Autism Vs. Introvert person

[Niall Hagan]

Hello, my name is Niall and I am new to this site.

Although I was tested during childhood for autism and came out negative, I am still fascinated and interested in the Autism spectrum and want to learn more. This is why I came here.

Many people, like myself, are still not sure how to identify between a person with Autism or Asperger's and a simply socially awkward, quirky, and introverted person. Maybe if you can answer these questions and clarify things, it would really help me.

I have some questions:
-What key features, if any, make people with Asperger's stand out from introverted and socially awkward people?
-Do the symptoms of Autism or Asperger's intensify or diminish over time?
-Can people on the Autism spectrum be very social, have many friends both on or off the spectrum, and be a trend follower?
-Can people with Asperger's or high-functioning autism maintain eye contact during a conversation, or does this depend?
-If someone has a limited number of interests, can you assume that they are on the spectrum?

Answering these questions would really mean so much to me and help clear out a lot of misunderstandings. Thanks!

 

[Dwoops]

Okay, I’m going to try to answer concisely and in order.
Key feature: with autism generally there is a lack of understanding of social behavior, so example getting faces messed up. I get angry and disgusted faces mixed up all the time. I also struggle with understanding of someone is being hostile or not.
Symptom intensity: doesn’t really intensify or diminish, think of it like a state of being or function. Now you can learn to deal with it or use tools to help, which can be conscious or unconscious, so it might be interpreted as being diminished. I would not say it is so.
Social-ness: people with ASD can be very social or not as much, it is a personal thing, completely independent. Granted there is a correlation because generally people with ASD aren’t social because they struggle in social scenarios. Personally I love to try being social, I suck at it and it drains me a lot, but I try.
Eye contact: personal basis again, some people can, some can’t, for me I can if I try hard, but I get this itching sense (no better way of describing it) which forces me to look away or my eyes start to water (has happened and is tough to explain to people)
Assumption: it is my personal opinion it is never safe to assume anything, it doesn’t mean I don’t do it, just understand the risk. I would say that a limited number of interests can be a correlation, but it does not mean they have ASD.
No clue how to answer that last question.
Of couple of final thoughts,
1. Remember that everyone is different whether they are neurotypical or not. I think of ASD as just a different way of the brain working, a good car analogy is we are both cars, ours may be an electric engine and neurotypical is a gasoline engine, they work differently but have the same function.
2. Remember that a correlation does not mean causation. This mainly is for that interest question, just because a lot of people with ASD have specialized interests does not mean a limited number of interest implies ASD.
I hope this helps, I am not an expert but this is what I have found myself.
To anyone else, feel free to correct me if I am mistaken.

 

[Bolletje]

I can only answer for myself:
My autism didn’t get better or worse with age, I just learned to work with it where possible and mask it quite effectively.
I’m rather social, I’ve learned to make eye contact to the point where it doesn’t bother me.
And I’ve never met a furry that I know of.

 

[SusanLR]

Hello, my name is Niall and I am new to this site.

Although I was tested during childhood for autism and came out negative, I am still fascinated and interested in the Autism spectrum and want to learn more. This is why I came here.

Many people, like myself, are still not sure how to identify between a person with Autism or Asperger's and a simply socially awkward, quirky, and introverted person. Maybe if you can answer these questions and clarify things, it would really help me.

I have some questions: I'll give it a shot.
-What key features, if any, make people with Asperger's stand out from introverted and socially awkward people?
Answering for myself: Lack of eye contact, overly enthusiastic when talking about their special interests
vs not interested in usual chit chat. Generally I just ignore people around me when out places.
-Do the symptoms of Autism or Asperger's intensify or diminish over time? For me it intensified starting around age 13. Becoming more anxious, sensory issues worsened, and not caring about the usual socialising or desires that accompany puberty.
Hit the Peter Pan syndrome and didn't have the desire
to grow up emotionally - so I didn't.
Desire to learn about special interests intensified.
-Can people on the Autism spectrum be very social, have many friends both on or off the spectrum, and be a trend follower? I never could, wouldn't even want to.
-Can people with Asperger's or high-functioning autism maintain eye contact during a conversation, or does this depend? Depends for me. If it is someone I am very close with I can to a certain degree. People in general - No.
-If someone has a limited number of interests, can you assume that they are on the spectrum? Possibly. Everyone I have known that is on the spectrum has limited or obsessive interests.
-I see this silly question a lot on the internet, but is there a connection, if any, between furries and autism?
I would have to know definition of 'furries.'

Answering these questions would really mean so much to me and help clear out a lot of misunderstandings. Thanks!

 

[Suzanne]

I am not official YET.

My husband is an introvert and an nt. I cannot be in company for too long, before I am mentally exhausted and right now, in this time, I cannot even face a small amount.

My husband has no need for social interations; he is quite happy being alone. When he does socialise, despite not being a popular type of guy, he does intergrate well.

I have found that since discovering aspergers, that I have got to know ME a lot better. I would often be asked: and what do you like etc etc and I was stuck for a response; but now, I think I would do better.

From not being able to cope with eye contact, up to a point, I have no trouble now. As long as the person is not talking a lot ( ironic, since I can talk a lot when I get going), I am ok.

I believe and that aspies for the most part, aspies are not introverts, because we suffer lonliness from not being able to interact well; but of course, it is on the spectrum, so there is always room for some aspies who are introverts.

I read that on the contrary, being an introvert is not a negative. In fact being an extrovert is a negative, because they NEED social interactions in order to feel ok. I know this, because there is one lady who is extremely gargarious and yet, also very sensitive and she told me that she NEEDS social interactions.

So, we aspies WANT to be social, but are unable, because of not understanding the subtle language of nts.

 

[Lia]

One difference is that people with ASD not only struggle with social interaction, but also with things like sensory issues/changes in routine/planning and time management.
For me, the symptoms have definitely changed over time. For example, I've always been sensitive to sound, and I still am, but it was a lot worse when I was a kid.
And yes, for me it really depends who I'm talking to when it comes to eye contact. With most people I have little to none, but with my boyfriend eye contact is not an issue at all.

 

[Chance]

Hi Niall,
Glad you're here and I think its cool that you care to try to understand people like us...

Over and over people say if you meet one ASD person... You just met one person with ASD. We just like others are vastly different, yet have things that lump us into this ND mindset.

SusanLR hit on my mindset with Peter Pan Syndrome... It's not that I play still play with toys or anything like that... I grew up just fine, but I never grew up inside. I still have this kid like wonder, and I will dig into anything that catches my attention and mess with it till I am satisfied I understand it... Or I will get all flustered in not being able to find what I am searching for.

I am introvert as are many ASD people, but my sensory issues maybe magnify that, because I tend to want to be off to myself a lot... It's more of an escape, or a necessity, than something I really want mostly.

I suck at eye contact. I suck at large social situations, and small talk. I don't even like to talk, but I love to write what I think.

I'm not sure about "intensity over time..." Of course I learned how to "fake or mask" some things to fit in, but at times I really dislike that I have to do that to just to fit some narrative I don't even like at times... sometimes I just get tired of even trying. Its exhausting to do this because its not normal for me... and yet I have been forced to be something I am not most all of my life.

So at some point, I (we) start noticing all these little weird things that are tearing us apart and now technology lets us get together to piece this all back together somewhat.

There is tons of stuff on this site that can fill you in on how we really think and act...

 

[Progster]

-What key features, if any, make people with Asperger's stand out from introverted and socially awkward people?

I have a monotone voice, don't engage in chit-chat (or I force myself for the sake of politeness), I have difficulties with humour, especially banter, I don't join in group conversations even though I often want to, because I can't process the conversation fast enough to respond, I don't pick up on people's emotions or know how to respond to them, and can't 'fill in' to understand implied meaning, and can't handle a lot of information coming in at once, or from different, often competing sources. Social awkwardness comes from anxiety, and most people with ASD experience this and hence the social awkwardness or shyness, but ASD is more that that, because the cognitive functioning is different, so what we experience in a given situation is often different to what those without ASD experience.

-Do the symptoms of Autism or Asperger's intensify or diminish over time?

Different for every person. I have improved on my social skills since childhood, have less rigid behaviour and thought processes, but some sensitivity issues have got worse. ASD doesn't go away, it is managed or coped with, in my case by my feeling that I have some control over my situation and environment.

-Can people on the Autism spectrum be very social, have many friends both on or off the spectrum, and be a trend follower?

Yes, they can in that there's nothing stopping them from doing so, and some are social, extroverted and interested in fashion (it may be an interest or hobby), but the majority aren't - or are extroverted, but have had unpleasant experiences and so withdraw, or aren't accepted easily by their peers, and so aren't so interested in socialising. Again, socialising is something that is often a very different experience for us due to cognition differences.

-Can people with Asperger's or high-functioning autism maintain eye contact during a conversation, or does this depend?

It depends on the person. Yes, we can, some are good at it and just as with all kids, we are socialised to make eye contact from a young age, but it often feels awkward or unconfortable - for me, it's like trying to make two opposite poles of a magnet meet, and I tend to look at the person and then look away. I can't talk to a person and maintain eye contact at the same time. I feel vulnerable and exposed, like being on stage.

-If someone has a limited number of interests, can you assume that they are on the spectrum?

No. All people have hobbies and interests, and NTs can often have very intense, unusual and consuming interests. Both my father and my partner have such interests, but they aren't autistic - I would say that they were 'gifted' and it may be associated with that, but anyone can have few, intense interests. Also, people on the spectrum often can have a wide range of interests, love learning and have a wide knowledge of a variety of subjects.

 

[Full Steam]

I'm an extrovert.

Pretty chatty and I have to do face to face and phone selling for my job. Not all the time, as it would wipe me out.

I don't do mindless getting to know you chat though, I only want to talk about interesting stuff, or make people laugh.

I have a need to be around people, but only the right people, and then only for so long as it's very tiring, and my brain shuts down.

I also don't like being the centre of attention in a large group, but small group is fine.

Eye contact. Well I know its not quite right, but even my psychologist said he couldn't detect any thing odd. I'm very aware of it though.

The most obvious trait for me is I seem to know a lot about a lot. That's because I get big special interests, and I've had lots of them. I don't forget the facts much, and I always try to talk about my own interests.

Outside of them I keep quiet as I'm clueless. Not that great at general knowledge either.

 

[Bella Pines]

-What key features, if any, make people with Asperger's stand out from introverted and socially awkward people?

The term "socially awkward" is subjective and seen from a neurotypical (non autistic perspective). I don't seem myself as socially awkward. I am simply uncomfortable with loud noises and in crowded rooms. Just like neurotypicals are uncomfortable with conversation gaps or meaningful conversations. They should be termed "intellectually awkward".

Additionally, there is a bizarre expectation on how to behave, but because aspies analyse everything, I see it differently. For example, in my culture people smile and air kiss cheeks as a greeting. This greeting is performed whether the person likes the other person or not. The ritual is performed because it is expected and makes people feel comfortable if it doesn't happen as expected, again for no reason. Because I don't perform this ritual, I am seen as socially awkward. However, I see it as quite logical.

-Do the symptoms of Autism or Asperger's intensify or diminish over time?

Probably intensify, though it could be that they are more noticed and less effort is applied to hiding them.

-Can people on the Autism spectrum be very social, have many friends both on or off the spectrum, and be a trend follower?

If they can be bothered.

-Can people with Asperger's or high-functioning autism maintain eye contact during a conversation, or does this depend?

Of course. Anyone who has muscular control over their eyes can maintain eye contact.

-If someone has a limited number of interests, can you assume that they are on the spectrum?

No. Additionally it is a spectrum. Just like you can't say someone is an "extrovert". They have aspects and are occasionally this way inclined.

 

[AO1501]

-What key features, if any, make people with Asperger's stand out from introverted and socially awkward people?

You have had some really great answers to your questions, but this one stuck in my mind because it may seem like it's hard to answer when really it isn't.

It is true to say, as has already been posted, that we are as variable in nature as any other group of people, so there isn't a way to simply quantify features that might make aspies stand out from any other introverted and socially awkward people. However, what it is possible to say is that where 'other introverted and socially awkward people' may have no other unusual symptoms or behaviours, aspies invariably will.

What those symptoms or behaviours are will depend on the individual aspie, but on the basis that you are curious in order to help determine if you are on the spectrum too, you could broadly expect that an aspie will also have stimming behaviours; be sensitive to sound or light; could find it hard to differentiate sounds, making it hard to focus on a conversation if there are other sounds, particularly voices, within earshot; quite likely will not like talking on the phone, except with people they know; may have really excellent long term memory but very poor short-term - meaning may be able to recall the lyrics of a song from 20 years ago, but not be able to remember a few seconds or a minute ago; tend to take things literally rather than figuratively; have well developed analytical and logical thought processes; have problem solving skills which seem to result in unusual solutions others don't think of; will likely be a 'transmitter', meaning typically outputs thoughts, ideas, points of view, facts and details, rather than a 'receiver' typically listening to others; need 'downtime' when stresses of sensory or social input grow too much; have 'meltdowns' or 'shutdowns' if downtime isn't possible; likely will have difficulty interpreting facial expressions or body language; might find it hard to maintain eye contact during conversations; dive deeply into subjects that become interesting - this can appear to be obsessive to others; can often engage in social conversations with close friends, but typically not with others, including in the workplace; if asked why they don't engage with the team in a work environment, may tend to reply 'I get paid to do my job, not sit around and talk'.

There are many others too, but if you find yourself recognising some of the above factors as part of who you are, then it would begin to suggest that instead of just being an introvert, you might also be on the spectrum, and looking at some of the online tests might be the next step.

If none of the above fit you at all, it makes it less likely that you are on the spectrum, but it might also be that you are not recognising the symptoms in yourself, so it would be worth asking those who know you well, how they see you in the context of these, and other 'traditional' autistic deficits.

-Do the symptoms of Autism or Asperger's intensify or diminish over time?

I think this depends a great deal on the individual and individual circumstance. For me, learning to mimic the world of 'normal' people (often known as NTs or Neuro-Typicals) has meant that I have simply become more adept at masking and not noticing my own aspie characteristics, and them not being so visible to others. But then I am fortunate that I have few interactions with others and am left to do my job without supervision or interruption. However, I still overload with sensory input if I can't control it, and I still can't differentiate sounds, or remember 10 seconds ago, and have all the other internal deficits, so it's really just how well, or badly, I interface with the world that has changed over time.

Asperger's is for life, even for those who have found ways to adjust.

 

[Buzzerfly]

The difference between NT and autism is neurological, affecting physical appearance, sensory perception etc. if an NT is removed from most social structures, he/she will experience the reality of a flawed world that autistics are forced to face at all times. How this experience is processed differs between an NT and autistic, but there's a lot of overlap too.

In my opinion, autism exists when a brain is prevented from forming hard wired connections. Instead of being connected to a group network like NTs, autistics can either link up to something spiritual or float around solo ...

On this site, there are autistics, trolls, persons that think they have autism but are really NTs who don't fit into the world, and there's a handful of weirdos who think being autistic/dating an autistic is a fad

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

I wonder how good are we in recognising it in each other?
On here, in real life?
It is a wide spectrum but I tend to find a commonality running through above and below the words,if you know what I mean.

Or just reading others people's experiences and thinking, didn't want it but that's me too.

 

[AO1501]

I wonder how good are we in recognising it in each other?
On here, in real life?
It is a wide spectrum but I tend to find a commonality running through above and below the words,if you know what I mean.

Or just reading others people's experiences and thinking, didn't want it but that's me too.

I wish you hadn't wondered that!

It appears that my daughter is on the spectrum, and I failed completely to recognise the fact until she was working in an environment that caused unexpected reactions, self-isolation and meltdowns. It was only when trying to determine what was happening that the answer became obvious. Once obvious, all the signs throughout her life became very clear.

 

[Full Steam]

I wonder how good are we in recognising it in each other?
On here, in real life?
It is a wide spectrum but I tend to find a commonality running through above and below the words,if you know what I mean.

Or just reading others people's experiences and thinking, didn't want it but that's me too.

I think I can often tell, but in many cases I think it may be impossible, especially if someone is deep under cover.

Tony attwood is one of the leading lights in aspergers research, and has changed the way it's viewed the world over.
He missed that his own son is aspergers until he was in his 30s and in prison after getting into drugs and robberies.

The head of an autism charity in the UK, whose name escapes me also missed it in her own very close family.

I think being on the spectrum help identify others sometimes, as I sometimes just click with people, of think "that person was very smart", and then go "hmm".

Without that it's a question of knowing the pattern and applying it, which can be hard.

 

[Sherlock77]

Good question! Since I'm a non-diagnosed Aspie, I know I scored above threshold levels when I did some online tests last May...

Several friends had suggested it to me for a few years before that... Anyway, early June of last year I was at a large street festival (yes, a large crowd) and went up a back alley to chase a garage sale sign, turned it was a guy I knew, we got talking... For some reason Asperger's came up, he also had people tell him he might have it, but when he did tests they came back negative (that he isn't an Aspie) but he's still a very eccentric and social person...

About an hour later, same festival, ran into an old friend and we got talking and Asperger's came up, we have known each other fairly well for about 10 years, I actually met him because I took a stranger portrait of him on a rainy afternoon, I do remember the exact moment... Anyway, he told me that he thought of Asperger's with me through our various conversations over the years...

I actually don't feel a need to get the testing done at this point, fully employed and function reasonably well in society, with some hiccups of personality mixed in...

Yes, I'm an Aspie (99% sure) who does street photography and street portraiture, which in itself is quite social... Here is that photo of Max from May 20th 2007, 11 years ago!

 

[zurb]

-What key features, if any, make people with Asperger's stand out from introverted and socially awkward people?

Introversion has to do with personality. It is possible, though somewhat rare, to have an extroverted aspie/autie.

-Do the symptoms of Autism or Asperger's intensify or diminish over time?

I’d say stay the same, though one might learn to hide it or cope better. Under times of stress its sure to show though.

-Can people on the Autism spectrum be very social, have many friends both on or off the spectrum, and be a trend follower?

There will always be exceptions to the rule, but generally an aspie/autie will have fewer (potentially deeper) friendships.

To follow trends or not to would depend on level of interest, would it not? Aspies will often not follow a trend if they don’t see a purpose, or if something else makes more sense.

-Can people with Asperger's or high-functioning autism maintain eye contact during a conversation, or does this depend?

By default, they typically don’t. But it can be learned. But even then it tends to be ‘unnatural’ from an NT perspective. Even NTs won’t look in the eye 100% of the time. Getting the right balance is difficult for an aspie.

-If someone has a limited number of interests, can you assume that they are on the spectrum?

No. You can’t make any diagnosis on a single symptom or trait.

 

[BlueSky Aozora]

Hello, my name is Niall and I am new to this site.

Although I was tested during childhood for autism and came out negative, I am still fascinated and interested in the Autism spectrum and want to learn more. This is why I came here.

Many people, like myself, are still not sure how to identify between a person with Autism or Asperger's and a simply socially awkward, quirky, and introverted person. Maybe if you can answer these questions and clarify things, it would really help me.

I have some questions:
-What key features, if any, make people with Asperger's stand out from introverted and socially awkward people?
-Do the symptoms of Autism or Asperger's intensify or diminish over time?
-Can people on the Autism spectrum be very social, have many friends both on or off the spectrum, and be a trend follower?
-Can people with Asperger's or high-functioning autism maintain eye contact during a conversation, or does this depend?
-If someone has a limited number of interests, can you assume that they are on the spectrum?

Answering these questions would really mean so much to me and help clear out a lot of misunderstandings. Thanks!

There are many types of introverts though. Like in the 16-personalities. And i saw a youtube about an extrovert autistic person.

But interesting question.

 

[HidinginPlainSight]

My opinion on this, is that there are currently a number of different, poorly described syndromes, which are all lumped under one umbrella. The idea of neurodiversity is a relatively new one. A person is still only described as neurodiverse by circumstantial evidence. That doesn't mean no evidence, a person can still get convicted of murder with good circumstantial evidence, but it isn't the same as DNA.

The syndrome(s) has not changed in the past however many years, but the definition has. They are constantly regrouping and re-classifying the spectrum. One day, any one of us could find ourselves off this spectrum and on a completely different spectrum. It's not like saying you have X virus (not comparing autism to a virus) and then testing for said virus and isolating it. The criteria is qualitative and therefore subjective.

An introverted person certainly could get misdiagnosed. They could even misdiagnose themselves. There is enough circumstantial evidence to say neurodiversity is real, however the understanding of the phenomenon is not refined. In the future, the questionnaires could be a thing of the past. They may be able to take some blood or do a brain scan and come back with your answer in a few days. Right now, the best we have is the judgement of trained professional and knowledge about ourselves............but let's face it the doctors who prescribed heroin to infants at the turn of the 19th century were professionals too and plenty of people have believed themselves to have mystical powers. Neither criteria is completely reliable.