CYSF

Presentation

Problem

Some people think that autistic people are different from nonautistic people, they think that nonautistic people have a memory which is better than nonautistic people's memory, they also think that they can forget more stuff than nonautistic people and have terrible remembrance of things and people.

Method

I started by going to different websites and comparing them with each other to see if the information was true. Once I was done, I had started understanding it and then put it into what I understood. When I was done writing, I started to understand the subject.

As soon as I was done understanding the subject, I wrote what I understood and moved on to the next subject. And just like that, I had done all my slides and started researching my question.

Research

I will be researching memory, the hippocampus (the part of the brain that controls memory, learning, Visual-spatial memory which is remembering the position of your body in relation to nearby objects), and autism.

Autism is a brain disorder that impacts how a person understands and socializes with other people. Autism develops naturally in your body during childhood, children often show signs of autism before the age of one, but a number of kids at their first year smile, bable and interact with others, and then at 18 to 24 months they fail to retain the skills they learnt, such as; language, social skills, and motor skills. Though there is no cure for it, but early surgerys can make a big difference on a child's life.

Some autistic people take time to listen, it is because their brain is slow at taking in stuff, if you were to ask them something it would take them a few more seconds then a non autistic person to listen. If you were to teach them how to communicate with others, they would have less problems communicating with others. With training and routines things get easier.

An autistic person feels comfortable with their caretakers than with outsiders, this is because they have been with them their whole life or cause they have a routine with them, like: working with them, teaching them, helping them, and taking them somewhere.

Where as outsiders are unknown to them, they would not be comfortable because they have not seen them before or spent time with them like there caretakers.

The hippocampus is a structure on the left and the right of your brain within the temporal lobe, its main job is memory, learning, and to say the right thing at the right time. The small thing helps you remember small and long term memory. It turns small term memories big by taking memories inside your brain.

Visual-spatial memory is remembering your body in relation with objects beside you, this means you remember the position of your body with the things around you.

For example remembering where things are: keys on your keyboard.

Autistic people may have exceptional visual-spatial memory as they have excellent attention to detail eg. patterns, puzzles, shapes. However a non autistic person typically have a balanced visual-spatial memory as they do not focus on fine details.

Memory is something which is apart a human body, it is what stores our past, it helps us know important events which passed, and things like chores or jobs you do or were assigned to do. Without this amazing human process we would not be able to do anything, like: doing what you are told to do, remembering important events from the past or present, and really you would not be able to do anything.

The memory of an autistic person is really good, if you were to show them something and tell them what it was they would not forget it, but just like a normal person, they can too forget stuff, like if you were to tell them to go right they would sometimes forget and go left, or if you were to tell them someone's birthday is coming on the 20th of june, they could sometimes forget and think its on the 19 of june or 20th of july. So autistic people can forget but they are really good at knowing stuff.

My mom (Sumaira) and I (Aliyaan) interviewed Ayesha mother of Ibrahim, who has autism, he is nowe 4 years old. We have asked for her permission to share her son Ibrahim's information and pictures for my project and she allowed me to go head and then we asked her some questions and got the answers.

I will also be sharing pictures and videos of ibrahim.

(Aliyaan) How did you find out about Ibrahim being different or he is autistic?

(Ayesha) Actually I was always concerned about his speech delay issue and I wasn't aware of autism.

(Aliyaan) when did you find out?

(Ayesha) I found out when he was around a year and half, people around me bugged me so much that he's not saying anything not even a single word.

(Aliyaan) What did you do next to find out why he's not talking?

(Ayesha) I started to noticed about his behaviour issues like meltdowns in crowded areas, Ibrahim always wants his own space from surroundings. Then i took him to a doctor to find out more about his speech.

(Aliyaan) Did you get worried about other people's behaviour towards Ibrahim.

(Ayesha) Yes, everyone had different behavior toward Ibrahim, but it was not their fault, too most of the people that are not aware of autism. It's all about awareness.

(Aliyaan) How is his mood like, does it change.

(Ayesha) children like Ibrahim have many sensory and gut issues.

(Aliyaan) How did you learn to handle Ibrahim, his mood or issues your talking about.

(Ayesha) As a mother when i get to know that Ibrahim needs special attention, i started to focus on him more, like his behaviour, kept learning about him and things started to get easier on me with him handling. Ibrahim’s spectrum level is moderate.

(Aliyaan) Is Ibrahim better at eye contact?

(Ayesha) Yes, much better, he commands following is better, and his eye contact was developed at age of 3 and half.

(Aliyaan) Does Ibrahim listen now when you tell him to do something?

(Ayesha) ibrahim never use to respond to his name now at

age 4 he's started to respond toward his name.

(Aliyaan) Hows Ibrahim’s speech now?

(Ayesha) Ibrahim is still taking speech classes, that is one

thing i have my focus on these days.

(Aliyaan) what is Ibrahim's favourite and fun time and what is his favorite food?

(Ayesha) Ibrahim’s favourite time use to be screen time, but i was told from his trainer and doctors not give him screen its not good for his speech. Ibrahim likes to eat everything i make sure he’s eating healthy. Especially during the winters i feed him the superfoods to boost his brain health.

(Aliyaan) Does Ibrahim like going out?

(Ayesha) Ibrahim loves going out, he loves going on long drives, he enjoys outside if its uncrowded, but he does not like crowded areas, he feels unsafe because he is not that social.

(Aliyaan) Is there anything else you would like to share about Ibrahim?

(Ayesha) Ibrahim and we are both making memories together that one day he will be fine and i will share his journey also my journey along with him, our success journey. Ibrahim makes me strong.

Autistic people’s memory is actually the same as a non autistic person's memory, this is because they can forget stuff just like a non autistic person and they can remember stuff as good as a non autistic person. This means that my hypothesis was wrong. The main differences i saw are that autistic people have intense focus on a specific interest or hobby. And they also prefer routine and may find changes frustrating.

Data

The data I collected from my project was, that autistic people like routines instead of doing stuff randomly, they also don't like having too many hobbies, instead they like to do one thing and put their full focus on it. If you were to give them a big bunch of things to do they would not want to do that, instead, you should tell them to do one thing at a time so they can put their whole focus on it so it can be completed. Autistic people would have a meltdown if there are too many people around them and this is called hyperacusis, they also don't like too much light as to them it flickers.

Conclusion

Autistic people’s memory is actually the same as a non autistic person's memory, this is because they can forget stuff just like a non autistic person and they can remember stuff as good as a non autistic person. This means that my hypothesis was wrong. The main differences i saw are that autistic people have intense focus on a specific interest or hobby. And they also prefer routine and may find changes frustrating.