Tony Attwood is Autistic

The expanding diagnostic criteria caught up with both of them. For one, I would like to know what sensory difficulties they have, as these are usually lifelong and, to me, are a bit of a giveaway. 

My sensory problems are mostly tactile - synthetic textiles and clothing labels - and noise. When I found such things in the literature on autism (and diagnostic manuals) it was the clincher that convinced me that I was autistic.

The expanding diagnostic criteria caught up with both of them. For one, I would like to know what sensory difficulties they have, as these are usually lifelong and, to me, are a bit of a giveaway. 

My sensory problems are mostly tactile - synthetic textiles and clothing labels - and noise. When I found such things in the literature on autism (and diagnostic manuals) it was the clincher that convinced me that I was autistic.

Yeah, I get why sensory stuff feels like the real clincher - like proof you can't fake or ignore. For you, tactile (those damn labels and synthetics) and noise? That's classic. it's the same for loads of us - lifelong, quiet killers of comfort.

On Attwood... he doesn't spill much about his own sensitivities in public. From what I've seen - his blogs, interviews, even that fresh reflection on recognising his profile - he talks about sensory processing a ton: how it's core to autism now (DSM-5 nailed it), how over-sensitivity isn't just "annoying" but can be straight-up painful, how exposure therapy backfires and makes it worse.                         

He mentions hypo/hyper across sounds, textures, lights, smells - stuff like covering ears or seeking deep pressure. But personal? Nah. No "I hate wool" or "crowds make me melt" anecdotes. He's all clinician, not confessional. Maybe he's private, or maybe it's just not the bit he shares.

Still, you're spot on - the criteria expanded, caught him (and you) because those traits were always there. If he ever does open up about it, it'll probably be something understated, like "I always needed quiet rooms."

Your tactile and noise thing - any tricks you've found that actually work? Like seamless clothes or white noise?

He's a great man, and it's not for me to decide who is or isn't autistic, but my own view is that I'm not persuaded. I don't see anything autistic about him and his communication style seems highly neuronormal to me. I feel the same about Sol Smith, whose book I recently started and abandoned because I couldn't see any connection with what I understand as autism.