Anyone a gifted autistic?

Is anyone else here a former child prodigy and at what? I just recently did the AQ50 and AQ10. I'm now on the waiting list for an official assessment. My dad wants to know if it's it the IQ that makes someone gifted or does being someone with Asperger's syndrome make you more likely to be gifted.

Parents
  • Im not gifted, but Im curious as to what your talent is in, if you’re happy saying so.  

  • Piano - I could play diploma level pieces (university student 1st year) by the age of 13 by self-teaching. I found that I pick up musical instruments really easily. A few years ago, I learned guitar for 9 months and was already writing my own songs and at grade 3 level by the end. I also wrote 300 songs of lyrics only in the space of two years. And a poetry book of 100 poems in the space of one month. I seemed to already have the whole book inside my head and didn't need to think when writing the poems. Same with the songs.

Reply
  • Piano - I could play diploma level pieces (university student 1st year) by the age of 13 by self-teaching. I found that I pick up musical instruments really easily. A few years ago, I learned guitar for 9 months and was already writing my own songs and at grade 3 level by the end. I also wrote 300 songs of lyrics only in the space of two years. And a poetry book of 100 poems in the space of one month. I seemed to already have the whole book inside my head and didn't need to think when writing the poems. Same with the songs.

Children
  • I see this as your ASD strengths, not as being gifted per say.  But that’s just my interpretation, so please don’t take offence. It’s just that I don’t feel I’m very special, as I’ve always been able to do certain things well. It’s my normal.  
    I was able to play violin and clarinet through school just by hearing it and replicating it. Piano and keyboard too in later years, though not as well. I have the problem of not being able to read music, so it’s just as well I can play by ear! I also have perfect pitch.
    My father is a self taught lead guitarist, and taught himself the keyboard too.

    My uncle is a self taught classical acoustic guitarist. Incidentally, he is also a published poet and artist. I myself can write poetry and fiction with ease. (I don’t anymore, as I don’t have motivation or inclination)

    My daughter played piano through school, and progressed quickly. She is a self taught bassist too, and writes her own songs etc. I don’t know if this music skill is inherited from family, or is an ASD thing.

    My son was found to be gifted with his writing in high school. I didn’t notice him being extraordinary, because I was exactly the same at school, as was his sister. 

    We all can draw, sketch and illustrate well. But now I think about it, all of us  that can, are likely autistic. Some don’t know it yet, and others over 70 don’t care lol.

  • Thats so impressive! I get a lot of pleasure and therapy out of playing the piano, but my very rudimentary skill would probably offend your ears given your very high proficiency. I do have two relatives who are extremely accomplished musicians, and one of them went to the Yehudi Menuin school and has played in orchestras the world over. A very hard act to follow at childhood family gatherings where dreaded  ‘party pieces’ were demanded