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Defining what is AS and what isn't

longman

A widely reported problem on here is the common reaction to someone explaining their autism is "oh i get that too".....etc.

I think because people on the spectrum are relatively isolated, there's little opportunity to chat experiences and get feedback. So people on the spectrum don't know what problems are fairly common in the NT world, and may not be autism specific.

I've just posted on the question of hearing sensitivity/filtering sound on another thread. I've found that the problems I've had are reported by others not on the spectrum, including people with dyslexia.

I wondered if others had found that some things they associate with autism are more widely present in the general population (but not just a matter of degree as with spectrum - tailing off into the general population - but similar levels of difficulty experienced by people not having autism which is otherwise assumed to be an autism characteristic).

If that makes sense.......

Parents

  • Yeah, I have problems with the spectrum idea as well. There is a spectrum within autism, this much is granted, but I don't like the idea that the traits taper off into the general population; the idea that everyone is 'a bit autistic'. That is like saying that everyone has a bit of ME, a bit bipolar, OCD.... It trivialises what can be a serious and often disabling condition. I personally don't like the notion of 'mild' versus 'severe' autism because we are not comparing like with like. All forms of autism can be severe, but the challenges are different, so how can we get this across to the general public? I think that no matter how hard we try, until we get a reliable brain scan, there will still be incredulity because neurotypical empathy only goes so far.

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  • Yeah, I have problems with the spectrum idea as well. There is a spectrum within autism, this much is granted, but I don't like the idea that the traits taper off into the general population; the idea that everyone is 'a bit autistic'. That is like saying that everyone has a bit of ME, a bit bipolar, OCD.... It trivialises what can be a serious and often disabling condition. I personally don't like the notion of 'mild' versus 'severe' autism because we are not comparing like with like. All forms of autism can be severe, but the challenges are different, so how can we get this across to the general public? I think that no matter how hard we try, until we get a reliable brain scan, there will still be incredulity because neurotypical empathy only goes so far.

Children
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