Not always noticeable features,

[Vesta]

Share any features that may seem ordinary at first glance but could actually indicate autistic traits. Do you have anything similar? Share your observations!

 

[TBRS1]

A strongly associative memory, where thoughts branch wildly along connected pathways - along with an extremely good memory.

This makes it difficult to narrow speaking/writing down to a single clear thesis, without diverging into unnecessary side pathways.

I deal with this by trying to be extremely precise - but I always end up feeling like I haven't provided enough detail to make my point.

 

[Nervous Rex]

A strongly associative memory, where thoughts branch wildly along connected pathways - along with an extremely good memory.

That's a very good one! I sometimes tell people that one thing reminds me of a dozen others and I have to pick from a list like Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator to decide which reply is right.

 

[Judge]

I'd think the most obvious physical sign of potential autism at a mere glance would be a child or adult flapping their hands as a stim. Though I'd also add it's not a stim I have ever had. Seems harmless enough though, other than perhaps to upset NT parents.

Hand Flapping: When to Worry - North Shore Pediatric Therapy

 

[Aspychata]

l never noticed hand stimming until l came to this site. The other obvious one, is not giving eye contact. l have eye contact days, and lately l am on l prefer no eye contact.

 

[Judge]

l never noticed hand stimming until l came to this site. The other obvious one, is not giving eye contact. l have eye contact days, and lately l am on l prefer no eye contact.

I just observed it the other day in a YouTube video. Sadly it was about teenage drivers being arrested for DUI. Of course no mention was made of the person flapping their hands, though it probably didn't bode well for them under those circumstances to the average policeman.

 

[Cutesie]

l never noticed hand stimming until l came to this site.

My brother Ikey used to stand by the window, hands up in the air, fingers twisting as drool fell to the sill. Now I do more hand flapping than he.

 

[Vesta]

Choosing thicker blankets: People with autism may enjoy the sensation of weight. 2. Regular consumption of sugary drinks: This may be related to a dislike of structured foods and a preference for simpler textures. 3. Overthinking: This is a result of neural overload, which is not an obvious sign.

 

[Nervous Rex]

l never noticed hand stimming until l came to this site.

I hadn't either. I never did the hand flapping, but it seems like my hands are always in motion, fidgeting with something.

I remember one time I was talking at length with someone and fiddling with a pen I had pulled out of my shirt pocket. I realized that might be distracting so I put it away and tried to sit still. A few minutes later, I looked down and saw that the pen was in my hand and I was fidgeting with it again - I had no memory of getting it back out.

 

[Nervous Rex]

One possible subtle feature would be different or delayed reactions to things. Something happens and everyone else reacts one way, but I react a different way - or don't react until much later.

For example, when someone one time said something offensive to us, I just went "Oh", but my wife got very mad. 10 minutes later, she was over it. A few hours after that, I was furious, and took a few hours to get over it.

. Sadly it was about teenage drivers being arrested for DUI. Of course no mention was made of the person flapping their hands, though it probably didn't bode well for them under those circumstances to the average policeman.

That's a situation that terrifies me, just because I know I don't always react the way people expect.

In his book Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell tells about a murder suspect who laughs during police questioning, doesn't seem as worried as the police would expect, and exhibits other strange signs. The police decided this was an indication of guilt and lack of remorse and pursued a wrongful conviction. Gladwell used the term "matching" to describe those who behave as expected and said that all the misunderstanding was because the suspect "didn't match."

I read that story and thought, "That's me. I don't 'match'. The police would behave the same way if I was in that situation." I think that if I was in that situation, I'd want to tell them that I'm autistic and my reactions and behaviors might not exactly match what they expect, and could they please bring in an autism expert?

 

[Judge]

One possible subtle feature would be different or delayed reactions to things. Something happens and everyone else reacts one way, but I react a different way - or don't react until much later.

For example, when someone one time said something offensive to us, I just went "Oh", but my wife got very mad. 10 minutes later, she was over it. A few hours after that, I was furious, and took a few hours to get over it.

That's a situation that terrifies me, just because I know I don't always react the way people expect.

All potentiated by persons with a very high blood alcohol content. Some of them acted almost animalistic under the worst possible circumstances. Also I got the impression of such outbursts based on persons simply not used to being so restrained in handcuffs.

In such instances many of them seemed to become more belligerent through the arrest process. Though the manner in which they were handled seemed to reflect this as routine for jailers and arresting officers.

 

[Cutesie]

I think that if I was in that situation, I'd want to tell them that I'm autistic and my reactions and behaviors might not exactly match what they expect, and could they please bring in an autism expert?

It's definitely a good idea to try. It didn't help me in January, when I checked myself in to a mental hospital. Though I told them about my suspected autism, and begged them for certain needed accommodations, it got me nowhere.

 

[Coxhere]

OCD

 

[Nervous Rex]

OCD

CDO.

The letters should be alphabetized.

 

[Cutesie]

CDO.

The letters should be alphabetized.

OCD.

The letters must be in their proper order.

 

[Nervous Rex]

OCD.

The letters must be in their proper order.

Okay you win.

Add conflict avoidance to the list of Not Always Noticeable Features.

 

[Nervous Rex]

Not knowing how to answer "easy" questions, or a long pause before "easy" questions.

I put "easy" in quotes because they're questions that NT people think are easy, like "How are you" or "Which flavor of ice cream do you want?"

Sometimes I answer things too literally, or think that when someone says "How are you", I actually need to tell them how I am instead of the expected response: "Fine, how are you?"

Other questions cause decision paralysis. Which choice is right? What if I choose the wrong one? How much am I actually supposed to share? How much information is too much information? What if I say the wrong thing?

 

[Coxhere]

Not knowing how to answer "easy" questions, or a long pause before "easy" questions.

I put "easy" in quotes because they're questions that NT people think are easy, like "How are you" or "Which flavor of ice cream do you want?"

Sometimes I answer things too literally, or think that when someone says "How are you", I actually need to tell them how I am instead of the expected response: "Fine, how are you?"

Other questions cause decision paralysis. Which choice is right? What if I choose the wrong one? How much am I actually supposed to share? How much information is too much information? What if I say the wrong thing?

If one doesn't know the person very well who asks, "How are you?" the response is always, "I'm fine. And you?" The more well-founded and well-grounded a friendship is, the more that one can be more specific and honest. If a response to your question back to the one who asked the original question is vague, then one can realize that one mistook the original question as being truly wondering how one is. At that point, backup and get out of the encounter! There's nothing wrong with one who misunderstands. But don't attempt to continue a conversation when it wasn't really sincere. In my opinion, it's more the initial questioner's fault than the one who responds.