Professional Autism Descriptions Vs Practical Examples ?

[FayetheADHDsquirrel]

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.

 

[Masked Man]

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.

I can only make a comment on this part - when I think of "reduced sharing of interests" the image that comes to mind is a guy monologuing about what he is interested in and not at all noticing that the people he is talking at are not the least bit interested. AND when it comes time for someone else to share their interest, he criticizes them for pronouncing a word incorrectly and ignores the rest of what they say.

In other words - no give and take. It's only him wanting someone he can speak at.

 

[RemyZee]

I can only make a comment on this part - when I think of "reduced sharing of interests" the image that comes to mind is a guy monologuing about what he is interested in and not at all noticing that the people he is talking at are not the least bit interested. AND when it comes time for someone else to share their interest, he criticizes them for pronouncing a word incorrectly and ignores the rest of what they say.

In other words - no give and take. It's only him wanting someone he can speak at.

Wouldn't this be more an OVER sharing of interests? Basically demonstrating what the OP says--that while the criteria officially says a lack of sharing of interests, the actual thing autistic people do is over sharing.