Savant skills

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I have an eidetic memory (the scientifically correct term for "photographic" memory) and I am good at doing arithmetic and simple linear and simple quadratic equations in my head, I can actually see the equation and work on it in my head. I can also do compass-and-ruler geometric constructions, even fairly complex ones, in my head.

I can typically pick up on the basic functions of electronics without looking at the directions. But I think it's more of a combination of good reasoning skills and a willingness to try new things.

Recent examples would be when I successfully routed a X-Box 360 sound signal through a VCR so we could hook it up to some speakers on the other side of the room. Despite never doing it before, or reading any directions. Another example would be fully calibrating a new watch my dad bought without reading any of the directions at all.

But again, I don't think it's quite a Savant-level skill, it's simply stems from the good analytical skills that often accompany Asperger's Syndrome.

I don't believe I have any savant skills, though many tend to protest about that.

Nope, not even close.

Patricia

I can read emotions exceptionally well, even more so than a NT. This tends to clash with the idea of a typical (hah!) Aspie; however, it is my one fault that I do not know how to act accordingly in response to that emotion.

For example, if a friend is upset about something and trying to keep it low-profile, I can instantly pick it up, but I do not know how to talk to her to make it better, other than asking the lame "how are you feeling?" and not know what to say to her response.

I've never really liked Darold Treffert. The times I've talked with him on AWARES and his books and stuff, I actually get quite frustrated with him. He's supposed to be one of the leading experts and yet he's drawn the field no further really than when he started. He seems to be obsessed with collecting case studies, which is well and great, there's definitely a need for that. But the very fact he's the MAIN person working with savantism I think is a really shame. Ideas about savantism haven't changed much, so I don't give much to that whole 10% of autistics are savants and then the necessary criteria for memory as a savant skill (for anyone who's unaware, a person cannot be called a savant no matter their skill unless an above-average to excellent memory accompanies the other skill).

Anyways, by it's strict criteria, I don't know if I'd be called a savant. I was not an early prodigy in art (Treffert said artists if given the opportunity will usually show their extreme skills by age 9). Granted, I had above average skills emerging at that time, but by no means prodigious. My skill didn't become more readily apparent until high school.

I have an excellent visual memory, not eidetic though, and my skills in art are impressive (drawing, painting, photography). As for whether I'd fulfill the strict Savant criteria, I don't know; probably border region. In a looser sense, I'd say yes I have a savant skill.

i have reading age of 20+ (im 13)

and only 5% of the population are better at reading than me.

I can remember when i was 1.

i creep people out sometimes because of my memory.

I can do the perpetual calander trick, but I don't consider it a savant skill since I know how I do it.

Good memory for alot of strange things (not eidetic, though). I can quickly memorise long stings of numbers or random words, but if I don't think about them, they'll be gone within several hours. Pretty good visual memory. I remember alot of details from my infancy too.

I'm good at analyzing patterns and at thinking up algorithms and shortcuts for some things.

None of those I consider savant skills either.

I can also remember a few events when i was about 3, a few very random memories of being at a gymnastics group for toddlers. I have a great memory for people's names,faces and very random insignificant information that would probably freak out alot of NTs.

I can be forgetful too and often forget every day things, such as taking a pen and pencil into college.

I wonder how many folks can easily memorize maps. Maps are often given as an example of "an area of intense and restricted interest". It has always been true for me and I can draw a freehand map of most any country (the world for that matter) from memory.

I feel it is not "just good memory" because the process feels so different from memorizing other things like equations or speeches.

And I have had people give me the "creeped out look" when I remember lots of details of past events. That has never felt like the map memory, though.

I can do 4th degree Differential Equations in my head in under a minute...

Does that count?

I can solve advanced tree structure problems in approximately 30-45 seconds... (wonderful for making master level chess players cry)...

I have a borderline eidetic memory, but I don't think it is savant level. There are undoubtedly people who have posted in this thread who have memories as good or better than mine.

My musical skills are pretty freaky. I can play any song that I know relatively well just by picking up the guitar and playing it, with perhaps a couple of errors along the way that I can correct, just by listening to the "recording" of the song in my head. Most of my musician friends are very impressed by it.