Comments on: Peripheral vision in some people on the autism spectrum. http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/ Ever the arty Autie Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:24:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: David Alexander http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-22034 David Alexander Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:44:04 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-22034 Thank you for your comments on my discussion above of how I use my autie-vision to enhance my aesthetic experiences. Have you met anyone else who does something similar to the "eye photography" that I described above? Did you get a chance to look at the photo that I posted on Flickr photo sharing that I think should help you understand more thoroughly what I described? Thank you for your comments on my discussion above of how I use my autie-vision to enhance my aesthetic experiences. Have you met anyone else who does something similar to the “eye photography” that I described above? Did you get a chance to look at the photo that I posted on Flickr photo sharing that I think should help you understand more thoroughly what I described?

]]> By: donna http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-21621 donna Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:46:26 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-21621 Hi David, yes, it always amazed me that it is near impossible to capture autie-vision using photography... this is because some of autie-vision is kinesthetic (about movement) or musical (I see musically... ie extreme sense of visual patterns and their interplays and shifts). :-) Hi David,

yes, it always amazed me that it is near impossible to capture autie-vision using photography… this is because some of autie-vision is kinesthetic (about movement) or musical (I see musically… ie extreme sense of visual patterns and their interplays and shifts).

:-)

]]> By: donna http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-21619 donna Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:47:01 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-21619 I drive, but only with tinted lenses. before I had them I had eight total write-offs in eight years I have had no accidents since I've had tinted lenses except one where a car suddenly pulled out in front of me on a main road. I do struggle to interpret what I see in real time, but I'm a far more instinctual driver than those without my issues because my sense of the musicality of movement around me is incredibly developed and I respond more quickly than many to patterns which don't fit the norm even if I can't tell what those are. On the down side, it's easier for me to mistake two similar visual phenomena, such as grey road and grey foot bridge, and I have experienced the situation where the side of a cement footbridge appears to be an ascending continuation of the road! (scary). But now I know this illusion, I have watched out for it. I sometimes feel my vision is closer to that of an animals. I DONT think in pictures. Nor do I believe animals do. But I do have an acutely developed sense of movement, rhythms around me and good spatial sense. I drive, but only with tinted lenses.
before I had them I had eight total write-offs in eight years
I have had no accidents since I’ve had tinted lenses except one where a car suddenly pulled out in front of me on a main road.

I do struggle to interpret what I see in real time, but I’m a far more instinctual driver than those without my issues because my sense of the musicality of movement around me is incredibly developed and I respond more quickly than many to patterns which don’t fit the norm even if I can’t tell what those are.

On the down side, it’s easier for me to mistake two similar visual phenomena, such as grey road and grey foot bridge, and I have experienced the situation where the side of a cement footbridge appears to be an ascending continuation of the road! (scary). But now I know this illusion, I have watched out for it.

I sometimes feel my vision is closer to that of an animals. I DONT think in pictures. Nor do I believe animals do. But I do have an acutely developed sense of movement, rhythms around me and good spatial sense.

]]> By: David Alexander http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-21618 David Alexander Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:25:10 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-21618 I have aspergers with many of the classic symptoms, and I am high functioning enough to do accounting work. I am a calendar savant and can usually tell anyone the day of the week they were born on within 5 seconds. This requires only a strong ability to quickly visualize images iin my mind. I also have strong peripheral vision and difficulty with being overwhelmed when I look someone in the face directly. Because of this I use my peripheral vision heavily. I think that your explanation involving rods and cones is the best that I have ever seen. I have found that moving my eyes slightly up, down and across a face while talking sometimes helps a little. During the large part of the day when I am in doing activities where my eyes are moving a large amount, I am no longer overwhelmed by the one point that I am focusing on and my strong peripheral vision causes a larger area than most people see clearly to come clearly into view. However, I can't quickly go back to focusing on one point which is part of the reason why I don't drive. However there is one way that is very important to me in which I use my strong peripheral vision to my advantage and that is in having aesthetic experiences. I refer to this type of experience as "eye photography". Just as when taking a picture a photographer will often wait for the right time of day get the best lighting for a photograph and will position himself in a way that will allow him to get the best possible composition. I do the same thing when I experience beauty through my eyes. When I find the right composition and lighting I will adjust the colors that I see and the brightness by closing my eyes. If for example I wanted to experience the beauty of a pink flowering cherry with sunlight from behing causing the blossoms to glow, I would close my eyes with my head pointed away from the sun so that I would see a dim shade of orange through my closed eyes. I would then open my eyes and quite heavily squint while I looked at an area of green so that the pink would be the right shade and the glow of the sunlight would be at the right level of intensity to create the best possible aesthetic experience. I would also want the wind to be strong enough to cause the blossoms to flutter, but I would not want the wind to be so intense that it caused the branches to move too much. I would then rapidly scan my eyes once forward and once back across an area of relatively uniform characteristics, always within less than a second and usually while squinting very slightly. During this brief time the beauty explodes into my view. My strong peripheral vision allows me to quickly and intensely suddenly comprehend the interelationship of form, color, and brightness over a relatively large area which allows me to sometimes have a very intense experience of beauty. Very few situations allow for this so such experiences are relatively rare for me. You can get a good idea of what allows for such an experince by going to Flickr photo sharing and typing in "Christchurch cherry blossom" or "October cherry blossom". The picture shows as having been take by "eyephotographer". It is not an expecially good picture since it was taken with a disposable camera. I didn't take any of the other pictures under my name which are much better. I only put them there to meet Flickr's requirement of having at least seven photos displayed to use their site. I just recently started using a digital camera and I have not converted my non digital photos to digital for display on Flickr which along with my poor photography skills explains having only one example to show. I have aspergers with many of the classic symptoms, and I am high functioning enough to do accounting work. I am a calendar savant and can usually tell anyone the day of the week they were born on within 5 seconds. This requires only a strong ability to quickly visualize images iin my mind. I also have strong peripheral vision and difficulty with being overwhelmed when I look someone in the face directly. Because of this I use my peripheral vision heavily. I think that your explanation involving rods and cones is the best that I have ever seen. I have found that moving my eyes slightly up, down and across a face while talking sometimes helps a little. During the large part of the day when I am in doing activities where my eyes are moving a large amount, I am no longer overwhelmed by the one point that I am focusing on and my strong peripheral vision causes a larger area than most people see clearly to come clearly into view. However, I can’t quickly go back to focusing on one point which is part of the reason why I don’t drive. However there is one way that is very important to me in which I use my strong peripheral vision to my advantage and that is in having aesthetic experiences. I refer to this type of experience as “eye photography”. Just as when taking a picture a photographer will often wait for the right time of day get the best lighting for a photograph and will position himself in a way that will allow him to get the best possible composition. I do the same thing when I experience beauty through my eyes. When I find the right composition and lighting I will adjust the colors that I see and the brightness by closing my eyes. If for example I wanted to experience the beauty of a pink flowering cherry with sunlight from behing causing the blossoms to glow, I would close my eyes with my head pointed away from the sun so that I would see a dim shade of orange through my closed eyes. I would then open my eyes and quite heavily squint while I looked at an area of green so that the pink would be the right shade and the glow of the sunlight would be at the right level of intensity to create the best possible aesthetic experience. I would also want the wind to be strong enough to cause the blossoms to flutter, but I would not want the wind to be so intense that it caused the branches to move too much. I would then rapidly scan my eyes once forward and once back across an area of relatively uniform characteristics, always within less than a second and usually while squinting very slightly. During this brief time the beauty explodes into my view. My strong peripheral vision allows me to quickly and intensely suddenly comprehend the interelationship of form, color, and brightness over a relatively large area which allows me to sometimes have a very intense experience of beauty. Very few situations allow for this so such experiences are relatively rare for me. You can get a good idea of what allows for such an experince by going to Flickr photo sharing and typing in “Christchurch cherry blossom” or “October cherry blossom”. The picture shows as having been take by “eyephotographer”. It is not an expecially good picture since it was taken with a disposable camera. I didn’t take any of the other pictures under my name which are much better. I only put them there to meet Flickr’s requirement of having at least seven photos displayed to use their site. I just recently started using a digital camera and I have not converted my non digital photos to digital for display on Flickr which along with my poor photography skills explains having only one example to show.

]]> By: donna http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18708 donna Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:22:31 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18708 I guess I'd say start with regular sunglasses, see if that makes things better. If she tends to be quite allergic and rather ADHD, you could check her salicylate levels (look up salicylate food list) then have a look at a 30 day trial of omega 3s and see if that helps her with visual processing. Also go to wikipedia and look up prosopagnosia... face blindness... i also write of it in other places on my blog and in my books which you can find on my site http://www.donnawilliams.net the most relevant of these books is probably Like Colour To The Blind. But also check out my art with her because face blindness is expressed a lot though that. but the fact she struggles with the lighting AND can't recognise faces says that her face blindness may be underpinned by visual fragmentation issues. Not sure if this would be Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome as its also covered by other forms of visual agnosia... you can find info on agnosia on wikipedia... but I also have a clip about it on you tube... just go toyou tube and type in donna williams. most of all let her know that this is both a strength and a weakness and not to resent it or judge herself by it, but do find ways to make it work for her. All the best... Donna *) I guess I’d say start with regular sunglasses, see if that makes things better. If she tends to be quite allergic and rather ADHD, you could check her salicylate levels (look up salicylate food list) then have a look at a 30 day trial of omega 3s and see if that helps her with visual processing. Also go to wikipedia and look up prosopagnosia… face blindness… i also write of it in other places on my blog and in my books which you can find on my site http://www.donnawilliams.net the most relevant of these books is probably Like Colour To The Blind. But also check out my art with her because face blindness is expressed a lot though that. but the fact she struggles with the lighting AND can’t recognise faces says that her face blindness may be underpinned by visual fragmentation issues. Not sure if this would be Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome as its also covered by other forms of visual agnosia… you can find info on agnosia on wikipedia… but I also have a clip about it on you tube… just go toyou tube and type in donna williams. most of all let her know that this is both a strength and a weakness and not to resent it or judge herself by it, but do find ways to make it work for her. All the best… Donna *)

]]> By: Su Joy http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18707 Su Joy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:24:36 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18707 This is so useful. My daughter has visual tracking problems. This is continuing to be a real problem with learning at school,as she doesn't seem to track from in front to then looking down. In fact she has a reluctance to look down at desk level. She has poor recognition of people in photos and also can't handle the lighting in some shops. Any suggestions? This is so useful. My daughter has visual tracking problems. This is continuing to be a real problem with learning at school,as she doesn’t seem to track from in front to then looking down. In fact she has a reluctance to look down at desk level. She has poor recognition of people in photos and also can’t handle the lighting in some shops.
Any suggestions?

]]> By: donna http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18608 donna Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:59:27 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18608 sounds a lot like a sugar issue too.... white flour registers as simple carbs - sugar. the digestives and white bread toast would physiologically be little different to giving him spoonfulls of sugar per day. Whilst this could well feed candida like crazy, cadida will also then crave more and more sugar 'highs'. at the same time the diminished gut function and leaky gut situation that could theoretically ensue would do little for brain or immune system health. sounds a lot like a sugar issue too…. white flour registers as simple carbs - sugar.
the digestives and white bread toast would physiologically be little different to giving him spoonfulls of sugar per day. Whilst this could well feed candida like crazy, cadida will also then crave more and more sugar ‘highs’.
at the same time the diminished gut function and leaky gut situation that could theoretically ensue would do little for brain or immune system health.

]]> By: Margaret Sahin http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18600 Margaret Sahin Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:07:47 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18600 Thank you Donna. I have been a bit concerned for some time that salycilate (is that it) might be a factor, since I read or watched something of yours which i believe mentioned apples as a culprit. this little boy is pretty adicted to them and in a diet of toast, digestive biscuits and not much else, they have obviously seemed a healthy option, but I do wonder. he tends to be very 'high' and excitable, squealing and grabbing (very happily). i sahall have a talk to his Mum. I definately need a copy of Like Colour to the Blind now. I own or have read most of your stuff and find it hugely helpful. Now I 've discovered so much on this site, I will be a frequent visitor. Thanks Thank you Donna. I have been a bit concerned for some time that salycilate (is that it) might be a factor, since I read or watched something of yours which i believe mentioned apples as a culprit. this little boy is pretty adicted to them and in a diet of toast, digestive biscuits and not much else, they have obviously seemed a healthy option, but I do wonder. he tends to be very ‘high’ and excitable, squealing and grabbing (very happily). i sahall have a talk to his Mum.
I definately need a copy of Like Colour to the Blind now. I own or have read most of your stuff and find it hugely helpful. Now I ‘ve discovered so much on this site, I will be a frequent visitor.
Thanks

]]> By: donna http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18580 donna Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:07:33 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18580 Hi Margaret, I was the first autistic person to write of their usefulness to people with visual perceptual fragmentation which I associated with inability to filter incoming information and a product of information overload on the visual channel in those with autism. it HAPPENS that tinted lenses can sometimes reduce visual input to the brain, allowing more cohesive visual perception in SOME people with autism, of which I'm one. BPI (Florida) also do tinted lenses and stock an autism testing range for the same price as one pair of Irlen lenses. I find that sideways looking also somehow filters visual info, allowing me wider processing of the whole, including context. I also found that high salicylate levels increased my sensory flooding (ie inability to filter incoming info) which raised sensory perceptual fragmentation. I also found that omega 3s improved my info processing as did glutamine (both are systemic antiinflammatories). Just because these worked for me doesn't mean it'll apply to all with similar behaviours. One cheap idea re tinted lenses is standard brown or grey sunglasses. Also some kids with these issues love looking throuhg colored celophane. Hope that's useful. You can find my writings on visual perceptual disorders in autism in Like Colour To The Blind (not UK spelling of Colour) Autism; An Inside Out Approach The Jumbled Jigsaw all of which are published by Jessica Kingsley Books http://www.jkp.com also also in my DVD Battling With Books and many articles on my site http://www.donnawilliams.net Hope that's useful. Donna *) Hi Margaret,
I was the first autistic person to write of their usefulness to people with visual perceptual fragmentation which I associated with inability to filter incoming information and a product of information overload on the visual channel in those with autism. it HAPPENS that tinted lenses can sometimes reduce visual input to the brain, allowing more cohesive visual perception in SOME people with autism, of which I’m one. BPI (Florida) also do tinted lenses and stock an autism testing range for the same price as one pair of Irlen lenses.

I find that sideways looking also somehow filters visual info, allowing me wider processing of the whole, including context.

I also found that high salicylate levels increased my sensory flooding (ie inability to filter incoming info) which raised sensory perceptual fragmentation.

I also found that omega 3s improved my info processing as did glutamine (both are systemic antiinflammatories).

Just because these worked for me doesn’t mean it’ll apply to all with similar behaviours.

One cheap idea re tinted lenses is standard brown or grey sunglasses.
Also some kids with these issues love looking throuhg colored celophane.

Hope that’s useful.

You can find my writings on visual perceptual disorders in autism in

Like Colour To The Blind (not UK spelling of Colour)
Autism; An Inside Out Approach
The Jumbled Jigsaw

all of which are published by Jessica Kingsley Books

http://www.jkp.com

also also in my DVD

Battling With Books

and many articles on my site

http://www.donnawilliams.net

Hope that’s useful.

Donna *)

]]> By: Margaret Sahin http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18579 Margaret Sahin Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:14:17 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/03/05/peripheral-vision-in-some-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/#comment-18579 I'd really like to ask Donna (or anyone elsy who might know), if it's likely that a child I teach 8 years old) is using periphery vision and how I might help him use his vision to his best advantage. In the two years I've had him in my class he seems to see and look more efficiently but I think not seeing things well close up results in his often extreme avoidance of things presented to him. He loved to flap in front of his face and still likes to move things near his eyes. yellow is by far his prefered colour. he rushes from place to place and likes to be at the edge of events rather than in a group or circle, often by a wall or in a corner. He loves outdoors, especially being up high. With only a few spoken, (usually echoed) words and an obvious sensitivity to certain textures (we do a lot of deep pressure and sensory integration stuff) there are a lot of things he doesn't understand and gets upset by. looking at pictures / books etc seems to mean nothing to him. Any idea how I can help, give more meaningful activities, increase understanding and tolerance? I’d really like to ask Donna (or anyone elsy who might know), if it’s likely that a child I teach 8 years old) is using periphery vision and how I might help him use his vision to his best advantage. In the two years I’ve had him in my class he seems to see and look more efficiently but I think not seeing things well close up results in his often extreme avoidance of things presented to him. He loved to flap in front of his face and still likes to move things near his eyes. yellow is by far his prefered colour. he rushes from place to place and likes to be at the edge of events rather than in a group or circle, often by a wall or in a corner. He loves outdoors, especially being up high. With only a few spoken, (usually echoed) words and an obvious sensitivity to certain textures (we do a lot of deep pressure and sensory integration stuff) there are a lot of things he doesn’t understand and gets upset by. looking at pictures / books etc seems to mean nothing to him. Any idea how I can help, give more meaningful activities, increase understanding and tolerance?

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