The difference between you and Rain Man?

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I saw Rain Man yesterday for the first time and it got me wondering: am I, as an Aspie/NLDer a different kind of autistic or a different degree? What do you think, comparing yourself to Rain Man? Do you see yourself as a different kind or a more / less functioning autistic than him? Is Asperger's / NLD a different form of autism or a different degree?

Last edited by Greentea on 15 Apr 2009, 7:31 am, edited 2 times in total.

That's a coincidence; I saw Rainman for the first time in years on Monday, ( it happened to be on the TV ), and whereas when I watched it last I had never heard of Aspergers, and just thought it was a fairly "moving" film, this time I knew that I, and some of my family, are so-called Aspergers/on the spectrum, and it did make a difference.

I am like Rainman in some ways; dislike the unexpected/changes of routine; have a need for my "particular-objects"; am freaked out by noise, especially high-pitched; need, not a TV to watch, but things to read; have to wear certain clothes, ( mainly natural-fibres, baggy/loose, monochrome most of the time, etc ); have my bed in certain positions; an increasing dislike of certain kinds of transport, ( though in my case it's the car; vibrations and speed ); dislike of/hypersensitivity to touch, ( which upsets the father of my son ); hate having my belongings messed about with, etc, though nowhere near as rigid/extreme, at least in most things, as Rainman.

But I also thought that Tom Cruise's character seemed to have some traits that I could identify with, ( "driven"/anxious monologues, fixation on certain things, wooden face when not doing the "perfect smile"-performance, aggressive incoherence when upset, repetitively referring to things that bemuse/irritate/frustrate him, etc ) . They're brothers after all, with what sounds like an Aspie father, and Cruise's girlfriend accuses him of some of the things people are supposed to find difficult in AS partners. When I was in my twenties, and hypo-manic too for a while, I was as objectionable in some ways as he is to begin with. And I went through a similar "growth in empathy" process too!

I like the film very much, but am not so keen on the last half an hour or so, from mid-Las Vegas onwards. Something of Rainman's integrity seemed to get lost in the plot there, and the ending is too much of a "failure", in that suggests that a residential home is the only place for "people like" Rainman.

I realised how my previous impression that Rainman, the character, had nothing to do with me, was an illusion. I understood so much of where he was coming from this time, it was even more moving to watch. Conclusion; I am both considerably higher functioning, ( though not that much in some ways; I haven't had a job in years, am financially dependent on the father of my son, for instance ), and different, in that I am not a "savant", though I am "gifted".
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Last edited by ouinon on 15 Apr 2009, 7:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

Better in some ways, worst in others, but about the same level of impairment.

Someone in high school compared me to him. Some of the mannerisms are the same, but in general my level of impairment in ordinary tasks, such as assessing the risk of flying vs. driving on a per mile basis, is less than his. I am also not a savant at counting cards, etc.

I don't see many similarities between me and rainman at all. I'm not good at maths, I don't freak out easily, I am very mild interms of impairment and I'm no savant. Also he seems alot more factual and logical in his interests and I'm more creative.

I am not as well read as Rainman. I can babble up a storm and other than some really good detective skills (synthisis, I believe it is called) no one would bank roll my existance in some nice institution.

I do envy people that can just put their head down and BALK about doing something they don't want to do (like go on airplanes, etc.) That must be the best feeling to not be wishy washy about whether I could get away with not doing something when it is 'expected'. Rainman didn't question himself, he did what he did when he did it, and if it was somthing he didn't want to do, he didn't and all the powers of heaven and hell were useless againt it.

I really admired/envied that about him. I would love to have that certainty!

Merle

Well I think that I am less impaired than Rain Man because I do not have to live in an institution and can drive a car. I do not have the savant skills of Rain Man but have better everyday living skills. I have to say my problems are more related to my NLD and lack of visual-spatial skills than anything.

Rain Man could multiply four-digit numbers in his head quickly, but could not estimate the cost of a candy bar or a car. He took a "do not walk" sign literally and stopped in the middle of a crosswalk on a busy intersection.

Rain Man perpetuates the misconception that all autistic people have savant skills when most do not. Autistic savants are rare.

I don't know. I've never seen the movie, and so can't compare.

I know Don't Walk doesn't mean stop in the middle of the cross walk
I understand money
I do not have that math savant
I do not have a savant memory
I can make my decisions while he can't because he doesn't understand them
I can drive a car
I am not obsessed with sports
I am able to live on my own



I think he was more of lower functioning because he lived in a institution. An HFA wouldn't have troubles with things he has such as they can live on their own without any assistance. It the 80's so I bet back then high functioning was if you can talk.

Spokane_Girl,

As of now, 60% of those with HFA live in residential housing and require a high level of support. 20% live at home and require some support, like financial assistance. The other 20% do well enough, i.e., independent.

That's a high figure when you look at it; 60% still are "institutionalised" for the most part.

of course, that is only the autitics that were included in the survey . . .and does not include the autistics /HFA/ AS they don't know about!

Merle

i've seen rainman when it came out
i sort of related to him without knowing
that there was a "SPECTRUM" to it...

Then what is high functioning autism then?

I keep hearing you are HFA if you had a speech and development delay but now you are normal now and function at a AS level. Look at Temple Grandin. I have an online friend who functions at an AS level too and he is HFA.


And I keep seeing threads asking what is the difference between HFA and AS and there is an argument rather they are both the same so how can I believe what Daniel says about HFA?

Those who function well would be in the 20% figure. You just don't hear of those who're like Rain Man or similar; well, there's several members here who're worst than him, and several more who're similar, but that's only a dozen people out of hundreds of others who're better than Rain Man posting.

Maybe HFA is more severe than AS? that's my thoughts on the subject anyway. I think they should diagnose it that way so there's less confusion about the difference.

I don't see many similarities between myself and Rainman. He has a good memory and I have a so-so memory.