Is this an "executive function" issue?

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XFilesGeek
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21 Aug 2011, 1:52 pm

Hello, everyone.

I need some advice from the Aspie Brain Trust.

My issue:

After being diagnosed with AS, military moved me from regular job (fixing airplanes) to office job where I mostly sit and take care of miscellaneous tasks as they arise. For the most part, no biggie, except I now deal a lot more with "customer service" and organizational skills are paramount.

Biggest failure seems to be my inability to write things down correctly. For example, I missed an appointment sent to me via e-mail on account of me writing it down wrong on my personal calendar. Appointment was rescheduled. I wrote it down wrong a second time, missed it again, and got in trouble. The appoinment was rescheduled a third time, but this time (trying to ensure I wouldn't screw up again) I wrote the time and date in large letters on piece of paper and taped the paper to side of my computer. The "Appointment Scheduler Guy," while walking through my area, pointed out I had the numbers mixed around (AGAIN) and saved me from a third miss. Similar stuff like this keeps happening. Getting frustrated.

Additionally, my desk looks like something exploded. Utter post-it-note holocaust. Can't seem to remember to do anything unless it's sitting directly in my visual field. Writing it down on lists doesn't help unless said lists are posted in front of my face. I have no short-term or working memory to speak of. Doing one task completely eliminates all thought or consideration for any and all other tasks I might have to do that day. Also, I completely do not understand how to "organize" for the sake of others. I can find things in my computer cabinet; therefore, others should be able to do the same. My supervisor chided me yesterday for my "messy computer cabinet that needed cleaning," but I never thought it was "messy" in the first place. How the heck can I tell if another person will see something as "messy?" Personally, I do not care about "messy," only "functional."

Quick conclusion: think I share some ADHD-I traits. Don't know if I'd qualify for DX, or if issues are exclusively the result of AS "executive function" problems.

Thank you for reading. Advice?

Take gentle care.


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joestenr
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21 Aug 2011, 2:28 pm

The first thing i would ask is are u good at fixing planes? If so you would have the basis of an argument for why they should transfer u back. (realizing that the military does tend to treat all psych dx as personal shortcommings). But in any case a well reasoned argument that your abilities are of more value if they were used in another fasion, whereas in your current position they become an impeadment to the goals of the military.
The other option if ur stuck in that position would be to get a tablet pc (windows pc not like the new tablets)
I found one note to be a godsend. You can take notes on the screen while on the phone and send those to email or set in calendar (on outlook) that and it keeps all of the paper contained in one place.


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Tambourine-Man
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21 Aug 2011, 2:41 pm

A have AS and ADHD and it is often difficult to discern where one ends and the other begins. Adderall has been a godsend for me. It helps to relieve many major deficits and frankly I don't care which diagnosis they are related to. Adderall gave me the confidence, strength and hope to change my life. Before the medication I was pretty much just waiting to die. Everything has improved a hundred fold. Don't get me wrong, it didn't happen overnight. I still had to work very hard, but without the meds I would not have been capable of doing so.



grindmonkey
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21 Aug 2011, 2:53 pm

Adderal always made me edgy, so I quit taking. I'm on Zyprexa now.



Avengilante
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21 Aug 2011, 5:51 pm

XFilesGeek wrote:
Biggest failure seems to be my inability to write things down correctly. For example, I missed an appointment sent to me via e-mail on account of me writing it down wrong on my personal calendar. Appointment was rescheduled. I wrote it down wrong a second time, missed it again, and got in trouble. The appoinment was rescheduled a third time, but this time (trying to ensure I wouldn't screw up again) I wrote the time and date in large letters on piece of paper and taped the paper to side of my computer. The "Appointment Scheduler Guy," while walking through my area, pointed out I had the numbers mixed around (AGAIN) and saved me from a third miss. Similar stuff like this keeps happening. Getting frustrated.



Dude, this sounds like a Dyslexia issue. You really should get that checked.


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XFilesGeek
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21 Aug 2011, 7:49 pm

Quote:
The first thing i would ask is are u good at fixing planes?


I'm adequate, but my motor skills suck, and I hate jet engine noise (for obvious reasons).

Quote:
A have AS and ADHD and it is often difficult to discern where one ends and the other begins. Adderall has been a godsend for me. It helps to relieve many major deficits and frankly I don't care which diagnosis they are related to. Adderall gave me the confidence, strength and hope to change my life. Before the medication I was pretty much just waiting to die. Everything has improved a hundred fold. Don't get me wrong, it didn't happen overnight. I still had to work very hard, but without the meds I would not have been capable of doing so.


Even though I'm a coffee-addict, I prefer to avoid medication unless things get really bad.

Quote:
Dude, this sounds like a Dyslexia issue. You really should get that checked.


I've thought about that, and my mother is severely dyslexic, but I've always been an excellent reader and have above average writing skills. Most stuff I read on dyslexia says dyslexics suck at reading/writing. "Dyscalculia" is a possibility, but, oddly, "dyslexia" seems to fit better....except for that whole reading/writing issue.

Thanks everyone!


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