Question from NT to ASD

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Are you aware of your thought process?

If so, do you think in pictures or words?

I am NT and when I hear a person speak, or hear instructions, I process the information in words. It does not have to be translated to pictures in my mind to be translated and understood by my brain. The process is automatic and so quick, I would have never even thought about it except that I am trying to communicate with my ASD child who says he thinks in pictures.

I am wondering if other ASD people think in pictures and what it is like. The thing is that actual pictures do not seem to help my son, it is only his brain process that needs to make pictures to understand. Physically showing him stuff does help though (I think, just trying it out right now to see).

you may want to look over this fairly fresh thread about that topic:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt135116.html

I don't think in pictures, but I still have trouble with verbal information. For instance I find it difficult to remember verbal instructions unless they are written down or I'm shown an example a few times. When someone talks to me it is not automatic, I seem a bit delayed processing it. It's like I have to convert it into writing, but that is impossible in your head so-- really I don't know. But I can think about it being transcribed. I can't see pictures in my head well.

I think in pictures and sounds. It's good to teach an ASD through several sensory processes, I think. For me, I would have to definitely take your words and turn it into pictures. And sometimes my brain is too exhausted to do all this work, so sometimes my brain stops thinking in pictures and thus I am left to blank.

For instance when I had to learn multiplication, I had to learn via the beans on several plates theory. I could not get why 2+2+2+2 also equaled 2*4. I also learn how to do things by ME doing the thing and someone showing me through it individually.

I wasn't aware I had a thought process until I tried to "capture" it at 16. When my mother talking about thought processes to me when I was 8 or 9, it did not get into my head at all and her last resort was "You'll understand when you get older". But of course I didn't even knew I had a birthday or anything either at 8. The only reason I knew what birthdays were was because of my red gameboy I loved to play on.

However, I am strongly speculating my aspergers, though it's probably true, I still like to think my opinions and such don't strongly count versus someone who has been diagnosed already. Though I've had epilepsy, been diagnosed with adhd, ocd, odd, deep depression, and bipolar, meds not working etc to really say PROBABLY IS. I think my opinion count half as much as someone who is diagnosed.

I think in words. I constantly have my music playing. If I don't have my music playing, I'm listening to Dr. Laura. I also work my way through my problems, by talking to myself.

I think in pictures/video. I have trouble understanding people unless i can visualize what they are saying. I also have trouble saying what my pictures are.

I think in pictures and images. Those can be static photo-like images in my mind's eye or they can be film-like images. I also think in gestalt like concepts or ideas that are like patterns of pictures with the concept attached to each image in my mind. This is hard to explain.

As for your son, and giving him instructions, I would say that for me auditory instructions are always translated to images in my mind. Not only do I have trouble with some auditory processing (anyone speaking too quickly or unclearly or if there are other noises distracting me), I also have to then translate the auditory to an image or concept.

So, to give an example:

There has been a big snowfall. I need to shovel the driveway. I do not then think to myself verbally, "Get your thermal pants on. Put your lined parka on. Find your warm gloves and scarf. Get the shovel out of the driveway and start plowing in even rows making even piles on the side so they don't fall back on the driveway. ." etc. etc. I picture all of these things and then do it. It's not verbal at all.

On the other hand, if I'd just moved here from Venezuela and I'd never shoveled snow before and someone quickly rattled off verbal instructions on how to shovel snow, I'd be be standing there lost and not know where to start. I have to picture everything.

This is why at work especially, but even in other circumstances quick verbal instructions for something I've never done before are hell for me. I need to see it.

If I need to know how to get somewhere, I always use maps and my instinct for direction. Someone saying, "Turn right on 4th. Go for 6 miles. Turn left at the Esso. Follow that around the curve, turn right and then right again." has lost me after they said 6 miles.

I don't know if that's any help. But, speak slowly. Try to minimize sensory overload and walk him through things and give him ways to remember things by visual cues.

I think in picture and symbols. Spoken language is very hard for me to understand. I could read at two but did not talk until after four. I prefer text or written communications over verbal communication.

I think both in pictures and words, depeding which thought I am concentrating on. Does anyone else always thought there was several levels of thoughts in their brain or I am just totally insane since my birth ?

"How can a blind person think?" me, age 5.

I think in pictures or videos, sometimes it takes a while to translate those images in words.
If I don't know the meaning of a word I create an image in my mind and associate it to that word (even after I discovered its meaning)
for example, reading Leibniz's Monadology I had to create the image of a "monad", which became, in my mind a plancton-like thing