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Autism and memory recall

Midlands Monkey

I've come across a lot of info suggesting that those with autism have a very strong memory. But to me, this is a generalisation. There are different kinds of memory, used for different daily tasks, and although I don't feel particularly impaired in the memory department in regards to how I function generally in life there's one aspect I'd like to explore.

In particular, it's in regards to memory recall and specifically being able to remember events from days, months or years gone by. For example, I barely remember any of my childhood experiences, being at school, college, uni, etc. Yes there are a few specific memories, but by and large I remember virtually nothing. I even don't remember much about my 8yo daughter and her earlier years. When I watch the videos my wife filmed on her phone it brings a lot of joy, but when my wife talks about things my child did and little nuances she had, I don't remember much, if anything. And going back to my earlier point around remembering my own childhood, I don't recall doing anything with my parents or my brother, bar a few fleeting moments.

I've looked into this and it seems that this may be linked to impaired emotional expression and autobiographical memory. Interestingly, when provided with a visual cue, memories do seem to flood back, but if you were to describe something to me, I'd have no chance.

Here's a couple of interesting articles on this topic, although they're more about studies with children:

https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion/children-with-autism-have-trouble-recalling-memories/

https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion/memory-sense-self-may-play-role-autism-thought/

Anyway, I was keen to get your thoughts on this? Do you have similar problems, particularly if you're male, as the latter article suggests this is a more specific problem for boys (and is another reason why it's harder to diagnose girls)?

Parents

  • I have a huge amount of very detailed historical recall; from the quite recent right back to about three years old.

    I had an almost fatal metabolic disorder at about three. The interesting thing about that is that I really only have one apparent memory recall before that ilness. Now I imagine that it is fairly normal not to recall much before the age of three. But I'm now wondering whether that recalled memory ever concerned an actual event.

    It has always seemed to be a rather dream-like recollection; so perhaps it was just a dream I had about three years old. If we remember dreams at all, they are usually very fleeting; and i was way too young to take many awakening 'notes'. But if it was a dream, it was quite graphic. I tend to believe dreams are essentially a metaphorical replay of the previous day's unresolved issues, as a mechanism of release from those issues; creating a clean slate, in effect. I'm wondering if that was actually some sort of 'first' dream, which might even have marked some sort of deterioration or improvement in the illness. It seems likely that some sort of brain or neural damage may have resulted from the illness. But I wouldn't entirely discount genetic factors.

    What is very clear is that I have remembered a great deal since that significant 'event'. So much so, that it seems to have marked me down with some others as way too intense for their close comfort. At least I get a lot of enjoyment from my memories; but there is also too much acute historical embarrassment for my own comfort some days. But recently, at least  I have found a way to rapidly switch off the embarrassment, to avoid lapsing into depression.

Reply

  • I have a huge amount of very detailed historical recall; from the quite recent right back to about three years old.

    I had an almost fatal metabolic disorder at about three. The interesting thing about that is that I really only have one apparent memory recall before that ilness. Now I imagine that it is fairly normal not to recall much before the age of three. But I'm now wondering whether that recalled memory ever concerned an actual event.

    It has always seemed to be a rather dream-like recollection; so perhaps it was just a dream I had about three years old. If we remember dreams at all, they are usually very fleeting; and i was way too young to take many awakening 'notes'. But if it was a dream, it was quite graphic. I tend to believe dreams are essentially a metaphorical replay of the previous day's unresolved issues, as a mechanism of release from those issues; creating a clean slate, in effect. I'm wondering if that was actually some sort of 'first' dream, which might even have marked some sort of deterioration or improvement in the illness. It seems likely that some sort of brain or neural damage may have resulted from the illness. But I wouldn't entirely discount genetic factors.

    What is very clear is that I have remembered a great deal since that significant 'event'. So much so, that it seems to have marked me down with some others as way too intense for their close comfort. At least I get a lot of enjoyment from my memories; but there is also too much acute historical embarrassment for my own comfort some days. But recently, at least  I have found a way to rapidly switch off the embarrassment, to avoid lapsing into depression.

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