"we're all on the spectrum" - what do you think?

[jimjamshaslefttheyurt]

I've never agreed with the above statement.

For someone like DS1 his way of thinking (without language), his way of processing (he probably cannot process speech to any great extent, he sees things differently- without depth and using a lot of peripheral vision), the way he remembers (with a limited sense of time, and by association) is so wildly different from ours that it truly is a different planet.

I also think that if you think we've all got a bit of autism, then there's an idea that you can push someone from the spectrum into 'normal'. That 'normal' is a obtainable and wished for goal. I've observed that many who are high functioning don't want to be NT, there is a developing autism culture and they want to be part of that, and have that culture respected alone, not as being a second class version of normal. They don't see themselves as almost NT, they see themselves as different.

Would be interested in others views on this. It's something I hear quite a bit and I wonder whether I'm just not seeing it from a high functioning perspective. Or am I over analysing and is it just a way of those of us who are NT showing some respect for autism in a kind of 'oh they're human too' type way And if so should it be encouraged?

A philosophical question for a Friday morning. But an interesting one I think. I have my mind open and ready to be changed.

Tito

Thanks - really interesting.

He's one of the few (only AFAIK) severely autistic individuals who has been able to take part in psychological testing into perceptual processing etc. Paper was finally published this year.

SSb - at times, i end up concentrating so hard on hearing the person talking, that I end up not listening. The tuning out of other noise means I can then hear the voice ok, but the words don't go in.

dd1 used to have the change of noise thing - so she was ok if she came into a roomm where the radio was on, but then you couldn't turn it off. equally, if it was off when she came in you couldn't turn it on. and the music in shops always upset her when it came to the end of a song. she is a little better now, though.

Without causing any offence to anyone - all I know is what I've learned on here, but reading some posts (Amber esp) there are sooo many things I recognise in myself.
But,I have not taken that to mean I am 'on the spectrum'. More so that behaviours 'on the spectrum' are human behaviours which are exaggerated/inappropriate in those who are? Please correct me if I'm wrong here, this is a very interesting thread.
I am by nature (amongst many other things), quite obsessive, have to be in control, hate relinquishing it, cannot stand any disruption to my routine. But that is my personality. I deal with it because I can, easily (if with a bit of a strop).
That way of thinking would put me 'on the spectrum' which I am not, and find it quite insulting to those who are really.
It is to me, trying to dilute/normalise a serious condition.

I think it's a really good thing to gain insight into our own behaviour - why we do things/ or not as the case may be.

Feelingbetter I can also see behaviours in myself that could be perceived as being on the Spectrum - but that's ok because if gaining that insight helps me emphathise and understand my DS2 better then I can manage him better and embrace his differences/difficulties better. I feel better equipped. Hope that doesn't sound too cheesy!

Better to be on a roll than a rant, earlier on I had decided that the next time someone in work tells me "well, we're all on the spectrum". I had decided to say "that's bollocks"!

"I don't actually find either not being able to help yourself to food at a party or not being able to tune out certain sounds to be anything other than neurotypical? Don't those things happen to everyone? Isn't the former just to do with social pressure and being shy? And the latter just to do with being easily distracted?"

Yes, but when the host has made it very clear you can help yourself if you want to (there were only about six of us there, so not crowded either) and you still can't then it's an issue. When you are out with your husband who you have known for 15 years and been married to for 11 years and you can't tell him that you'd like to go and get a drink or go into a shop regardless and get one then it's an issue. It has absolutely nothing to do with being shy. People who've met me will tell you that when I do talk I am very far from being shy. I also - and this soudns very callous but is true - do not care one iota what other people think about mw. I do care if I upset them, but their opinion of me doesn't matter. So if I had been perfectly capable of helping myself to the curry I would have done so, shyness didn't enter into it at all. My mind was telling me I could do so, that it was acceptable for me to do so, that nobody minded if I did so, but my mind would not let my body make the appropriate movements, either to talk or to get up and move over to the table until someone initiated things for me.
I'm sorry, I am being overly sensitive I know, but it is exactly this sort of thing which bothers me. The whole "oh, everybody does that."

Oh I'm sorry, bullet123 - I am absolutely not meaning to be hurtful and apologise that I have been.

I am genuinely interested in this, though, and your explanation has made it much clearer for me. Thank you.

It's ok . I am far too defensive about it, not really for myself but for dS1 as it worries me people will not realise the help he needs.

I agree - being unable to do things that other people take for granted is very hard to deal with. I used to get the corner of the quadrangle at college and then be physically incapable of setting foot in it but that was different to what you describe - it was a psychological thing about knowing that people would be watching me and finding that idea unbearable. Not saying this is comparable with what you and your DS experience, obviously.

That sounds like social anxiety Sixspot. I think bullet is talking about a kind of catatonia. Lorna Wing has done a little bit on catatonia in autism. It's one reason why people who use FC (must to the disgust of many!) say they need their facilitators arm on their shoulder. It's not physically helping them move as such, but without it they can't initiate movement.

These sorts of comments have been entirely ignored by people doing research btw. I don;t think we understand autism very well at all.

Hi everyone, very interesting thread, thanks for starting this

As someone who is very new to all this and still in shock that we, my husband and I and the school have come to the same conclusion that ds prob has AS, when we contacted the HT the first thing we were told, is that we all have some form in us and ususally passed down the family line. This in turn as led all of the family to question, is it us, or it could be him etc. I have even done the online test, which in turn said I as likely to be Aspie and hubby was NT.

However I do agree with lots on here and feel that maybe too much could be read into this, at the end of the day, I would not have even realised that I may even have this, just thought I was obsessive with regards to items etc, so it can't have hindered me too much, my dad on the other hand I am convinced (now I know the signs) has the condition and I feel had we known earlier, sadly his life could have been so much different.

My Ds however shows obvious signs and would benefit from a dx and help

I don't agree with the statement. Based on what I've read about autism (mainly here on mumsnet), personally I don't have any traits at all,none at all.

I don't agree with the statement, in the same way that CP is a spectrum in that it effects everyone differently Autism is the same.
But i don't hear people saying we are all a little bit CP.
Yes we've all had days when we've had sore muscles & felt a bit stiff, but it is not comparable to CP.
In my very basic non technical way of thinking, we also all have times when we don't like change or have found communication difficult it does not mean we are all a little bit Autistic.

My ds has ASD & CP he thinks & from what i can understand he sees the world from very different eyes.
It is a disabling condition & whilst acceptance & people trying to understand it is very positive I think we should be careful that peoples attempt at inclusion & acceptance by saying that we are all a little bit Autistic could belittle the effect Autism can have on the person & family.

But obviously, thats if its not caused by rain

I don't agree with the statement!

I certainly not Autistic one little bit, neither is DH, DS2, or DD or most of my family.

However, I can see that DS1 is on the spectrum, although I don't think he will ever get a DX - and I think my brother is probably too. - And they are both very human!!

If we were all on the spectrum, then there would be no spectrum!

I think the function of the spectrum is to recognise that there is a class of individuals who have a different neurological outlook on life than the outlook that is possessed by individuals who are not on the spectrum. The corollary of this is that the spectrum must have definite end points, rather than fuzzy end points which could include individuals who just exhibit one, two or several autistic traits.

By suggesting that 'everyone' is on the spectrum negates the point of the diagnostic process and its outcome, upon which the delivery of support services rests.

Can I ask, sorry for being dim but what is the rain

I think its to do with another thread on here 'Umbrellas to prevent autism' or something like that. Didn't read it.

Wow, thanks for the link Tclanger

God to say biggest load of bollocks Ive ever seen, oops are you allowed to say that word, thats just my opinion before anyone shouts at me am I wrong here, but I thought you was born with autism, god I think I am so needing to do some research into this

I posted in the rain story - but only for fun - although not really funny to think money is being wasted like that when we can't get enough time/resources for our autistic children !

I just read the title - couldn't bring myself to read the thread.

This thread is too much for me take in on a Friday after some wine - but I need to come back and read it properly.

I have some concerns re ds which may be or maybe nothing to do with autism - or even anything tbh. But one quick question, is fussy eating a factor or is being a fussy eater just associated with certain behavioural traits anyway (if that makes sense)