Feb 07 2009
Autism Myth: No Sense of Humor
I’ve often heard the rumor about individuals on the autism spectrum that they have no senses of humor. I can’t fathom, especially living with my son, where such a notion could come from. Not only do I find him to have a very sharp wit, but I could say the same of a number of people that I know who are on the spectrum.
From the GRASP (The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership) website:
“People on the autism spectrum do not have a sense of humor.
This is one of the least harmful but most ridiculous myths about the autism spectrum. It is probably due to the fact that people on the spectrum often are unable to “get” many conventional jokes, or simply do not find them funny. This is then interpreted as a lack of a sense of humor. In reality, many people on the autism spectrum develop a strong interest in humor, especially after enough jokes are explained to them and / or they develop the ability to understand them independently. The result can range from a downright hilarious individual, who happens to be on the autism spectrum, to someone with an unconventional and perhaps highly original style of humor.
—Karl Wittig”
I am reminded of Gus’s antics last spring as he was receiving his Principal’s Award and he (inches from the principal) grabbed the microphone and shouted, “Is this thing on?” He saw an easy laugh and went for it. Usually, his humor is a little more understated and deadpan, but no less funny.
Tonight he looked zoned out and tired, and wasn’t responding to anything I was saying to him. So to see if he was just ignoring me, I started to pretend to hypnotize him.
“You’re getting sleeeeee-py…” I said, wiggling my fingers in front of his eyes. No response. Total stillness. It was as if I were a ghost and he didn’t even see me. “When I snap my fingers, you will act like a chicken.” Snap.
“Bawk! Bawk!”
The kid never even missed a beat. He couldn’t have timed it better if we’d planned it.
No sense of humor?
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard” ~Groucho Marx
I love the Dolly quote! I’ve not heard it was her’s before. I work with a lady who’s daughter has Asperger’s. I wonder though if she’d been diagnoses when she was younger if she might do better with adjustments? She’s now late 20’s and is sorta resisting that her daughter has this.
Good luck, nice post
Sandy
Love visitors, welcome mats always out
It’s amazing how ignorant we can be and with all these preconceived ideas we run around amok lol. Good post. I loved it.
How did I miss this post? My 16 year old with Aspergers has an absolutely KILLER sense of humor - though he sometimes has trouble understanding when a joke has been taken as far as it can go. He loves stories, and loves telling funny stories to people. He can (and does) sit through a Comedy Network show once and then repeat the entire routine through from start to finish. Over. and. over.
But I didn’t need Jid to tell me this one is a myth. I worked with autistic kids from all parts of the spectrum when I was working outside the home, and even the kids who were deemed “profoundly” affected, with “no communication skills” clearly had a sense of humor. In fact, I had Jid rolling out of his chair laughing with stories about one of my boys - who didn’t speak at all till he was 13 but was the wickedest practical joker I’ve ever known.