Autism = no sense of direction??

[Anonymous]

I have ADHD and do this all the time, to the point that it's a running joke among my family and friends.

I think it's that I wasn't paying the least bit of attention on my walk TO a place (or was only paying attention to directions on my phone) so nothing looks familiar LEAVING the place. I didn't see any landmark to recognize on the return trip, because I wasn't paying any attention to them on the way in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have ASD to have amazing sense of direction because they are so visual in their learning. Their brain can almost photographically memorize routes while traveling and at a very early age had an uncanny ability to navigate.

While my dc with asd is like this (she calls me out if I take a different route lol), I don't think it's universal.

OP, I'm guessing it's an adhd trait in regards to her not having good direction. I'd have her rely on the amazing tech we have these days and utilize her phone/watch gps. Maybe you can show her how to read a paper map? Not really to use it daily but moreso to understand directions of roads and such.

[Anonymous]

I think it's something other that ASD or ADHD. My 2e teen with ASD/ADHD has an amazing sense of direction. When he was in K he sat up front and helped the school bus driver find alternative routes!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ASD teen is mainstreamed in school and exceedingly bright — epitomizes the term 2E.

But s/he has no basic sense of direction and is constantly getting lost, even in familiar settings. For example, when leaving a familiar restaurant last night, s/he turned right instead of left to walk the two blocks home.

When out and about, s/he relies a lot on Google to navigate walks that should be well known.

Is this a common ASD trait? Is there a term for it?

Yes, this is noted in all of Tony Attwood or Baron Cohen’s aspergers research.
Mind blindness, Lack or theory of mind.

Lots of relying on others or technology or apps. But that won’t help in new situations or detours or an emergency or when actual thinking of one’s feet is required. Then it’s Shutdown Mode or have a Temper Tantrum (if others ask what’s going on).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My autistic child has the best sense of direction of anyone in the family. My other child, who is not autistic but does have ADHD and DCD/dyspraxia doesn't know how to get home from just a few blocks away.

Same with my autistic kid. He gives me directions.

This could be just one of those traits that runs the spectrum!

[Anonymous]

Some people have no situational awareness, others have it in spades. Most people in the middle.