People with Asperger's (now part of the autism spectrum) see the world through a different lens, characterized by intense focus, concrete thinking, heightened sensory experiences, and unique social processing, often leading to literal interpretations, difficulty with unspoken social cues, but also deep expertise and novel problem-solving, viewing things like rules and sensory input with greater emphasis or disruption than neurotypical people. Their brains process information differently, prioritizing facts, patterns, or visual details over intuitive social understanding, creating a "spectator" feeling in social situations.
People with Asperger syndrome see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. They don't have the learning disabilities that many autistic people have, but they may have specific learning difficulties. Asperger syndrome generally involves: Difficulty with social interactions.
Physical Symptoms:
It might be hard for the child (or adult) with autism to walk up to another person and start talking to them. They might not like talking that much and prefer to keep to themselves. On the other hand, some people with autism might overshare and might not know when to let the other person have a turn to talk.
May not recognize verbal and non-verbal cues or understand social norms. For example, they may stare at others, not make eye contact, or not know what personal space means. May have speech that's flat and hard to understand. It lacks tone, pitch, and accent.
Children with Asperger's Syndrome may exhibit poor social interactions, unusual speech patterns, and limited facial expressions. They might have unique mannerisms, obsessive routines or interests, and sensitivity to sensory stimuli.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Many autistic individuals struggle with expressing their thoughts and feelings verbally, which can lead to frustration and argumentative behavior. ABA therapy focuses on teaching alternative communication methods to help individuals articulate their needs effectively without resorting to arguments.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
People with Asperger's syndrome (Aspies) tend to be above average in intelligence and have very focused interests. We also have a repetitive type of behavior. This means that in a job where we are problem-solving, this type of behavior is very helpful. It also enhances the ability to solve problems.
Dan Aykroyd, the famous actor and comedian renowned for his roles in films like Ghostbusters, has had a remarkable journey with Asperger's syndrome.
Computer science is a good choice because it is very likely that many of the best programmers have either Asperger's syndrome or some of its traits. Other good majors are: accounting, engineering, library science, and art with an emphasis on commercial art and drafting.
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For those with high autistic traits, attraction may not hinge on mainstream ideals of beauty, but rather on subtle cues that resonate with their own internal experiences—whether it's comfort, familiarity, or identity reflection.
One key factor that affects how autistic adults show their emotions is how they take in sensory information. Many autistic people have sensory sensitivities, which means they can easily feel overwhelmed by too much sensory input. As a result, they might have strong emotional reactions, like crying.
Chinning is a form of repetitive self-stimulatory behavior (stimming) that you may notice in children or adults with autism. It involves pressing, rubbing, or holding the chin against objects, surfaces, or even hands to gain sensory input or comfort.
Triggers for anger often include sensory overload, difficulty in processing emotions, social misunderstandings, and stress. Many individuals with HFA find it hard to interpret facial expressions and body language, further complicating social interactions and increasing frustration.
Children with autism may exhibit rigidity, inflexibility and certain types of repetitive behavior such as: Insistence on following a specific routine. Having difficulty accepting changes in the schedule. A strong preoccupation with a particular interest.
"Looping" in autism, often called "autism looping," is a non-clinical term for getting stuck in repetitive thought patterns, questions, or phrases, like a broken record, often due to anxiety, sensory overload, or a need for resolution, making it hard to switch focus and causing stress, overlapping with perseveration and rumination. It can manifest as replaying conversations, worrying intensely, or repeating sounds/words (echolalia) as a way to process or self-regulate.
In general, people who have an active lifestyle are much more emotionally resilient and focused. There also seems to be some evidence that physical exercise helps people with depression and ADHD, which are commonly co-occurring conditions with autism.
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We found that higher autistic traits were associated with poorer reports of physical health, and a faster pace of aging. This suggests that both those with autism and those with higher autistic traits may be more likely to experience poorer health outcomes.
It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life. Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a "cure".