Could being autistic or having aspenger be a plus?

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I just had a thought: could people with autism or aspenger be a plus?
I know that when a man is blind his other senses increase (hearing, touch, scents)
Now having aspenger or autism is a mental problem (psychological)
could our other psycological attributes increase? I don't know what side of the brain social activity is on, but could the opposite side of our brain increase and be greater then the one autism and aspenger decrease?

I've never been diagnosied for either, but feel like I have syptoms of aspenger ( lack of friends and socially innactive) I fear social enviorments, but I have a very creative mind, I'm not sure if that's the artist struggle everyone talks about or if I have aspengers.

I don't see why not. My psychologist and the doctor who diagnosed me reckoned I'd used it to my advantage to get into vet school.

Besides, aren't a lot of Aspies supposed to have high IQs? Maybe that's what you're thinking of?

Not necessarily. The spectrum is just that; it spans from the severely ret*d to savants. Thankfully, I'm at the high-end of IQ. I imagine aspies would also be good at things like cryptography. I'd like to learn about it, but I'm only mildly AS, so I don't think I could hack an entire career of that. I do see patterns sometimes, though...

To your thread topic, I say "perhaps."

But I would like to say that a blind or deaf man, doesn't actually gain improved use of his other senses. He just stops taking them for granted and starts using and relying on them more.

Thanks for the responses

I would like some help, my IQ isn't very high. Not saying I can't function; just lack in the basics of mathmatics and literature which my ADD could be a cause to.
But my cousin calls me an idiot savant which I take as a compliment and insult seeing that I know I'm different but want to fit in at the same time. In one my college courses he asked us to tell the class something you would usually never tell someone in a conversation and I replied I feel like i can only communicate in the arts. Thing is I have a deep feeling that I'm superior in something I havnt even found yet: would this be the artist struggle that i hear people talk about or is it symptoms of a syndrome (aspenger autism)
I feel lost and confused all the time, but love who I am. I'm just trying to look for clues for my thoughts

In ways there is a sunny side to most things I suppose.

If I were to draw out an example from what I have heard and experienced - People on the spectrum tends to be alot more honest and loyal.

(one could say this easily leads to them being taken advantage of and such - I say it makes them good friends.)

I'm definitely more observant in some ways. Like I will notice that a certain door hinge has been deteriorating over the past year and other people wouldn't notice these things since they are too busy talking and making conversations. Also, I am good at remembering road maps since I don't pay attention to conversations while riding in a car.

From the way that I see it, it is a plus for me. Though my properly tested IQ is only 113, I find that for me, there are other pluses other than IQ. The pluses for me, is that I don't dare hurt anybody in any way, because I remember how it felt to be hurt by the people in my life, whether I was at home with my family, at school with my peers or playing with the neighbourhood kids. I know better than to inflict any of that type of mental, physical or emotional pain on anybody, because of the way that I was treated, while growing up. I think with my heart, instead of my head, pretty much like my idol and role model, and that's the plus that my AS has given me. I'm considerate of the feelings of others, because I use my heart, instead of my head. Not bad, for a dull light amongst geniuses.

thinking with your heart is not dull...I think alot of people could stand to do that. Sometimes IQ can be over estimated in worth, while one who thinks with their heart is really intelgent compared to someone who is very smart but uses it use and abuse others.

As for AS has advantages, it has been for me once I overcome alot of my trying to fit in. Once I decided that I wont fit in, so why try...my internal turmoil has decreased and I am able to see my gifts such as writing, art of all kinds, photography, primitive mechanics, and creative problem solving.
I also notice things that NT's dont take time for. When I was tested as a kid, I scored in the upper ret*d range but scored 140 on a non verbal IQ test. Since alot of social intervention, I now score about 120 on a regular IQ test but still score 142 on non verbal. So maybe thats where my creative talents come it at...some form of arts are non verbal.

You can be both severely ret*d and a savant. If you would only be a savant, I don't think it would be called savantism.

I have learned to accept that I will always have awkward social skills but have also realized that having Asperger's is an advantage because it makes me VERY good at playing and memorizing music. I am also a very expressive player and am one of the most honest and loyal people that I know.

I've actually wanted to play music with other autistics/aspie people and see how we would do together...I think there would be a magic to our playing, honestly!

To the OP: everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

I think it depends on where you're at on the spectrum and more importantly, what kind of special interests you have. For me, it's definitely a disadvantage and what I describe as a roadblock to all avenues to happiness.

It can be, just in different ways. Many people with Aspergers grow up to live fulfilling lives like finding a good career choice that fits their interests and learning styles and some have very high I.Qs. The one trait of Aspergers I feel that I like is we are an honest people. We don't play mind games, we tell it like it is. Most of us are very honest and trustworthy in my opinion anyways. If something bothers us, we won't be afraid to admit it. No phoniness bologna.

Depends on the individual, of course, but yes it can! There are a lot of positive things that can come as a result of Asperger's, for example the logical thinking can help with maths and computer programming, and seeing paterns and the creativity some of us have can help with art.

We also tend to have good memories, and we tend to fair better without constant socialising.

I think a doctor who's a talented diagnostician does the same. He or she feels their way, rather as if finding and following a narrative thread.

A talented poker player does the same, yeah, they have a good knowledge of the baseline odds, but a particular hand is by feel and texture.

And in general, I think many highly skilled professionals do this.


A strength I feel I have, is that I've already been through my over-logical phases and in response, have learned to appreciate, develop, and work with my intuition, my pattern recognition, my gut instincts, etc, etc.