A Sixth Sense?

I read somewhere once that austistic children actually have an inate sense of focus that goes beyond anything any of us could ever imagine. When Lyric was about 3 years old, I noticed something peculiar. First, she seemed to know the makes and models of most cars. Maybe not the manufacturer or the name of the model but she certainly recognized all Honda Pilots were "mommy's car", Jeep Libertys were "Grandma's Car", Chevy Impala's were "daddy's car", etc. Given the fact that I was probably 25 before I ever even noticed the difference, I found this ability fascinating. Even more NOT like me, she could give me directions anywhere. "Mommy - you turn here" or "Mom you missed it!" And when she noticed a familiar road she would exlaim where we were going, "this is where Grandma lives".

During one of her screenings at Iowa City's Children's Hospital, I asked one of the doctors about this. How could my daughter, who struggles so much with basic concepts and language know directions better than me? He explained it very simply. While the rest of us fill our heads with random thoughts while we drive - how many calories we ate for dinner, what we want for dessert, how much work there is to do at home, how we need to return that phone call, etc - Lyric is zeroed in on the concrete world whizzing past her as we drive by. Stop sign. Car. Building. Tree. Mailbox. Restaurant.

And with this focus, I'm convinced that her little brain is tuned into a world the rest of us are two busy or oblivious to even notice. Is it possible she and others like her have a "sixth sense"?

When Lyric was maybe 4 years old I had a horrible migraine. I could barely sit up it hurt so bad. Lyric asked me what was wrong. I just told her mommy had a very bad headache and that I needed to sleep. A couple hours later I woke up with her lightly holding her hand to my forehead. She leaned in and whispered, "Mommy, is the black all gone?" I was groggy from the headache and sleep and didn't understand. "What do you mean, baby?" I asked. "Is the black in your brain all gone - I want the black to be gone." It took my breath away. What an amazing and insightful way to view my migraine. Was she seeing an aura? And how in the world did she associate my migraine with my brain? That wouldn't normally be a direct correlation in her mind.

Even earlier still - before she was even putting full sentences together I woke up to her screaming and crying from her bedroom. She never, ever cried out for me in the middle of the night so I knew something was very wrong. I flew into her room and turned the light on. I held her and asked her what was wrong. "I saw a ghost mommy".

Now that sentence alone is enough to raise the hairs on the back of anyone's neck.... but to me - it was doubly troubling because Lyric NEVER talked in full sentences. Her rare but correct use of language had my full and undivided attention. I stroked her hair, gave her a squeeze and told her there was no such thing as ghosts. Her head jerked up in my direction. She even sat up a bit. "Uh huh mommy - his name is Scott and he has a scary face."

And there have been more - once following an impromptu nap we both shared in my bedroom she woke me up whispering "mom...mom...mom.." I opened my eyes faintly. "Yes?" I asked. She nudged me to open my eyes more fully and pointed to the corner of the bed. "Who is that guy?" she asked. I looked around uneasily. "What guy???" She pointed again. "The guy sitting right there. He's right there mommy."

Oh Lord, please don't let it be Scott with the scary face, I thought.

Her little mind and her ability to both tune out the "real world" and tune in where others don't is incredibly fascinating to me. It's my understanding that this is where those with Asperger's prosper. They develop an intense focus on a certain subject matter and make it their life's work. I wonder all the time what her focus will be and then worry that having an intense focus on Disney Princesses isn't really going to make for a lucrative career! For the time being, I continue to marvel at a world I can only see through her eyes and have a stronger appreciation for all the things the rest of us are too busy to notice.