Excellent capacity for memorization
Awkward communication skills?When it comes to communication, people with AS tend to talk at people rather than to people. Because of this, they come across as rude or blunt when that is not their intent at all. Being factually minded, a person with Asperger’s Syndrome uses words to state facts. The ambiance of language is largely lost on them. As their teacher or parent, it is up to you not to take it personally if your AS child says something plainly without regard for the fallout that may be attached to his word choice. Parents and teachers need to take on the role of “social coach.” If the words were genuinely unkind, you need to tell the child they were unkind, why they were unkind, and what they must do or say to make things right. If the words were innocent but blunt, you need to inform the child of this as well, and perhaps give him different words to convey the same idea in a kinder way.
Asperger’s Disorder
Excellent capacity for memorization?Children with AS often have an excellent capacity for memorization. On the positive side, this makes AS children very good at rote memorization and recitation of fact. On the negative side, they are not as good at application or understanding why certain things are so. For example, if you have an AS child in a literature class, he can tell you all about what is happening in the story, but may be hard pressed to explain why the characters are acting and reacting the way they are. In your role as social coach, you can help your AS student by explaining the reasons behind the behaviors of the characters in a story.