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Autism In Hindsight?

Eryberrie

Hi!

Was wondering the other day, because I was diagnosed at age 31, if these two anecdotes are displays of autism when I was a child.

The one is that as a child, and even still as an adult, I have a great aversion to the word 'pardon'. I don't know why - I just hate it.  I hate the sound and it just makes me cringe.  Just typing it is horrible for me.

One such anecdote was when I was about six and my family and I were having dinner. They all stopped eating and were staring at me all of a sudden.  They asked me to say the word.  Apparently, I had burped but I swear I hadn't.  Even to this day, I won't concede it.

I refused to say it.  I didn't have a tantrum or anything, I just clammed up and said nothing.  I tried to say that I hadn't burped but they did not believe me.  They sent me up to my room - about six adults ganging up on a child!

I went to my room with my dinner getting cold downstairs.  Two family members came up to me.  One had a go at me and shouted at me to say the P word.  I didn't.  They gave up and went back downstairs.  Another came to see me and was much gentler.  But he basically backed me into a metaphorical corner and I then just said it under my breath.  This was enough.  I was allowed back downstairs.

One of my family members said that I had to say the word again but the person that came to me in my room said that I didn't.

The second anecdote was that, for a long time, I had a problem with the letter B.  I hated it and on one occasion, when playing make believe (I only liked doing this if I was in charge and decided who was who), I was told I had to be a character who's name began with B.  The name could not be changed as it was a character from a film.  I would not do it so I took no part in play that day.

I eventually got over my problem with the letter B when I read a book about a horse named Bella.  I love horses and the horse was extremely beautiful.  Bella means beautiful so now I associate the letter B with beautiful.

I don't know if this type of behaviour rings true for anyone else with autism.  Please let me know.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    The thing that stands out from the OP's story is that the adults did not behave in a 'normal' manner. They dealt with the child in a most unsympathetic and un-empathetic manner. It is possible that they were displaying autistic traits (dichotomous thought, lack of empathy etc etc) which would be quite expected if you have autism and if you understand that autism is genetic in nature. Some people with the traits only develop problems because their family environment is (accidentally) hostile to autistic children. Autistic adults can sometimes be harsh and uncaring.

    Obviously, autistic parents can be the complete opposite and I suspect that the variety of home environments is a key factor in the variability of affect (from major trauma to no visible issues) that autism has on people.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    The thing that stands out from the OP's story is that the adults did not behave in a 'normal' manner. They dealt with the child in a most unsympathetic and un-empathetic manner. It is possible that they were displaying autistic traits (dichotomous thought, lack of empathy etc etc) which would be quite expected if you have autism and if you understand that autism is genetic in nature. Some people with the traits only develop problems because their family environment is (accidentally) hostile to autistic children. Autistic adults can sometimes be harsh and uncaring.

    Obviously, autistic parents can be the complete opposite and I suspect that the variety of home environments is a key factor in the variability of affect (from major trauma to no visible issues) that autism has on people.

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