- Social:
- Difficulty with interpreting social interactions and understanding non-verbal cues such as facial expressions.
- A preference for structured and predictable social situations.
- Communication:
- Differences in verbal and non-verbal communication, such as tone of voice and facial expressions.
- You may prefer alternative forms of communication such as writing or pictures.
- You may need to process communications over some time before you are able to construct a reply
- Sensory Sensitivities:
- Heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory input like touch, sound, taste, light and internal sensations such as pain or nausea.
- You may seek out some sensations repetitively, sometimes called “stimming”
- Emotions:
- Difficulty interpreting and understanding emotions in yourself and/or others
- Sensitivity to anxiety leading to an increased risk of anxiety disorders
- Expression of emotion can be different to those who are neurotypical
- Special Interests:
- Intense focus and passion for specific topics or activities.
Autism is a natural variation in the way people think and process information. It is not something that needs to be “fixed.” There do sometimes need to be adaptations needed to help those with Autism manage around neurotypical people. It can take time to understand the positives, strengths and unique perspectives that you have.