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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

  • Hope said:
    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.

    ...or a little bit diabetic.  Everyone can get high blood sugar or low blood sugar, but they don't all need insulin!

    And this attitude that our symptoms need the same approach as similar symptoms in others.  I have auditory hypersensitivity (which for some reason is worse in the evenings) and the OT who assessed me put in her report that I had hyperacusis, which is something you are not born with it comes from injury (noise or head) and they recommend desensitisation by exposing yourself to the noise that bothers you.  That would make my sensitivity worse!  Autistics are born with auditory hypersensitivity and there is a physical reason for it (http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2013/controversial-study-uncovers-hearing-glitch-in-autism).  There is even research that noise exposure does not work in autistic people: http://www.aaiddjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1352/0895-8017%282000%29105%3C0118%3AAITFCW%3E2.0.CO%3B2
     
    http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/auditory_integration_training_th.html/context/905
     and the LA are so ignorant that I had to research this and educate them on it.

    It's like someone having a heart attack can have the same symptoms as someone having a panic attack - do they advocate the same treatment for these two extremely different conditions!

    ...I seem to have gone into rant mode.  Too much chocolate.

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  • Hope said:
    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.

    ...or a little bit diabetic.  Everyone can get high blood sugar or low blood sugar, but they don't all need insulin!

    And this attitude that our symptoms need the same approach as similar symptoms in others.  I have auditory hypersensitivity (which for some reason is worse in the evenings) and the OT who assessed me put in her report that I had hyperacusis, which is something you are not born with it comes from injury (noise or head) and they recommend desensitisation by exposing yourself to the noise that bothers you.  That would make my sensitivity worse!  Autistics are born with auditory hypersensitivity and there is a physical reason for it (http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2013/controversial-study-uncovers-hearing-glitch-in-autism).  There is even research that noise exposure does not work in autistic people: http://www.aaiddjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1352/0895-8017%282000%29105%3C0118%3AAITFCW%3E2.0.CO%3B2
     
    http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/auditory_integration_training_th.html/context/905
     and the LA are so ignorant that I had to research this and educate them on it.

    It's like someone having a heart attack can have the same symptoms as someone having a panic attack - do they advocate the same treatment for these two extremely different conditions!

    ...I seem to have gone into rant mode.  Too much chocolate.

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