Autistic Traits in a Neurotypical Person.

[Proa]

I was posting on another thread about autism and was told categorically that a neurotypical person cannot have traits of autism. My question is, why? It is accepted that autism is a spectrum and many have spiky profiles, so why would it not be true that some neurotypical people would possess similar spiky profiles, some being in line with autistic traits, yet not meet the threshold for an autism diagnosis.

Autism assessments are somewhat subjective (questionnaires, interviews etc) so surely there would be some people who would be on the cusp of diagnosis or who have traits but those traits do not impact their lives severely enough to be diagnosable?

In order to be diagnosed with autism, there are three categories (see photo) that the person must possess, and these criteria must ‘impair daily functioning’. Is it no possible that an otherwise neurotypical person could fit into 1 or 2 categories, thus being on the ‘cusp’ or have traits, yet not be diagnosed with autism as they don’t have the triad of impairments?

Is it not also possible that a neurotypical parent of a neurodiverse child could have ‘traits’, but these traits come out more obviously or strongly in the child, thus leading to an autism diagnosis?

I write this as a parent of an autistic and ADHD child. I have ‘traits’ of neurodiversity, which both myself and others can identify in me, yet I do not believe I reach the threshold to be diagnosed autistic and the traits I have certainly do not impair my everyday life. Many of the traits I possess I can see in my child, but his symptoms are amplified and more pronounced, to the point he needs support (I do not).

I just don’t understand why it’s out of the realm of possibility that someone could have strong ‘traits’ or symptoms of autism, yet not reach the threshold for diagnosis.

AIBU?

Whoever told you that on the other thread has misunderstood something I think.

You can - of course - have many of the traits that are commonly found in autism, without actually meeting the threshold for diagnosis.

I say this as somebody who is not autistic, but has two autistic kids, an autistic sibling, autistic nephews and nieces.

Of course, some things for example sensory issues are present in most people at some time or other. We might find loud noises or crowds too much but doesn't make someone autistic. Proper diagnosis is detailed and sensitive.

Autistic traits are not unique to those with a diagnosis of autism, if they were then getting a diagnosis would be a very simple process.

What you need for a diagnosis is the three triads.

Why are you so keen to call them autistic traits if you don’t have autism?

If I’m a slow reader or have messy handwriting, I don’t say ‘oh I have a dyslexic trait’, I just say I’m a slow reader of I have messy handwriting.

I think people who try to say what you are, are often trying to minimise a condition/disability/disorder. It all sounds a bit like ‘oh, everyone is a bit autistic’. Which is bollocks. Just like I’m not a bit dyslexic if I’m a slow reader of have messy handwriting.

or not of

Spikey profiles eh? I will add that to the list of things other people think I have as a person with diagnosed asd. Thanks.

was posting on another thread about autism and was told categorically that a neurotypical person cannot have traits of autism.

Whoever said that was wrong. Of course they can. Autistic people reach a threshold for diagnosis so have more traits and/or are affected more severely.

It's quite common for family members of autistics to share some of the traits.

I don't know about autistic traits but a friend recently told me I'm a bit OCD. I disagree, but a simple thought can have me down a rabbit hole of research.

For example, I suddenly wondered what a sesame plant looked like, but a couple hours later I could tell you the different plant types, main producing countries, type of soil and climate needed, best harvesting methods, that fertilizer had no significant impact on increasing yield, the cons of using harvesting machinery, China's increased demand but falling production, % price increase in the last two years, the failure of South American countries, so far, to cash in on sesame seed demand. I had even watched a gov't produced video for small farmers in Nigeria! Now that I've sated my interest in sesame seeds, I'm no longer interested in the subject.

I just think that I have a curious, NT mind.🤔

I wonder this.

Ive had bad anxiety all my life ( managed by meds)

I had crippling relationship anxiety.

Like structures and quite ( very rigid- if I’m not in bed at the same time every night l freak out)

Can’t stand clutter. Need order for sanity.. Can’t stand any deadlines over my head. Have to do so and redo everything straight away for work as can’t cope with anything in my ‘inbox’

But friendly and chatty no social anxiety at all. In fact the opposite.

Ive come to the conclusion I’m the hyper focused adhd. As they have to do everything right now.

Dunno really

The term spiky profile is widely used in training packages for health care professionals now. It makes a lot of sense I think.

That's nothing like OCD though?

Op, have you heard of the 'wider autistic phenotype'? I should think you'd find it interesting, and it may answer your questions. I think the people who say you cannot be a little bit autistic, have never heard of this. I do know what they mean, as in, you either fit a diagnosis, or you don't, but in reality, it's really not that simple. I am the mother of 3 autistic children. I am not autistic myself, but have many traits, and fit the wider phenotype.

I suppose the only issue is that in an undiagnosed person they couldn't correctly be called 'autistic traits'?
Just traits that are often associated with autism. Found in others too obviously. A lot of people have some minor sensory issues, for example.

So semantics really.

@Marynotsocontrary , exactly! That's why I disagreed with her. OCD means something very different to me and everyone else.

That's really interesting Somethingsnappy

I wander about DS1 and myself sometimes. As far as I know we are both NT but DS1 and I both have some sensory issues (I'm hypersensitive to textures and struggle to tell hot from cold sometimes and he is very sensory seeking and constantly moving) and both can get a bit overwhelmed after a full day in the office/school (I need to stay in a quiet room for a bit and he still has the occasional after school tired cry at 8).

Thank you for asking this, I have been wondering the same!
I have an autistic child and autistic parent. I don't think I would pass the threshold to be diagnosed as autistic but my score would be pretty close to the cut off. Some NT people would score really low. I also have a ton of adhd traits, as does my other 'NT' kid.
I can see why autistic people get annoyed with others saying they're a bit autistic when they really aren't, it's like when people tell me they're really tired too when i tel them I have a chronic illness. On the other hand though, i don't think it's that black and white, there's all the shades of grey in between.

You're right, spiky profiles is used for loads of things, not just diagnoses. It's used in education to determine which learners are more advanced at which skills/ areas.

I'd also add if you're female and at least relatively functioning you'll never have a hope in hell of being diagnosed with any ND no matter how much anxiety or stress, or how many issues it causes you.

My assessor and I had a discussion along these lines - I might be summing it up badly, but from what I recall she described autism as being primarily about social difficulties present since childhood. If that isn't an issue, it's not autism. That's the foundation for the diagnosis. The other aspects that can exist - eg sensory issues, special interests etc - whilst very real for an autistic person - are secondary (though you have to meet threshold for a certain number to be diagnosed). So to say that you have autistic traits whilst missing that primary thing that defines almost all your interactions with others, given that humans are social beings, isn't really accurate.

Not personally giving a view either way but that's how I understood her explanation (nb I went for an assessment thinking I might have traits but being sure that there was another cause and that I wasn't autistic, though the more I've learned since I've changed my view on that!)

She’s not saying you look like Sonic sideways. It’s a thing:

Isn't that the definition of a spectrum? That some people show a few traits/occasionally and others a lot/more frequently?

Of course you can have autistic traits. I have ADHD and have autistic traits. My DH is NT and also has some autistic traits. Neither of us have enough for a diagnosis and that means we aren't autistic. Just have some traits. Diagnosis for autism and ADHD is, put simplistically, a checklist of a set of traits. If you have enough of them, and do them frequently enough (and other possible causes are ruled out) you meet the threshold for diagnosis.

Traits being present generally leads to the issues both autistic people.and ADHDers face when they explain their condition then people often say "oh yes, but I/my son/my aunt etc does that, it's NORMAL". Yes they/you may do x but they don't do it several times a day and they have all these others traits as well, and the thing that they/you do doesn't have a negative impact on your life.

The diagnosis is NOT subjective.

Errrr that's not OCD...