Cognitive Issues in Kids on the Autism Spectrum
"Can you help me understand how my child thinks? His rationale is quite confusing at times, and I find we are rarely on the same page with simple day-to-day issues." In looking at the cognitive aspects of the child with ASD level 1 or High-Functioning Autism (HFA), there are four main areas to consider: (1) mindblindness, (2) cognitive inflexibility, (3) impaired imaginative play, and (4) visual learning strength. We'll look at each of these in turn: 1. Mindblindness (theory of mind): This refers to the child’s ability to predict relationships between external and internal states. It is the ability to make inferences about what another person is thinking. More specifically, the HFA child: Is unaware that others have thoughts, beliefs, and desires that influence their behavior. Views the world in black and white (e.g., admits to breaking a rule even when there is no chance of getting caught). Is unaware that others have intentions or viewpoints different fr