Attention in autism is influenced by factors such as severity, ability to stay focused, and executive functioning skills. Autism symptoms can mimic ADD and ADHD. Attention in autism can involve paying attention to small details and complex thinking. Organizing ideas and thoughts is also affected. Structured organization and planning can help those with mild autism.
Attention in autism is influenced by several factors. The primary influence on an autistic person’s attention span is the severity of the disorder. As there are variations in the severity of autism, there are also variations in what affects attention. Most commonly, influencing factors include an autistic person’s ability to stay focused, what things hold attention, and how well an autistic person is able to pick up cues from their surroundings and from other people. The thinking skills required to attract or maintain attention play a large role in the factors that influence attention.
Autism is different for every individual, so the symptoms exhibited tend to differ greatly. A person with a mild case of autism may function normally but appear hyperactive. In some cases, mild autism is confused with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Autism symptoms, both mild and complex, often mimic ADD and ADHD, particularly with regards to attention in autism.
Executive functioning is the term used to describe the skills required to understand social cues. This skill set includes planning, organizing and maintaining attention. There are different types of attention in autism, from multiple lines of thinking to paying attention to small details. Various levels of autism each have different forms of attention.
Attention in autism can involve paying attention to small details, almost obsessively. Things like how many crackers are on a plate are considered small details. Here, a person with autism recognizes how many crackers there are, but wouldn’t consider all the others in one package. Autism prevents him from seeing the broader scope of things.
Complex thinking is another part of attention in autism that can suffer. As a skill included in executive functioning, complex thinking plays an important role in sustaining attention. A deficiency in this skill prevents an autistic person from thinking about more than one thing at a time. The focus of attention is on what is immediate and at that specific point.
Organizing ideas and thoughts is another aspect of attention in autism. Without these skills, an autistic person may seem bored or uninterested. Sequence and scheduling are also affected. In this case, the inability to maintain attention has to do with not being able to think about one thing and execute it while simultaneously thinking about what comes next.
For mild forms of autism, such as Asperger’s, there are ways to help people with their attention issues. Implementing structured organization and planning can help autistic people who have trouble paying attention. Children and adults with mild autism may find it helpful to have written lists. Writing everything down and, when possible, breaking down larger tasks into smaller steps can be very helpful.
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