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Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction

Amerantin (former member)
8 months ago

DSM-5 says that to meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD there must be persistent deficits in all three of the areas below.

  1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
  2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
  3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.

So why is it some of us are completely alone and isolated while others seem to have friends, partners and active social lives?

How do people who meet the above criteria achieve this?

Parents
  • 8 months ago

    I have friends and an active social life, and have had partners. The answer to how is that everyone I interact with socially is neurodivergent.

    As autistic people, we don't have communication deficits, we have communication differences. Studies have shown that information transfer between two autistic people is just as good as between two neurotypicals.

  • 8 months ago in reply to MrSolo
    MrSolo said:
    As autistic people, we don't have communication deficits, we have communication differences.

    Absolutely! Couldn’t agree more!

  • 8 months ago in reply to Ausomely Autistic

    It feels like a massive life-ruining deficit to me

  • 8 months ago in reply to Amerantin (former member)

    For now, perhaps.  Is that bleak = yes.  Is that an immoveable reality = no.  Do these words help you = No.  Does that mean I shouldn't say the words = no.  Have I ever felt as low as you seem to be feeling now = yes.  Did things swing around for me = yes...eventually.  Will things swing back and smash me in the face again soon = probably.

    Ironically enough, for me, it was when I had decided I could (and would have to) live without proper or adequate human connection, that I started to find some ?!  Go figure !?  Cruel Irony....or self fulfilling prophesy?  When I felt "desperate" to connect to humans, I think most humans couldn't fathom my 'intensity' and so ran for the hills.

    I started to "make do" with nominal and ad hoc random interactions with the world and that built my confidence that I do belong within it and do have a CONNECTED part to play within it.  From those very unpromising "seeds" of connection, some mighty saplings have grown !

    Dude - all I'm saying is that, in my opinion and experience (not just my own, but watching the lives of others around me twist and turn with fate).........

    HOPE

    S P R I N G S

    E     T       E      R      N      A       L 

  • 8 months ago in reply to Amerantin (former member)

    As did I. It took me quite a long time to come to terms with that and I couldn't believe that there was absolutely no support available. It seems that when we're deemed 'high functioning' there is an (incorrect) assumption that it applies to all areas of life. That's partly why I hate that term so much.

    Your current mood may be a reaction to the therapy ending. I don't have that much experience of therapy, aside from the pretty useless standard stuff offered on the NHS. However it really shouldn't leave you feeling in a worse state than before you started. I would have thought that the role of the therapist was to help with the areas you actually needed support with.

    It is not true that there are no further avenues to explore, only that you may not necessarily know what they are yet. You are only part way through the process of accepting your diagnosis and yourself. Once you understand yourself you will be in a better position to present that self to others. Much of your previous experience of socialising will have happened before you became aware of being autistic.

    Today is blue Monday and tomorrow is a new day.

  • 8 months ago in reply to Amerantin (former member)

    That’s a shame.
    What about joining another online community for people who are similar to you/feel isolated in the same way?

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