[Ziomislaw]

Basically it means that when you are born you pick a random amound of traits (with different intensity each) at random from a big bag of autistic traits. Of which the most common are the ones you mentioned. Special interests and different body language are guaranteed.

For example I don't have a very strong preference for routine (but it wasn't nice when my parents rearanged furniture in the kids room), I only am overwhelmed by wearing socks a little and sound a lot, like when I was at a hospital and 3 people started playing music from their phones at the same time I had to run away from the room and

I have a wierd body language but I'm very social, though have trouble keeping in touch with people (can be managed using a calendar reminders but it still feels like a chore).

With age you learn to cope with them (some don't do it), like I learned to compensate for my death stare (consiously managing where I look), it is still wierd but less intense. This causes anxiety.

[cycomanic]

I still don't get it. What are the autistic traits? And are we talking about a clinical diagnosis of autism? The examples you give don't help me really. Nearly 100% of people I know (including myself) have small idiosyncracies that are comparable, i.e. one friend can't leave the house without checking multiple times that the stove is off (I would consider that a mild case of ocd but not autistic), my facial expression often gives people the impression that I'm bored or angry...

It seems almost like you confirm that autism has become to mean neurodiversity (even in the mildest form). Maybe I should phrase the question different, how do we distinguish between autism and other forms of neurodiversity?

[shazbotter]

> Nearly 100% of people I know (including myself) have small idiosyncracies that are comparable, i.e. one friend can't leave the house without checking multiple times that the stove is off

The difference between an idiosyncrasy and a disability is the degree to which it impairs your life.

My need for routines causes anxiety and meltdowns, even at an advanced age. Hearing people chew causes a flight or fight response. I cannot hold conversations in noisy environments. I need support to deal with those things or else I cannot effectively participate in society. I have a disability.

I have a friend who prefers to never use contractions. She can still function just fine even when she must use "can't". She has an idiosyncrasy.

Indeed, the DSM has three levels got two categories of autism. The three levels represent the different support needed to function. "Requires support", "requires substantial support", and "requires very substantial support".

[cycomanic]

Thanks that does make it clearer!

[magicalhippo]

> one friend can't leave the house without checking multiple times that the stove is off (I would consider that a mild case of ocd but not autistic)

Friend of the family was the same. One day they were very late for the a opera, and for once his wife managed to convince him he didn't need to check so they didn't get even more delayed.

Once out of the opera, he sees countless missed calls. Turned out they had left the stove on with a pot on it, and the massive amounts of smoke had triggered the alarm. The alarm company had alerted the fire brigade which had resolved it.

According to the firemen their house was saved by the fact that lid was on. Otherwise the flames would have gotten to the fat in the range hood and since their home was mostly made of wood that would have been real bad.

So, the one time he skips his check, their house almost burns down. Guess what he kept on doing...

[tsoukase]

The suggesting therapy for OCD is to let the patient check the relevant fact once and only once, not none.

[Ziomislaw]

Heh, even doctors have trouble with it. For example I have both ASD and STPD. You could not have both in ICD 10 and can in ICD 11. And symptoms overlap.

In my understanding the most definig thing is that you don't get body language support "in hardware" but can manage it "in software" (just you write the software youself with no spec and no way to validate the results).

[Muromec]

>how do we distinguish between autism and other forms of neurodiversity?

You cant' fix it anyway, so what's the point.

[shazbotter]

Because certain autistic traits are will supported by certain therapies and medications and supports, while other neurodiversity is supported by other forms of therapy, medication, and supports.

You cannot fix the root cause, nor should you seek to, but you can support people in making their experience easier.

[astura]

>when I was at a hospital and 3 people started playing music from their phones at the same time I had to run away from the room

This is an indicator or autism? Because almost everyone would have this reaction. I can't even stand when one person plays music from their phone.

[shazbotter]

I think you may be projecting your experience as the "normal" one, or not understanding the magnitude of "I had to". It's not like, "this is unpleasant" it's like, "I am in a life threatening situation and I must leave to survive".

If you feel a fight or flight response to someone playing music, then you might be autistic, but that's certainly not the reaction everyone has.