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Eye contact

Ava

I was told off for not giving eye contact about 16years ago and I give long constant eye mainly now.

i feel because I give constant eye contact that others who are autistic may not and that this means I’m not autistic.

but I am autistic.

im confused about what others think and I mean yourselves who will know if this is unusual?

Do you give constant eye contact?

Parents

  • It's long been debunked that autistic people don't make eye contact. Some do, some don't, some vary. Anyone that tells you that means your not autistic is just behind the time.

    My eye contact varies enormously. In situations that I'm uncomfortable or talking to someone I don't know, I don't make eye contact at all. Most of the time I think I tend to make fleeting eye contact on and off. But there have also been times where I have not felt able to look away from a person - I don't really know how to explain that one.

  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum
    Expecto_Patronum said:
    It's long been debunked that autistic people don't make eye contact. Some do, some don't, some vary. Anyone that tells you that means your not autistic is just behind the time.

    The NAS info on this is a bit vague but supports the idea that many autists don't like to do it. From https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/before-diagnosis/signs-that-a-child-or-adult-may-be-autistic

    A core characteristic of autism is social interaction and communication differences. Examples of signs that relate to this core characteristic include:
    ...
    preferring not to make eye-contact or finding this uncomfortable 

    They refer to it many times through the article.

    I guess it is all in line with the spectrum idea - our capacity to make eye contact is also on a spectrum.

    I'm not arguing with you by the way, just expanding on a subject I was reading up on as it supports what you said.

Reply Children
  • in reply to Iain

    It's a common trait in autistic people for sure. But being able to make or being unbothered by eye contact doesn't mean a person can't be autistic. As with every trait of autism, there is a huge variety of ways we can be affected but yes I would agree with the analogy that the capacity to make eye contact is also on a spectrum. I think all our autistic traits are. This is where the round spectrum visual with different areas comes in. We all have difficulties in the key main areas needed for an autism diagnosis but what we find difficult within those main areas will vary enormously.

    I think it can vary for a variety of reasons. One being that it just isn't something that particularly bothers that person in the same way people are bothered by different sensory stimuli. Some people appear to make eye contact but actually don't. They look just above the eyes. Close enough people may not pick up on it but just enough that it doesn't bother the individual making the supposed eye contact. And also that so many of us have learnt to mask and like the original poster has said - they get told they're supposed to make eye contact so they force themselves to. You obviously will then get other people that very obviously do not make eye contact and look in a different direction all together.

    But I'm aware there are still assessor's that will reject diagnosing someone based on them being able to give eye contact. That one simple trait does not define a diagnosis.