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Apparently, it *is* possible to look autistic.

I wonder if that facial appearance that they suggest, goes away in adulthood, one comment they said in one article suggested something that happens after age 12
 
I was looking at their photo examples. All I can say about it is,...unless you are a professional at this, you probably are not going to be able to look at a series of faces and correctly pick out the individuals with autism. Computer analysis may be a bit more accurate. Regardless, these facial characteristics appear subtle, at best.

Having said that, it's been my observation working with the public, especially autistic children, that overall facial expression and tone may be more indicative. Although, this may be, in part, due to the facial structure, as described above. I have seen many videos and photos of people who are autistic,...and few are what one would call "camera friendly" or "photogenic". I am not talking about physical attractiveness, but rather baseline facial expression which tends to be somewhat unexpressive, somewhat "blank", and when smiling, somehow the muscles in the face do not produce what anyone would call "a nice smile",...it almost looks strained and fake. The eyes tend to be open, wide-eyed, but again, almost in a blank stare,...not much expression. I have plenty of video of myself from my years in competitive powerlifting, plenty of photos of me that people have taken,...even my employee badge for work,...I hate the way the camera captures me. I don't know,...perhaps someone could prove me wrong on this, but it in my experience, seems to hold up from a statistical standpoint.
 
its funny, but I was looking at old pictures of myself with family etc, and looking at them im like...how did I not notice this difference, so in my photos I wouldn't look at the camera, my teeth were clenched into like a smile shape..but wasn't what neurotypical ppl call a smile..and uh yh idk its just weird, how u look at it and its like its noticeable.

However I dont think theres rlly much of a statistical evidence for this, and the people who have often said "you dont look autistic" think I am meant to look inbred or the mocking version of autistic people that they dont understand...or that they think im meant to be in my own head and imagination with my eyes having an issue. I feel like others think autism looks like....the mocked version of disabilities, e.g downs syndrome etc <3
 
The two members of my family with autism definitely have the broad forehead and wide mouths. They are ages 67 and 30 and did not outgrow these apparent markers for the spectrum. Very interesting articles.
 
I think it would be very interesting to do a complete physical study of autistics in general and aspies particularly. I have some minor physical deformaties (not really the right word but it is all I can think of at the moment) such as brachtylactyly type d, a.k.a "toe thumbs" and a heart shaped uterous and the length of my upper lip (nose to smile) is short so I can't do a Hollywood style smile.

This is me, do I look autistic?
SmartSelect_20210809-090012_Photos.webp
 
Suzette said:
I think it would be very interesting to do a complete physical study of autistics in general and aspies particularly. I have some minor physical deformaties (not really the right word but it is all I can think of at the moment) such as brachtylactyly type d, a.k.a "toe thumbs" and a heart shaped uterous and the length of my upper lip (nose to smile) is short so I can't do a Hollywood style smile.

This is me, do I look autistic? View attachment 69649
Click to expand...

There she is! Nice photo. :)

Take your finger, block out the face and just look at the eyes,...basically, try to figure out the expression or feeling in it. Basically, it's the "Eyes Test". See what I am observing? Can you identify what Suzette is feeling right now? I am going to suggest NO. My photos are similar, regardless of situation. I am thinking,...my personal observation and theory,...this may be more indicative than say facial structure.

At any rate, a photo is a photo, and only captures that split second in time. It would be interesting to do a study of say,...20-30 second candid videos in different situations, comparing age and gender-stratified autistics and neurotypicals,...just to test my theory of baseline facial expression and tone, especially around the eyes and mouth.
 
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This isn’t something I’d be concerned about. The people that did this funding, I’d question their agenda.

The link leads you to a group called, “Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)”, and if you go to their site, well they only fund a group of people with certain skin color or race. I’m not kidding here is the link and what it says. Unbelievable that because of the color of their skin some scientist will be ignored, how come this isn’t illegal? :(

[edited to say; my point is that there is nothing wrong with any of you and it upsets me that people are making folks feel bad and the source that is telling you to feel bad isn’t a good one in my opinion, they seem racist to me but of course I could be wrong. I seem to be wrong a lot, but please do not feel anything is wrong with any of you. Suzette, you are beautiful! ] :-)

SFARI | SFARI Funding Opportunities

The SPARK Research Match Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity RFA aims to address historic disparities in research participation by Black or African American individuals by soliciting studies on autism that recruit Black or African American participants. Funding will provide per-person participant incentive (e-gift cards) for participation in projects that utilize SPARK Research Match to recruit participants into new research studies.

The maximum budget is $20,000 in per-person incentive funding per study.

...
eligible groups include the following: African American/Black; Latin American/Hispanic; Native American/Alaskan Native; Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander (including Filipino).

The goal of this award is to increase diversity and fight inequity. SFARI Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to recruit candidates for this supplement not only at their home institution, but also at historically Black colleges and universities and other institutions with high minority enrollment.

The budget is up to $100,000 per year for up to three years.
 
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I am not sue how I feel about Spark. For far too long white scientists ignored black research and people of color when studying health. Unless one was an unsuspecting test subject that is.
While it is tempting to think that excluding caucasians is bigoted, it might not be. There is a lack of data specific to people of color in some areas. Concetrating on acquiring that data might be simply be just that. I really don't know.
 
ForestGumpett said:
[edited to say; my point is that there is nothing wrong with any of you and it upsets me that people are making folks feel bad and the source that is telling you to feel bad isn’t a good one in my opinion, they seem racist to me but of course I could be wrong. I seem to be wrong a lot, but please do not feel anything is wrong with any of you. Suzette, you are beautiful! ] :)
Click to expand...

Interesting perspective. I was focusing at it from a biological perspective. In neonatology and pediatrics we deal with quite a bit of anatomical, physiological, neurological, and metabolic diversity. These are things I am interested in as a working professional. As a fellow autistic, I recognize things in myself,...and within the context of these sorts of studies and observations,...it perks my interest,...not my feelings. Of course, I am at a stage in my life where I have gone through my personal acceptance,...and frankly,...have a sense of humor about myself. Someone pointing out that I am, in some way, odd looking, or have "characteristic features" of autism,...doesn't bother me in the slightest.

However, I do appreciate your perspective and thoughts. It would have never crossed my mind at all that there are others who might feel quite a bit different. Thank you.
 
This all reminds me of the axiom, "perception is reality". Making the whole question of whether one "looks" autistic a bit of a moot point, IMO. That whatever society thinks, "goes" on a certain level.

Freddie Highmore seems to do a good job acting as a classically autistic savant. Though despite such publicity it doesn't make his presentation a neurological fact either. :oops:

Then again Solomon Perel survived the Second World War by successfully masquerading as a youthful Aryan in Nazi Germany, despite being Jewish. ;)

Maybe it's best to simply not go here, when looks can be so deceiving. Even when the law may carefully define human from subhuman.
 
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Neonatal RRT said:
I was looking at their photo examples. All I can say about it is,...unless you are a professional at this, you probably are not going to be able to look at a series of faces and correctly pick out the individuals with autism. Computer analysis may be a bit more accurate. Regardless, these facial characteristics appear subtle, at best.

Having said that, it's been my observation working with the public, especially autistic children, that overall facial expression and tone may be more indicative. Although, this may be, in part, due to the facial structure, as described above. I have seen many videos and photos of people who are autistic,...and few are what one would call "camera friendly" or "photogenic". I am not talking about physical attractiveness, but rather baseline facial expression which tends to be somewhat unexpressive, somewhat "blank", and when smiling, somehow the muscles in the face do not produce what anyone would call "a nice smile",...it almost looks strained and fake. The eyes tend to be open, wide-eyed, but again, almost in a blank stare,...not much expression. I have plenty of video of myself from my years in competitive powerlifting, plenty of photos of me that people have taken,...even my employee badge for work,...I hate the way the camera captures me. I don't know,...perhaps someone could prove me wrong on this, but it in my experience, seems to hold up from a statistical standpoint.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Take a look at my 10th grade class photo in which I was trying to smile. Instead it looks like I am sneering.
3B58EE08-05FA-4F2F-B4B9-B88F4842B62E.webp
 
Judge said:
This all reminds me of the axiom, "perception is reality".

Making the whole question of whether one "looks" autistic a bit of a moot point, IMO. That whatever society thinks, "goes" on a certain level.
Click to expand...

"Perception is reality" and "whatever society thinks, goes, on a certain level" has some truth,...until these things can be challenged in a controlled manner. The perception or "emerging truth", within this context, is whether or not there are measurable anatomical characteristics associated with autism. So, if there is enough interest, several experimental models can be produced to challenge these theories. In the end, it will either prove or disprove the theory.

For the past 20 years, or so, researchers have been studying the anatomy and function of the autistic brain vs neurotypical controls. Depending upon the study design,...when comparing data with other similar, but not the same studies,...some results appear to negate each other. However, with more and more studies of different design,...especially functional MRI studies of late, things are becoming more clear. The "emerging truth" is becoming closer to fact.

It is my sincere hope to get the diagnosis of autism out of the psychologist's office and into the neurologist's office. The medical diagnosis is far more accepting to insurance companies,...and society. For too long, behavior and communication issues,...mental health, in general,...has carried with it a social stigma. I can't think of anyone that would make fun of someone with heart or kidney disease, and insurance companies are more willing to cover such things. As we all know, mental health seems to be that under funded, under served entity of human health services. Sure there will be a need for psychologists and psychiatrists to deal with symptoms, but having an accepted medical diagnosis is, in my opinion, critically important.
 
Neonatal RRT said:
"Perception is reality" and "whatever society thinks, goes, on a certain level" has some truth,...until these things can be challenged in a controlled manner. The perception or "emerging truth", within this context, is whether or not there are measurable anatomical characteristics associated with autism. So, if there is enough interest, several experimental models can be produced to challenge these theories. In the end, it will either prove or disprove the theory.
Click to expand...

In a world with social media being so prevalent, science and facts seem increasingly insignificant to a portion of society fed on conspiracy thinking and big lies. "Truth" based on only numbers and ideologies.

Horrifying, but a very real concern for most if not all social minorities.
 
Judge said:
In a world with social media being so prevalent, science and facts seem increasingly insignificant to a portion of society fed on conspiracy thinking and big lies. "Truth" based on only numbers and ideologies.

Horrifying, but a very real concern.
Click to expand...

I am so glad I turned my back on social media. For all the pros and cons of having autism,...at least my autism,...I am so glad I have it as compared to being neurotypical. The more and more I live in this world, the more I appreciate and embrace my inner "alien tourist".:)
 
Neonatal RRT said:
I am so glad I turned my back on social media. For all the pros and cons of having autism,...at least my autism,...I am so glad I have it as compared to being neurotypical. The more and more I live in this world, the more I appreciate and embrace my inner "alien tourist".:)
Click to expand...

Agreed, though unfortunately there's a very few of us with such sentiments.
 
@Rasputin, I don't see a snear. I see a neutral expression which is chacteristic of some class photos in general.
And I don't see anything about your eyes either, except that same neutrality. Which is, of course @Neonatal RRT s point.
 
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