When I read professional descriptions, I often start doubting that I have ASD yet when seeing practical applications of what makes someone be seen as autistic, it is common for me to relate strongly. A good example is how descriptions will refer to deficits such as deficits in non verbal communication. To me, that sounds like an absence of facial expressions, hand gestures, and such like. When people discuss thinking someone is autistic though, they point out unusual expressions or gestures as evidence of autism (unusual not absent). Another point that confuses me is about reduced sharing of interests, yet in practical examples rambling on about something is an indicator of autism which would seem to be the inverse of reduced sharing interests. It gets a bit confusing.
