Eye Contact

I realised a few years ago that I have always tended to focus on the mouth, rather than the eyes. I experience auditory processing difficulties, so looking at the mouth provides a visual clue which helps me to try and process what the person is saying.

I find eye contact very uncomfortable but it's hard to explain why.

I don't care what people think when it comes to this. I tend to find though that it's the people who I feel very comfortable around who I can look into the eyes of. 

Most of the time though I find it much easier to concentrate on a conversation if I just look at the floor. Sometimes people question if I'm paying attention and it's annoying but I tend to just shoot back with something along the lines of "I am happily keeping up with this conversation" and it tends to shut them up.

Luckily at university I've seem multiple academic people do similar to me and I don't know any one of them who is openly diagnosed with ASD. Obviously this doesn't mean that they aren't but I would be highly surprised if all of the people I'm thinking of happen to have ASD. 

Failing all of this, if I feel like I am in a situation where eye contact is needed, I tend to give them a split second of eye contact every couple of minutes and that seems to work fine. I don't find this too overwhelming.

I don’t really try anymore, I will glance up for just a second and then look away. My eyes are the gateway into my soul, not many are allowed in. 

I focus on the mouth or nose, depending on whichever seems easier as a big nose is easier to focus on than a small. It's still uncomfortable but doable unlike eye contact for me.

Focusing on mouth or nose still looks like you're making eye contact. No one has ever sussed I do this, yet.

Try and concentrate on the sound of their voice and/or look at their mouth...I have found this to work for me. I do get to a point where I feel, with some people, that I am staring for too long/inappropriately, I am not sure what to do as advise at this point....sorry!!