izzy

#neurodiversity #autism

This is a list of autistic traits based on the ICD-11 diagnostic guidlines for ASD as of February 2022. The arrows (–>) point to examples created by me. (Examples. I personally may or may not be experiencing them. To cover as much of the spectrum as possible in a list like this, I included things I don't experience as well). Only the bullet points are actually mentioned in the guidelines.

Social

• I do not understand what people are communicating to me
  • –> I don't understand what people are communicating with their tone of voice
  • –> I don't understand what people are communicating through gestures
  • –> I don't understand what people are communicating with their face
• I am not interested in what other people communicate to me
  • –> I don't think a lot about what people's body language, face, or tone are supposed to tell me
  • –> I assume that, if there's something important, people will tell me with their words
  • –> Sometimes I'm so focused on a conversation or a topic that I don't have any energy left to also focus on somebody's body, face, or tone
• People tell me that my reactions to others are “weird” or even wrong
  • –> I don't know how to react to someone who “sounds” or “looks” sad/happy, but doesn't tell me they are sad/happy
  • –> Sometimes it takes me a while to process what somebody means, so I don't react quickly enough or at all
  • –> When I don't know what people mean, I often react in a way they didn't expect. For example, somebody uses their face to tell me they are excited, but I don't notice, so I don't react to their excitement.
• I have trouble using the same methods of nonverbal communication that other people use
  • –> It's difficult to make eye contact the way people expect me to
  • –> I have trouble using gestures and body language in the same way most people do
  • –> My face communicates differently from other people. For example, I might smile when I'm feeling anxious or insecure
• I use those methods of nonverbal communication less than other people
  • –> I avoid eye contact, for example because it is painful
  • –> People often think my emotions are less intense than they really are, because they look less intense on my face
  • –> People tell me I have a “flat” or “monotone” voice
• I don't understand the way people use language when talking to me or to each other
  • –> I have trouble understanding things like sarcasm or implied meaning
  • –> I don't (automatically) know what “How are you” could mean other than its literal meaning
  • –> It takes me a while to understand metaphors and idioms
• I don't use language the same way that others do when I'm in social situations
  • –> People look for hidden meaning in what I say, even though there isn't one
  • –> People don't understand when I'm being sarcastic or joking
  • –> I don't use the same social rituals others do, like small talk
• I have trouble with back-and-forth conversation
  • –> When people ask me a question, like “How was your weekend”, I usually just reply without asking a question back
  • –> Sometimes I don't know how to reply to other people (or I don't know that I should), so it's mostly just them talking
  • –> When I explain something I'm interested in, it's usually just me talking and never the other person
  • –> I don't know how to start a conversation
• I don't adapt my communication style to context
  • –> I don't know the difference between talking to someone I know very well and talking to a stranger or casual acquaintance. People may think I'm either “overly polite” or “naïve”.
  • –> I talk the same way at a funeral, a normal workday, or a birthday party. People may call me “oblivious” or “tone-deaf”
  • –> I talk the same way to bosses or teachers (“superiors”) as I do to coworkers and classmates (“equals”). People may think I'm either “disrespectful” or “insecure”.
• I don't instinctively know what other people are thinking or feeling
  • –> I may be able to come up with possible reasons for why they might be acting the way they do, but I can't filter out the “correct” one
  • –> Because I don't always understand what someone's face, body, and tone are communicating, I seem to be missing a lot of clues about what they're feeling
  • –> I can't predict what people will feel when I do something
• Even when I do understand how people are feeling, I don't react the “right” way
  • –> I don't know how to comfort someone who's sad or show excitement for someone who's very happy
  • –> Sometimes other people's feelings take me off-guard and I don't know how to react
  • –> When people tell me about their problems, I have a tendency to problem-solve or relate their problems back to something else (for example, my own experiences). Sometimes people aren't comforted by the way I do that.
• In a conversation or relationship, the other person and I don't share our interests to the same degree
  • –> When I'm very interested in something, that's sometimes all I care about. Then I may not ask other people for their interests
  • –> I don't often think to point out things I notice to other people
  • –> I don't know how to point out things I notice to other people
• I have trouble building and keeping up relationships
  • –> I have few friends, or my friendships are largely superficial. If I'm interested in a romantic partner, I might have problems with that, too.
  • –> My friendships don't last long and are sometimes one-sided (for example, they often contact me but I rarely contact them). My friends seem to need more time together to keep up a friendship than I do.
  • –> I don't know where the line is between acquaintances and friends, or how to cross that line

Repetitive Behavior

• I need familiarity
  • –> It's very difficult for me to adapt to new environments
  • –> Small changes in my home, like a small new piece of furniture, feel very upsetting
  • –> It's very distressing when something changes about a thing I enjoy. For example, if my favorite TV show changes their theme song
• I need predictability
  • –> I can't do things spontaneously, like meeting up with friends or going to work on short notice
  • –> When something unpredictable happens, I have difficulty coping. For example, when my family comes home earlier or later than expected
  • –> The world often feels unsafe, like I can never know what will happen next. To cope with that, I make my day as predictable as I can
• I have specific routines I need to follow
  • –> I always need to take the same route to get to a certain place. When that route isn't available, I get very upset and may not be able to reach my deshination without help
  • –> I need to do certain things at specific times of the day, like always having dinner at exactly 7p.m. If I miss that time, I might not eat at all.
  • –> I thrive when my schedule is exactly the same day after day
• I follow rules more than others do
  • –> I don't understand “unwritten rules”, so clearly defined rules and guidelines give me orientation. I get very confused or upset when someone breaks or “compromises” on a rule
  • –> I question the “exceptions” people make to rules, and the logic behind them. Sometimes they think I'm doing it to my own advantage (for example, to win a game), but I genuinely am trying to understand
  • –> I don't compromise on my morals. For example, if I think lying is wrong, I won't lie, even when people think I should. There are no exceptions to morality.
• Some things I enjoy seem “repetitive” or purposeless to others
  • –> I like lining things up, sorting them by color, or otherwise organizing them
  • –> I like creating lists on topics I like, even when those lists don't serve a purpose (other than being fun to write and read!)
  • –> I might move a certain way, like always walking in a circle around pieces of furniture when walking past them
• I stim (short for “self-stimulation) by moving my body in certain ways
  • –> I move my whole body, like rocking back and forth, from side to side, or spinning in circles
  • –> I move individual body parts in certain ways, like flapping or wringing my hands, shaking my feet, or twisting my fingers
  • –> My stims help me express or regulate my emotions or regulate my sensory system
• I walk or sit in “odd positions”
  • –> I walk on my toes
  • –> I hold my hands in front of my body in a position that is sometimes called “raptor hands” or “dinosaur arms”
  • –> I sit in ways that apply pressure to my body, like sitting on my hands or holding a leg my arm
• (Some of) My interests are more intense than other people's interests
  • –> I spend most of my time on my interest(s), to the exclusion of other activities
  • –> I get very excited when I do, say, or observe something related to my interest
  • –> I can relate everything back to my interest(s). It's like my interest is the perspective from which I see everything.
• I have an item I rely on emotionally, even though it's not an item people would consider a “typical comforter”
  • –> I need to bring this item everywhere to feel comfortable
  • –> One of my strong interests is this specific item
  • –> This item helps me cope with difficult feelings and situations
• Some sensory information is a lot stronger for me than it is for others
  • –> Fabrics, light touch, or the texture of some foods hurt me
  • –> I hear things others don't hear, like electricity in the walls. Some of these sounds are painful. Earplugs or ear defenders can help with the pain.
  • –> Bright lights or certain colors give me a headache. Sunglasses and dim lights can help me with that.
  • –> I smell things so strongly that I can taste them
• Some sensory information is a lot less intense to me than to others
  • –> There's types of pain that I don't feel as strongly (For example, toothache, headache, or cuts). Because of this, I might underestimate the severity of an illness or injury
  • –> I have trouble telling when I'm hungry, thirsty, sick, or need to use the bathroom
  • –> Sometimes I don't notice objects, sounds, smells, lights, flavors, textures, or where my own body parts are
• I stim by actively seeking out types of sensory stimuli
  • –> Smells and flavors, even some that other people don't like (For example: food, perfumes, body odor)
  • –> Fabrics and other tactile stimuli (For example: clothing, hair, food)
  • –> Watching lights, certain colors, or specific movements (For example: Using a swing with your eyes closed, and watching the colors change)
  • –> Sounds (For example: bells, animal noise, listening to the same song over and over)