Asperger's Syndrome and Memory

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My memory is excellent for some things: I can remember dates, facts, lists, etc. I can remember exactly what I wore on a certain, exactly what was eaten, exactly what was seen, etc. I can remember things back from when I was 2, and I can remember little details of things that people have long forgotten. I can remember birthdays of people that can't even remember me in general.

On the other hand, I can NEVER remember where I put my keys and sunglasses even though I JUST had them in my hands five minutes ago. If you give me verbal instructions, chances are I will forget them shortly thereafter. I have a good long-term memory and a terrible short-term memory. I've heard this is quite common for people on the spectrum though.

My memory is great but short!

Actually, it's never been very good.

It depends, but I'd say I have to consiencely tap into this part of my brain in order to access the information, and after a while it does get exhausting. My theory is that my brain proccesses this information by itself, but accessing it is an active progress. The same holds true for, say, if I am in a room with many folks having conversations around me, everything that I is within hearing range, I can follow simultaneously. In this case, I seem to have no choice but to do so, I can follow every single conversation, but after while my brain just overloads and I phase out, being rather absent-minded.

Interesting. I'm curious about something. Do you have any type of synesthesia that you are aware of ?




In regards to following conversations simultaneously then phasing out because of overload....

Is it similar to the first 40 secs of this video ?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eVzpQhu9o8[/youtube]


TheSunAlsoRises

@thesunalsorises regarding the lovely Sherlock Holmes vid.
Yes! Exactly! That's what I get on a good day, on a bad day I'm not that lucky.
You know what? You just made my day by posting a Sherlock Holmes video! Although it's midnight already. Cheers! I love Sherlock Holmes!
(flails arms in full obsession mode)

TheSunAlsoRises

I wonder how they got such a good idea of an overload in a Hollywood movie?

One of the reasons I liked the first Sherlock Homes movie very much is because it pretty much visualized the way my thinking works.
Whether I am a synesthesist, I do have the theory that there might be something there, as I do associate people with colours (there is people that are definitely yellow for me, or blue, or red, or orange, without me being able to explain why that is. They just... are so obviously that colour), as well as certain events. May I ask why that might be important?

I have a hunch that people on the spectrum may have synesthesia in disproportionate numbers relative to the general population.

I suspect that synesthesia is a 'tool' used by many Autistics to access, enhance, and utilize unique abilities related to their special interest(s), hobby(ies), or talent(s).

I think THAT synesthesia as a 'tool' can be accessed voluntarily where as current literature defines 'general synesthesia' as an involuntary process among other things.

TheSunAlsoRises

@The SunAlwaysRises,

The clip from Sherlock Holmes is a very good example of how overwhelming sound can be for me. However, even on a very good day, I cannot tune out all the sounds going on all around me....anything audible. It causes me to have trouble focusing & staying on task as I am very easily distracted by noise in general.

I think that over the last few years people(fans) have speculated that Holmes may have Aspergers... because of his character traits


Those traits brought to celluloid resulted in what you see before you... albeit a little creativity added.

*Just a guess. It's also possible that someone could have a given a description of a meltdown or behaviors similar to a meltdown that coincidentally made it to the big screen.

TheSunAlsoRises

Interesting. What Holmes experienced would be equivalent to my worse day.

TheSunAlsoRises

I don't know if you have read this or not. IF you haven't; i think that you might find it interesting.

http://www.synesthesia.info/Ward-04.pdf

TheSunAlsoRises

I have a pretty good memory, but most of what I remember about events is moreso the surroundings and environments than the event itself. Like, I can tell you where everyone sat in a meeting a week or two ago, but I can barely tell you what we discussed in the meeting. Stuff mentioned in conversation never really sticks; I need to go over what someone tells me we need from the grocery store two or three times before it sticks, for instance.

My worse day...it gets louder all of a sudden I just run out of chakra then I spend the rest of the day in a catatonic state. And I mean like stoned catatonic. Similar to the cokehead Holmes.

And Sherlock Holmes was 100% aspie, I swear.

Yeah, unfortunately where I live, noise is a very real problem for me everywhere I go. When I am at home, I am assaulted by the sounds of lawn care equipment, someone practicing drums or guitar for hours on end, emergency sirens, barking/howling dogs, cats fighting, booming base from autos driving by, a high school's announcements being broadcast, plus the drone of traffic day & night, etc. I really wish I could afford to live away from all the noise. I can also hear many of these sounds over my own music that I'd like to play without the background noises. It sucks. I tried to get occupational therapy but was told I am too old. so how does one cope with all this stuff? I have noise cancelling headphones, but they are too uncomfortable to wear for long periods.