Trouble translating thoughts into words

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Rocker_C
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15 Aug 2012, 1:06 pm

Hi everyone, hope everyone out there is having a good day/evening/night

I know this has been sort of touched upon before on WP, but I just wanted to ask it myself because I have a pretty specific set of questions I wanted to ask for advice or opinions or other forms of thoughts on.

So here goes..

I, just like a lot of others with AS have trouble translating thoughts into words, and when it comes to an academic or work based environment, it really does my intelligence injustice, because at times the wrong words come out, or perhaps I just cant get any words out at all to represent my emotions/opinions/judgement out there.. which is so critical in those environments.

I've heard of assistive technology being used by smaller children with AS and autism.. sort of like a hand held device where they touch the screen with pictures or simple phrases etc to represent what they want to say.. but I've not seen any such device or assistance for people who are older and have an ASD and have the same problems.. is there such a thing? if there is can you pass the name on to me on here so that I can look into it.

Also.. I'm not really looking for strategies as such, because I think they always tend to suit someone's personal learning styles or ways of seeing things, and of course that never seems to help either.

Just wondering what is available to help us get these ideas and thoughts that get stuck in our minds out there in a way which people can understand and can see that we have demonstrated the ideas fully.

Thanks

Chris (Rocker_C)



Rocker_C
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15 Aug 2012, 1:29 pm

Forgot to mention (how typical!)

I often read things and don't understand or remember what I just read! It even happens when someone is talking to me.. goes totally in one ear and out of the other.

Surely someone out there knows what I mean



chris5000
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15 Aug 2012, 1:33 pm

I know exactly what you are talking about. im the same way except for the reading part as what ever I read is just burned into my mind.



Rocker_C
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15 Aug 2012, 1:41 pm

chris5000 wrote:
I know exactly what you are talking about. im the same way except for the reading part as what ever I read is just burned into my mind.


I really wish sometimes that reading had the same effect on me too.. it's like my mind plays little movie scenes or clips almost, and that's how I generally get my points across, but at times I think a picture is worth a thousand words.. and there's no ways to explain it properly and that's how I feel we get mixed up on what to say about it.. because we don't really know how to summarize what we see into points or an opinion..

when it works it works great and we do so well that people are amazed with us, but when it doesnt.. we look stupid or like we don't know what were talking about type of thing.



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15 Aug 2012, 1:53 pm

I regularly have this problem. It's a downer.

I don't have any strategies, at all, to help. In my case I doubt any strategy could work.



Colinn
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15 Aug 2012, 2:02 pm

I do have a tough time doing this. Even on here I need to map out the words of what I am trying to say as I write a reply. It can be quite a burden to deal with in the "real world". I can perfectly understand something in my mind when given the time to process it. But in person, I don't get that time and have to think quickly on the spot which usually results it in not coming out in the way that I had intended. Its almost like my own time to process something is longer than everyone elses. Something that gives me genuine worry if I get a job somewhere.



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15 Aug 2012, 2:11 pm

MirrorWars wrote:
I regularly have this problem. It's a downer.

I don't have any strategies, at all, to help. In my case I doubt any strategy could work.


I feel for you because I feel the same.. trapped by this in the same way. But I dont think I can just let go of it, I need to solve this otherwise I would feel defeated by it. Every aspect I have difficulty with, I always seem to find a way around it even if its just temporary at times.



Rocker_C
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15 Aug 2012, 2:13 pm

Colinn wrote:
I do have a tough time doing this. Even on here I need to map out the words of what I am trying to say as I write a reply. It can be quite a burden to deal with in the "real world". I can perfectly understand something in my mind when given the time to process it. But in person, I don't get that time and have to think quickly on the spot which usually results it in not coming out in the way that I had intended. Its almost like my own time to process something is longer than everyone elses. Something that gives me genuine worry if I get a job somewhere.


I know exactly what you're saying there and agree totally! It gets stuck and takes ages to process out of the mind. Dont know if you also get this, but if Im trying to listen to more than one person at a time talking to me, my brain will just freeze up and I cant take any of it in.



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15 Aug 2012, 2:25 pm

Rocker_C wrote:
MirrorWars wrote:
I regularly have this problem. It's a downer.

I don't have any strategies, at all, to help. In my case I doubt any strategy could work.


I feel for you because I feel the same.. trapped by this in the same way. But I dont think I can just let go of it, I need to solve this otherwise I would feel defeated by it. Every aspect I have difficulty with, I always seem to find a way around it even if its just temporary at times.


I'm learning to accept it, as I have an understanding, now, of the likely cause ( AS ).

Where as before; I would be more frustrated & worried as to why this crap was messing with my head.



Merculangelo
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15 Aug 2012, 2:31 pm

i've been considering experimenting with voice-text software to see if it could be a training mechanism because i'd have to slow down and organize my speech in order for it to come out readable in the translated text. but those programs are expensive.



Colinn
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15 Aug 2012, 3:07 pm

Rocker_C wrote:
I know exactly what you're saying there and agree totally! It gets stuck and takes ages to process out of the mind. Dont know if you also get this, but if Im trying to listen to more than one person at a time talking to me, my brain will just freeze up and I cant take any of it in.


Yes that happens to me as well. When there is multiple people talking I wont be able to process it and take nothing in that was said. It commonly happens during group conversations as people tend to be too impatient to wait their turn. So I don't deal with those too well either.



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15 Aug 2012, 3:27 pm

In some of the books I've read on Autism, it's said that Speech Therapy can help with this. Speech Therapy is commonly associated with poor pronounciation and getting verbal, but they can help with more advanced stuff such as organising your thoughts.

Do you have the same problems with friends / relatives / known people or does this just show up in school or work?

Jason.



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15 Aug 2012, 4:47 pm

Sounds awfully familiar.

I don't know if it goes like this for you:

I have described writing my essays thus : I can see my whole essay - I have a wonderful composition in my mind, it writes itself and grows and morphs with my thoughts - but each word is a physical extraction from my body - like pulling tooth by tooth. Why it is so hard? Yet, I love essays - I love research, I love engaging with theorists. I really do 'put my myself into my work' with this extraction. I could just write blah-blah good enough, I can write amply and loosely - I mean to say the way I really want to say it. I also drown in details - maybe that does not help. My thoughts 'bottleneck' - and they have no elbow room to pass each other - brain lock - the passage from mind to lips or pen is a tough journey at times and is not helped by the impatience and judgment of others. I hate having to write a short essay and leave out information and ideas that I think shortchange the concepts I have in mind. What to leave out? Fortunately my grades are excellent - but - it hurts. Hurts so good - hurts so bad.

Speaking - I do lock up - or I cannot get to what I really want to say and feel shorted. I mumble, bumble, I acquiesce because I don't know how to be understood. I have just told people English is my second language - and it is not really - and consequently I insult or confuse people. I don't know what to do. Conversely - I miss chunks of what people say - blah, blah, blah - wha-wha-wha - and pluck the highlights for context. Smile - whoops, erase smile quick - nod, and interject with 'hhhmmmm' here and 'hm' there. In class, I am a rabid hand-note taker or I will not hold everything I need - I have messy, messy shorthand and I fly. I copy out the notes clearly later and that is how I study. In this manner, I can quote profs verbatim.

For putting my thoughts to writing: the 'right for the time' spot helps - I have sat in a dry bathtub - soft light, no noise - curtain pulled, door closed - I have hidden in this manner to write. My camera helps - it calms me down through and through. I can shut the world out aside from one beautiful subject in my lens. Painting is nice - mucking in colors - it loosens my ideas - too much at times - LOL. I do like my computer's voice recognition - I get into a comfortable space where I won't be interrupted and I can just 'drift' out my thoughts (although there are corrections to make later - oh well) - I also have a digital tape recorder. A long walk is such a great place to think freely - so, the recorder on hand is a bonus in formulating my ideas.

Ha - I also have discovered the joy of creating graphic novels - sometimes you just really do have to 'draw a picture' :0)

LM



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15 Aug 2012, 8:59 pm

I think that you may be looking for some sort of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device.

I hope this helps.

http://www.abilityhub.com/aac/aac-devices.htm

TheSunAlsoRises



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15 Aug 2012, 9:19 pm

Logicalmom wrote:
Sounds awfully familiar.

I don't know if it goes like this for you:

I have described writing my essays thus : I can see my whole essay - I have a wonderful composition in my mind, it writes itself and grows and morphs with my thoughts - but each word is a physical extraction from my body - like pulling tooth by tooth. Why it is so hard? Yet, I love essays - I love research, I love engaging with theorists. I really do 'put my myself into my work' with this extraction. I could just write blah-blah good enough, I can write amply and loosely - I mean to say the way I really want to say it. I also drown in details - maybe that does not help. My thoughts 'bottleneck' - and they have no elbow room to pass each other - brain lock - the passage from mind to lips or pen is a tough journey at times and is not helped by the impatience and judgment of others. I hate having to write a short essay and leave out information and ideas that I think shortchange the concepts I have in mind. What to leave out? Fortunately my grades are excellent - but - it hurts. Hurts so good - hurts so bad.

Speaking - I do lock up - or I cannot get to what I really want to say and feel shorted. I mumble, bumble, I acquiesce because I don't know how to be understood. I have just told people English is my second language - and it is not really - and consequently I insult or confuse people. I don't know what to do. Conversely - I miss chunks of what people say - blah, blah, blah - wha-wha-wha - and pluck the highlights for context. Smile - whoops, erase smile quick - nod, and interject with 'hhhmmmm' here and 'hm' there. In class, I am a rabid hand-note taker or I will not hold everything I need - I have messy, messy shorthand and I fly. I copy out the notes clearly later and that is how I study. In this manner, I can quote profs verbatim.

LM


^This is almost exactly me! I have so much difficulty with essays even though I love researching and can thoroughly understand the topic. I have it laid out in my head perfectly, but I can't get it on the paper! I have difficulty with speaking as well, but I seem to get around that by having people ask me questions as I can seem to find my thoughts when prompted. I have tried to explain my difficulty in writing essays to instructors and the disability specialist at my college, but nobody has ever really understood. They think I am either lazy or don't understand the format of an essay because I can answer any question about the subject I was supposed to write about, but my writing has the interest and style of a 10 year old's. I often get terrible marks on essays, but I make up for it with everything else. I might get 40 or 50 on a paper, but I get 90s on everything else in the course. It caused me to drop out of nursing because I had a course that was 100% essays (including the final exam) and I failed the course twice, which was terribly embarrassing and discouraging! While I am sorry that you also experience difficulty with this, I feel relieved to know it isn't just me!


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Diagnosed with aspergers January 17, 2012. Diagnosed with depression in 1998. I just started a blog: http://depressiveaspiegirl.blogspot.com


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15 Aug 2012, 9:23 pm

Mmuffinn wrote:
Logicalmom wrote:
Sounds awfully familiar.

I don't know if it goes like this for you:

I have described writing my essays thus : I can see my whole essay - I have a wonderful composition in my mind, it writes itself and grows and morphs with my thoughts - but each word is a physical extraction from my body - like pulling tooth by tooth. Why it is so hard? Yet, I love essays - I love research, I love engaging with theorists. I really do 'put my myself into my work' with this extraction. I could just write blah-blah good enough, I can write amply and loosely - I mean to say the way I really want to say it. I also drown in details - maybe that does not help. My thoughts 'bottleneck' - and they have no elbow room to pass each other - brain lock - the passage from mind to lips or pen is a tough journey at times and is not helped by the impatience and judgment of others. I hate having to write a short essay and leave out information and ideas that I think shortchange the concepts I have in mind. What to leave out? Fortunately my grades are excellent - but - it hurts. Hurts so good - hurts so bad.

Speaking - I do lock up - or I cannot get to what I really want to say and feel shorted. I mumble, bumble, I acquiesce because I don't know how to be understood. I have just told people English is my second language - and it is not really - and consequently I insult or confuse people. I don't know what to do. Conversely - I miss chunks of what people say - blah, blah, blah - wha-wha-wha - and pluck the highlights for context. Smile - whoops, erase smile quick - nod, and interject with 'hhhmmmm' here and 'hm' there. In class, I am a rabid hand-note taker or I will not hold everything I need - I have messy, messy shorthand and I fly. I copy out the notes clearly later and that is how I study. In this manner, I can quote profs verbatim.

LM


^This is almost exactly me! I have so much difficulty with essays even though I love researching and can thoroughly understand the topic. I have it laid out in my head perfectly, but I can't get it on the paper! I have difficulty with speaking as well, but I seem to get around that by having people ask me questions as I can seem to find my thoughts when prompted. I have tried to explain my difficulty in writing essays to instructors and the disability specialist at my college, but nobody has ever really understood. They think I am either lazy or don't understand the format of an essay because I can answer any question about the subject I was supposed to write about, but my writing has the interest and style of a 10 year old's. I often get terrible marks on essays, but I make up for it with everything else. I might get 40 or 50 on a paper, but I get 90s on everything else in the course. It caused me to drop out of nursing because I had a course that was 100% essays (including the final exam) and I failed the course twice, which was terribly embarrassing and discouraging! While I am sorry that you also experience difficulty with this, I feel relieved to know it isn't just me!


I have the very same problem. It also made me drop out of collage. So many classes had essays that counted to a large portion of the grade. even the mandatory orientation class was mostly essays.