Can autism have mental retardation?
Can autism have mental retardation?
Z
Yes, autism can be correlated with mental retardation, but it depends on your definition of retardation – some autistic people are high functioning and have normal IQs.
I would advise you to see a doctor for proper evaluation – he or she would be able to help you understand what’s going on with you.
i7
Its not that your retarded, you have a different view of the world restricted by your illness
Lachrymose Lover
People with Autism of all forms can have a variety of IQs. Not all are mentally retarded and not all are geniuses.
Cicely
Autistic people can be severely mentally retarded, but they can also be geniuses – most fall somewhere between these extremes. People with low-functioning autism often have mental retardation as well. People with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome do not. Someone with Asperger’s typically has at least normal intelligence.
I’m assuming you’ve been officially diagnosed with Asperger’s? (Asperger’s is a form of ASD, which stands for autism spectrum disorders and includes autism, Asperger’s, and PDD-NOS.) If you have, your doctor did not give you this diagnosis to be nice. Doctors want to help people, and deliberately giving you a milder diagnosis would prevent you from getting services. I think you can feel confident in the diagnosis. If you did have MR, this would have been caught during the diagnostic evaluation. My suspicion is that you are not mentally retarded, because this would have been diagnosed by now.
Many of the symptoms you’re talking about are typical of Asperger’s. Trouble with executive function (things like concentrating, planning, and organizing) is fairly common among people with Asperger’s. Poor motor coordination, like bumping into things, is a very common symptom. Someone with Asperger’s is also more likely to need speech therapy than a neurotypical, or non-autistic, person. There is some overlap in symptoms with ASDs and MR, which is probably why you feel you fit the criteria.
-
Our life with autism… I don’t talk about this subject much and that is because it is very... Read Full Story » -
Your child may be an Awetee if…..The autism joke book For anyone who knows an Awetee (magical... Read Full Story » -
Incredible 5-Point Scale Assisting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Understanding... Read Full Story » -
A new study suggests that babies born from smokers have increased risks for high-functioning... Read Full Story » -
Engaging Autism : Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate , Communicate , and Think... Read Full Story »
