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Physical Characteristics of Autistic People (Not Scientific and for Fun)

Trainspotter

As someone who is autistic and who also has a squint and red hair (now much faded!) I have seen some (non-scientific) evidence that these characteristics are more represented in the autistic community than in the population as a whole.  I've included also the colour of eyes.

So I thought it might be a bit of interest to see whether this is actually the case.  This questionaire is in no way scientific and is for the characteristics of autistic people (diagnosed or self diagnosed) and not meant to imply that if someone has red hair or a squint they are likely to be autistic. (There is a difference)

Apparently, around 3% of the population as a whole has a squint (strabismus or 'lazy eye'), and in the UK 50% of the population has blue eyes (a statistic I find hard to believe!. Red hair is apparently present in 3% of the population of the UK as a whole, but this increases in Northern England and Scotland.  So if the results of this poll shows statistics that greatly exceed these figures, it would indicate that those of us who are autistic are more likely to have these characteristics.  I re-iterate, it does not indicate that having these characteristics will mean you are more likely to be autistic.  And it is 'just for fun!

Vote by pressing 'Vote' for each question, and  using the buttons (it may take a bit of time to appear).  Voting is anonymous so unless you add a comment to the thread, no-one will know whether you voted or what your answers are.

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  • Not enough replies to make a my conclusion yet, but if there was a doubling of numbers taking part ooooit may be possible to glean some interesting facts, as accurate those in the esteemed and regarded Daily Wail

  • in reply to Trainspotter

    So far some of the eye-colours are well overrepresented amongst our autistic sample when compared to the general population as a whole, they would be over-representated in a sample four times the size as the one which has responded.  More responses will be able to draw some sort of totally non-scientific statistics!

  • in reply to Trainspotter

    I voted that I have blue eyes as most people say mine are blue but occasionally (if I wear a green top or green-framed glasses) my eyes look definitely green. I guess they're a sort of aqua colour. (Even my eye colour has a 'spectrum'!) 

    Apparently certain areas of Scotland have autism rates twice (or more) the national average. Perhaps that has something to do with red hair showing up more, statistically, in autism - simply that there are more Scottish people represented? (I can't think why that would be the case though. Unless it's as simple as Scotland having more diagnostic services, maybe?)   

  • in reply to Endymion

    I think this is part of the problem of staristics, and why we cannot reach any conclusion based on these factors alone. Just means that certain characteristics might be more prevalent in the autistic popularion, not that these characteristics 'cause' autism.. Quite interesting though.

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