.

Some of the things that you have trouble with are also autistic: like having trouble knowing how to get along with others, trouble saying what you mean and having people understand, not being able to keep your stuff together, needing to have things a certain way, and trouble dealing with loud noises, weird tastes and how some things feel.

Autism includes a lot of different things and people who have it, don't have everything on the list. Some autistic people can't stand people touching them, but you are very snuggly. You are friendly and like being around people but many autistic people are not.

I wanted you to know that you are autistic because I think it can help you understand yourself better.

(I wouldn't necessary list all the negatives at once b//c it might seem too much. I will append a list of re-worded descriptions, but you might want to start with the big ones. Other people will do a much better job of re-wording things, but I wanted to give you a start.)

Weakness:

Pragmatic Speech:
tell stories in a disorganized way
telling stories is an order that is not what people expect

giving background information to an unfamiliar listener
Giving too much information than most people can deal with

taking turns in conversation
not knowing when it is your turn to talk and when it is your turn to listen

rephrasing when misunderstood
not knowing how to explain things in a way people will understand



how close to stand to someone when speaking
Not knowing how close to get to people when talking to them


repetition (repeating questions)
Saying the same questions over and over again

Rigidity
Having trouble
Organization
Impulse control
temper, meltdowns
clumsy
auditory sensitivity
tactile sensitivity (showers, labels, socks)
difficulty understanding other's views
trouble fitting in
poor working memory
functions best with structure and routine


Strengths:

ability to focus on things that interests
good memory (spelling, basic math facts, dates, events)
attention to detail
interests in technology
open-minded to trying new things (extra-curricular activities)
social (even though he struggles with social rules)
friendly
happy
affectionate

No, I think your response was awesome! It was very down to earth and ya, curbing the negative list is a good idea for now. I think deep down he knows because when we had our intervention over, she kept saying "Autism" even though I told her to be discrete. She was carefuly HOW it was said but he's no dummy.

I wonder if this is part of his issues .. the suspicion. The feedback he's "apparently" received from "friends" etc.

Today might be the day but we've been butting heads already.