I read about auditory processing difficulties a week or so ago. References mentioned difficulty of processing spoken instructions as one symptom. I thought that I don't have such difficulty.
This weekend, my spouse told about how she and the dog have now practiced walking on the same side of the path instead of the dog going everywhere. I asked how they have done it. She explained her three point procedure, at which point I said it sounds complicated.
Another heureka moment for me! The procedure certainly wasn't difficult. It was the number of points. For me, two points would've been ok, the third point caused my brain to give a "can not process" error message. Turns out I do have difficulties in processing oral instructions.
Oh! Prepare for incoming dump re my experience! (Which as I’ve learned, is not about making the situation all about me, but in expressing my understanding & empathy & contributing material to the conversation.)
I had heard about it but only really found out what it was when, wait for it, I was listening to a podcast. Ironic. I never used to “do” podcasts. I used to listen to music, the news & reasonable quality radio programs (as opposed to inane stuff) while driving to work, but it’s not where I go for information. I prefer to read, or even watch a screen where watching people speak helps to engage & hold my attention.
I like lectures, but used to take copious notes at uni & even take a notebook & pen to public lectures & talks. Writing notes helps me process & remember what I’ve heard.
I started listening to podcasts when some on neurodivergence were recommended to me, but they only “work” if I’m on my exercise machine. Even then, I find myself wanting to take notes &/or read the transcript afterwards.
During my teaching studies, I was told to always write instructions onto the board to ensure that students who struggled with verbal instructions had another resource. So naturally, as a teacher who was autistic but totally oblivious to that fact, I did so.
I love written instructions, lists etc, & directions. Tell me how to get somewhere without showing me a map, & I’ll get lost. And while I can follow GPS instructions, I really, really dislike them.
Us later diagnosed people have become so good at developing strategies that clearly help, but mask our issues, even from ourselves.
The weird thing is that I can engage in vibrant conversations (but difficult discussions are better done in instalments, sometimes with written reflections.)
I think we get this idea in our head that various conditions should be easily recognised & diagnosed. We don’t allow for the fact that we can be very good (or somewhat capable) at devising strategies without even realising that we’re doing so. They’re just “the way we do things”. Then someone points something out or we have an epiphany…
@Susan60 Thanks, I really appreciate this! With learning I'm autistic, the tendency to info dump and draw from my own experiences finally made sense. Others doing the same makes me go "my kind of people!"
I don' t listen to podcasts. Have never finished a single episode. For my information needs I read. Now I understand why!
In principle, I like lectures, and like you, to get something out of it, I have to make notes. Nevertheless, I might have hard time learning and usually don't go back to said notes. Then again, it's not that I feel like I should learn from the lectures, after my studies. I guess I'm a fan of incidental learning and get bits from here and there. And read about the topic if I really want to learn.
When I teach, I always make sure the crucial information is on the slides, and in as clear fashion as possible. I guess I've instinctively done it in a way I'd like the slides to be if I was studying.
That's right, oral instructions to get somewhere! It's a nightmare! I very much prefer the map.
I think you're right about the strategies. I clearly aren't aware of them all and right now, I'm in the process of unmasking them from myself.
This journey of mine is really revealing. I love learning about the whole topic and posts like yours are very helpful! Your experiences resonate on many ways with me!
When I was diagnosed with ADHD last year, the doc said I’d clearly developed strategies to cope, which usually, but don’t always work, but also masked my ADHD.
@LehtoriTuomo@actuallyautistic It ist similar for me. A while ago I started watching films and series additionally with subtitles in the same language, since then I understand so much more out of the storyline and do not have to constantly ask my partner about it. 😅
Processing written words ist so much easier for me.
@neonmate Yes! I don't have trouble in my native language, Finnish, but if it's in English, I very much prefer it with subtitles, even if it's in English. I didn't even realize it before this post of yours but I actually avoid watching English things without subs!
@LehtoriTuomo@actuallyautistic It is similar with me. In my native language I also have less troubles processing it. My problem is also, I very often look to the lips forming the words, so I cannot watch anything synchronized, which is why I watch nearly everything in OV and so mostly in english.
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