photographic memory, and AS????

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Is a photographic memory part of Aspergers Syndrome?? I can remember what is in the pantry and how many things we have in there. Like, I can go to the refrigerator, and count the gallons of milk we have, and then 3 days later when my mom goes to the grocery store (this is just a example), I picture the refrigerator and count the gallons of milk in my head! I have no idea if this is part of AS?? I had a spinal fusion back in 2005, and I can remember word for word what was said, and I can picture the OR, with me on the table, and the nurses talking, is that part of AS also? I have always wondered that, so I thought I would ask! Thanks, Parrotnut!:)

Well some people with AS have it, but not all. Also some of the AS people have the ability to recall things as pictures in their heads. They may not be perfect at doing this, I can do this some of the time but I can not do it as well as Stephen Wiltshire.

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Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.

There's a guy on this site, sometimes, who has an amazing memory... Chuck. You should talk to him sometime.

I wish. My older brother who has a lot of Aspie traits does and it really helped him academically. That brings to mind a question I have. It seems there are two broad types of Aspies; those who are very ordered and can access memory with ease and those with co morbid ADD and executive dysfunction like me who know the info is in there somewhere but just can't get to it.

Yeah, I have really good memory, like really good, to the point that I can get 100% in exams and stuff like that.

It's not instantly photographic, but it's visual and somehow remember things like symbols and can visualise the way they are laid out.

I'm also good at remembering what's left in the fridge and freezer. Food is important to me hehe!

I have really good re-call of things that have happened in my life and also sometimes feel some kind of emotion when I recall them.

Weirder still, if I remember times when people have touched me in ways I haven't liked, I can still feel it and it still makes me squirm.

I'm really bad at planning my time and remembering when I'm supposed to be doing what.

I read somewhere that autistics physically have larger rote memories in their brains than NTs?

Yeah, it's not instant but once you've looked at it a few times it's more or less photographic.

I think it's partly to do with the way our brains naturally organise information.

Lots of experiments have also found that autistic brains are more efficient at detail-orientated tasks.

I like it.

I look at my memory and special skills as compensation for my complete lack of emotional development.

Interesting, hehe! This is facinating to me, I want to know more, LOL!

It is interesting but I'm sure that most people with AS have very good memory unless it's impaired by another condition.

My Dad (undiagnosed but clearly AS) can answer most of the questions off Mastermind - it is to the extreme!

I have exactly the same thing as TheDuck where I can see how things are laid out on the page. I can't usually read all of the words back in my head, but somehow I can remember enough gist of what was in each section to remember it and it is sometimes word for word.

Also, I can remember things better if I have typed of written them myself because I somehow remember the structure and formation of how I wrote it.

The fridge is more photographic. It's like, when I think about what is in there now, I can visualise what's on my shelf and where and what's in all the side compartments and where. Maybe it's to do with liking of routine of where things are placed so if they are in the right place we can remember where they are.

I think my memory is related to patterns and formations more so than anything else but it is quite visual.

I have read that Dyslexics think in pictures whereas people with AS tend to think in symbols and codes. I don't think I'm dyslexic but still think in pictures!

Also, I think that my hypersensitivity to touch somehow aids my memory because I am always able to place / do things the same way over and over and over just by touch and my memory for touch helps me to remember other things.

It's strange!

Yes, picture memories. As a child I could remember where information was in a schoolbook - example, I could say that the information about canals in Holland was on the page that had the photo of the windmill in the upper right corner. The lines about the canals were about 2/3rds down the page on the left-hand side. I could tell them about how far into the book the page was. If I read something, I never forgot it and could recall it years later.

When I was very young I could always retrace my steps - that is, when we'd go on vacation and my parents would get lost, they'd ask me how to get back to the motel and I could do it every time. That sort of thing. I've lost a lot of the "where in the book" memory thing as I've gotten older, but I still have very good "internal map" talents. I visited my childhood home several years ago after an absence of about 30 years. I was able to get around town with no problem at all (we'd moved away when I was 10). I've taken some trips overseas and after a short "orientation" expedition, I was able to navigate as if I'd always been there. Part of that was that I'd looked at maps prior, and they stuck in my head for me.

Oddly, it used to be that when I heard information I never forgot it, either. But that started failing me in my early 20s. I can remember that is when it became apparent to me that I no longer remembered everything I heard.

My real annoyance is, now that I'm in my mid-fifties, that my recall is faulty, not my memory. The information is in there, but it takes me quite some time to get to it. Someone will ask me about something and I will have absolutely no recollection of having ever heard of or having done it, but in about 2 or 3 days a memory will come bubbling up and it will all make sense. That 2-day lag is just killing me at work, really, and is quite annoying.

My Dad is in his mid-fifties and I think sometimes he gets frustrated too because his memory isn't quite as good as it used to be. It's still awesome tho!

I'm quite good at remembering what I hear but NOT if I've heard it during face to face conversation. I take in so little when I'm face to face with people because I am so bleeding anxious about making eye-contact and nvc. I still find it hard interacting in real-time although it's not quite so bad over the phone as face to face. Sometimes I forget quite important things that people tell me face to face and have to make sure that I keep a note of dates and stuff like that in my phone.

wow, awesome info, this is very interesting! I want more info, hehe!

wow, at is aweome! I am like that also! I remember what day, time and year I had all of my surgeries!