Hi there,

In my humble opinion my theory on autistic children seems extremely logical to me with Occam's razor making the most sense in looking at our asd children (with genetics of parents or grandparents with computing, engineering, physics backgrounds).  Sorry this is not dated.....If your child is now way older and this is an old article I would love to hear your thoughts on my theory.

And when you have time to just be a bit open with my theory....not concerned about the ramifications (because they can be disconcerting) or be so negative (because you are too scared of a positive outcome....parents out there are and that is sad) then you might just say "she might be on to something".

My son loved watching educational videos at a young age, and even after a diagnosis of moderate autism and even now at 3 years and 5 months he is partially verbal he is able to read words... not so good at putting them together (but if you think about the fact that he is still on the frontier of learning how to verbally put sentences together this makes a ton of sense).  After reading negative talk from parents time and time again..........and positive talk from parents.... I can only come to one conclusion.  

These are the important sentences - Autistic children and gifted children sit on the same spectrum.

I hear from gifted parent who poor their hearts out about how the education system is failing their child.  Their child refuses to do the work because they did it 3 years ago at home and it is like asking an adult to start sucking on a dummy (Americans call them pacifiers).  You might get a few adults who will humour you but effectively if you start enforcing it they will start putting their foot down and say "stuff you".  

Does this behaviour remind you of our Autistic children????   Especially the non verbal children who get annoyed, stressed and down right peeved with things in their lives that even if verbal are unable to explain to us?????

I believe so....very much so.

Parents of children with gifted children complain/ so show concern that their child can be very sensitive to texture, sound, light, taste, social situations......Where have you heard that before???

What is the difference between a gifted child and an autistic one??? Severity I believe is the answer.

Why is Dr Simon Baron Cohen (Professor of Developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge)interested in getting autistic kids into what they are good at?  Leading them into fields of engineering and computer programming etc??? Aren't these professions considered for the ultra geeky???   Ummmm yes

Our autistic children, just like gifted children flourish in environments when they can play (the way they play), they play lining up, intrigued in geometric designs and patterns, some art, painting as they are beautifully gifted in the visual spatial area.  When encouraged our kids do so very well (be it hyperlexic which is our children's focus on letters and words or be it insects and bugs like a buddy Darwin or even Quantum Theory like a very encouraged and encouraging young man called Jacob Barnett).

Disclaimer - This part I can't fully discount.  There MAY be children who how ever much you encourage their focus to help them learn to embrace the world around them and they don't succeed, but I have not come across any such family or child yet.

Again most of this is theory including what I know for a fact that my son has difficulties but is also extremely intelligent.  I have met more severe children on the spectrum and the more they are encouraged the more they join us in this world and the more they show their brilliance.

reference to this article - http://www.autismtoday.com/hyperlexiamistaking-a-disabled-child-as-gifted/#comment-7104