Autism Spectrum Disorder?

[Urakro]

What are your thoughts on Autism Spectrum Disorder, and have you had experiences with it? Either yourself, or something that you know?

I'm relating to this type of personality quite a lot now that I put my attention on it. It's been on the back of my mind for a while, but now that I'm reading about it, it explains lots of things.

First, my parents really didn't have much of a doubt that I had autism, and were trying to fight with a few psychologists for help. Mostly the hand-flapping gave it away. That, and I had a really weird communication style, and would drive them nuts when I decided I'd go mute.

But I'm an adult now, yet I'm still very out of place from everyone else. Never really could pin-point why; there could be so many different reasons. With people, it often seems like they are all in on something that I don't know about or a part of.

That, and I always do things weird. There is a subtle, atypical characteristic to things I do physically. I'm not clumsy in the least though, just somewhat strange.

I could ramble on about what I think and read about this, but I'm interested in what people think of ASD's, or anything relating to it.

 

[Pyropyro]

I'm a confirmed autistic. It's not that bad in my opinion aside from a certain sensitivity to sounds and light and a bit of social awkwardness. In fact, I'm actually enjoying being the weird walking encyclopedia dude (their moniker, not mine). It's handy for both work and social gatherings.

Relationship-wise, I think I had a bumpy start with my gf due to my autism but with constant communication and me crafting internal rules specifically for said relationship made it more stable.

Physically, I'm clumsier than the average person but a little exercise lessen the effects of clumsiness a bit.

Anyways, my suggestion for people who think they're autistic is to confirm it first through professionals. I don't respect self-diagnosed autism. Self-proclaimed autistics are most of the time are simply awkward, assholes or both.

 

[Sinny91]

I've entertained the thought.. I was actually taking some tests earlier on today in regards to.. I share some tendencies with those in the AU/AS spectrum, but I don't think I am one. I just think I'm an awkward asshole, as Pyro puts it's.

 

[QuickTwist]

Well, as I'm sure most of the core members of this forum are aware of by now I am very compulsive, but that's about all the closer I come to being autistic. Horrible comparison I know. I don't have weird mannerisms. They are pretty unassuming and go with the flow type of thing. At least no one has told me I have weird mannerisms I take after my mom in this way - she is very charismatic. My dad on the other hand is so hammy it would make most of you INTPs sick to your stomach.

 

[Brontosaurie]

From my experience they're, quite surprisingly, not incapable of genuine connection. Sometimes one wonders if they are as they can be very poor with the social graces, the give and take. But at other times they can surpass most people in terms of interpersonal enthusiasm and appreciation. It's highly situational - they have poor social control, but they're very straight-forward, and open-minded in the sense of being able to entertain various ideas, despite their weird hang-ups and tendency toward tunnel vision. Some of my best conversations have happened with diagnosed autists. When they don't care, they're oblivious and tactless, and their social output will be limited essentially to meandering or overflowing recitations of catalogue entries with no parsing for relevance. But when they do care, it really shows. They engage deeply and thoroughly, and there is a real exchange. They couldn't do it any other way.

I guess it's a matter of degree and admittedly i haven't met a clear-cut case of autism in the "mental retardation" sense. I suppose the ones i've met are closer to the less severe end of the spectrum. Which is not to say they belong to the conspicuous inflation trend. They're the real deal.

This could be all bullshit for all i know. Just trying to convey what my current "mental vista" looks like for this topic. I like weird people and i think they like me too.

 

[Pyropyro]

When they don't care, they're oblivious and tactless, and their social output will be limited essentially to meandering or overflowing recitations of catalogue entries with no parsing for relevance. But when they do care, it really shows. They engage deeply and thoroughly, and there is a real exchange. They couldn't do it any other way.

^ THIS

 

[QuickTwist]

My uncle has autism and he's the only one in the world who can do the job he does in his career. His social understanding is kinda predictable, but the guy is very likeable. He's one of the few extended family members who I enjoy talking to. He is reserved and a bit heady, but in a good way. He's not really super cold either. He makes some very clever jokes that I enjoy. I guess his one fault (can be taken as a pro in some ways) is that I can think of is that he doesn't really show his dominance in social situations, at least not aggressively.

 

[peoplesuck]

Spoiler

http://www.calgaryautism.com/characteristics.htm

out of how ever many of these, there were 29 I didn't seem to have. One of my teachers has an autistic schizophrenic kid, she told me i have a lot of the characteristics and am probably an aspie.
also if you read that list, did anyone else think the inappropriate use of pronouns was referring to people as "it"?

 

[Black Rose]

In school I had no social life.
So they thought I did have ASD.
I am pretty much a Neurotypical.

Temple Grandin On Her Search Engine | Blank on Blank | PBS Digital Studios

 

[Intolerable]

I think it real though I'm not Autistic by any measure.

Back in the 70s I remember a kid from the neighborhood who had Autism. It wasn't known to me then what exactly his problem was but he was very much disconnected from us in the social circle. We thought he was retarded due to the way he tried to communicate with us.

I have a nephew who is Autistic now and behaviorally they are almost a complete match. Never looks you in the eyes though they want to. Never has a genuine reply. Almost always the same phrase again and again. The same symptoms more than 40 years later in another person.

Now, if you just have an atypical way of doing things it doesn't mean you have Autism. I have an atypical way of doing things and routinely get in arguments with people about it. Odds are good if you are an INTP you just figured out how to do some things on your own without ordained instructions. It pisses people off who were trained properly but if your methods work for you just flip them the bird and get on with life.

 

[Nebulous]

Spoiler

http://www.calgaryautism.com/characteristics.htm

I gave half points to ones I wasn't completely sure of.
10.5/20 social skills
2/10 linguistic/ language development
18.5/22 behaviors
10/13 emotions/ sensitivities
3/7 school related
7.5/14 health/ movement
51.5/86 total

(I might have counted things wrong, don't kill me if there are any obvious mistakes.)
I used to wonder if I was on the autistic spectrum, but I'm pretty sure now that I'm not.
Almost all the symptoms I do have can be attributed to social anxiety, OCD, emotional dysregulation, and/or normal INTP things.