Sense of direction - Cerebral Palsy Message Board

Steffers2318 · 08-06-2005, 11:00 AM

Does anyone else have trouble with directions/remembering how to get somewhere? I have to look at a map to know how to get somewhere, even if I've been there before, and even a map is a little tough for me to follow...does this possibly have something to do with CP, or do I just not have good spatial abilities? I feel like such an idiot sometimes, I hafta think for a while about whether I'm supposed to go left or right... OH well.

I also don't drive so maybe that's part of it.

redgoddess33 · 08-06-2005, 03:03 PM

LOL, gacatmandu has the same problem....after 2 months in the little bitty town he still has a hard time finding his way around. Probably because we don't have a mall. I swear he's like a freaking homing pigeon when it comes to malls. Navigate Indianapolis? NO PROBLEM! This mall is this way, that mall is that way, I just go past this mall to get to something-or-other. Go around the circle, turn right here, turn left here, go past there, we're here! Boonville, on the other hand, is a town of about 6,000 people. Heck, they roll up the sidewalks after 11 pm. He can get to 2 gas stations, wal mart, and the grocery store. LOL

Zagreus · 08-08-2005, 05:24 PM

My son clearly has some issues with spatial orientation. He works on it in OT.

eri02 · 08-15-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steffers2318

Does anyone else have trouble with directions/remembering how to get somewhere? I have to look at a map to know how to get somewhere, even if I've been there before, and even a map is a little tough for me to follow...does this possibly have something to do with CP, or do I just not have good spatial abilities? I feel like such an idiot sometimes, I hafta think for a while about whether I'm supposed to go left or right... OH well.

I also don't drive so maybe that's part of it.

a trillion times yes! ppl have told me that not driving is part of it...i guess they think b/c i don't drive i don't pay close attn, but it's really the opposite--one of the reasons i don't drive is that i know i will be constantly lost. it took me a year to learn my way around the small (1000 students) college. i can't read a map, either. i also have trouble with left vs. right. i really do have to think about the diff. if someone touches me (like from behind), i automatically look the other way. i was still putting my shoes on the wrong feet in 4th grade(but was one of the smartest kids in class).

i, too, have wondered if this is cp related. i haven't seen a doctor for cp since i was a preteen (almost 25 now)...too many peripheral health probs that were more important. so i am the last person to ask. it seems to me that poor spatial skills could be a result of cp. *shrugs* i'm not sure what else it could be. but i'm really glad i'm not the only one.

Christine23 · 08-16-2005, 12:58 AM

I don't have a problem with this. I do get nervous if I am driving somewhere new, but once I get where I am going the first time I am ok. My problem is I am afraid that I'll get into the wrong lane. I think I've gotten better at reading maps through traveling to different areas of the state. I usually am the one reading the map/ directions while someone else drives.

I could see it being a problem related to CP, but it might depend on what area of the brain was dammaged/
If someone told be quickly to turn left or right I do take a second to think about it, but I don't think that is necessarily are result of CP because I know a lot of AB people who do the same thing.