Main characteristics
Difficulties with social relationships.
Yes we aer finding this, She had a couple fo really good friends at odl school but is struggling
Not picking up signals and info that NTs take for granted such as facial expressions, intonation and inferred information.
No, she can understand my various faces etc!
Difficulties with communication.
May speak fluently but take little notice of reactions, may monologue, may not be aware of audience's feelings or reactions.
No I wouldn't say this. But school say she doesn't listen to other kids and take their opinions on board - find it v different at home.
May be over-precise, formal or literal in speech. Jokes, metaphors, sayings, figurative language may cause total confusion, stress, meltdowns etc.
Not at all.
Difficulties with social imagination, imaginative play and flexible thinking.
This one causes some confusion as people say 'Well, he plays with his lego and makes up stories and has imagination, so...?'
It's the social aspect of imaginative play that can cause difficulties. If the child is in total control of their 'world' and setting the agenda, then they are being imaginative. AS children find it difficult to play when other individuals are involved that have different ideas or who don't perform as expected, unlike a lego or toy figure.
I don't think so. She's quite happy for her friends/brother to have their own ideas and shares toys easiloy.
Abstract thinking is another area of difficulty, although the child may learn facts and figures easily, dealing with abstract concepts, without clear outcomes may be a challenge. Subjects like literature, religion and philosophy.
No.
They may also be:
socially awkward and clumsy in social relationships with others
I didn't think so - she's v good with adults and I always thought she was fine with kids, just since we moved we have had probs
naive and gullible, a good rule of thumb is that many Aspies function at an emotional age 2/3 that of their chronological age.
No moer than any other 1o yo i don't tihnk
unaware of how others feel
no, she's pretty sensitive to others feelings IMO although school disagrees
unable to carry on a 'give and take' conversation
def not
upset by any change in routines and transitions, often undetectable to NTs
Well not usually - but again, we've just moved house, school, county,
literal in speech and understanding
no
overly sensitive to lights, noise, odours, tastes and tactile sensations again often undetectable by NTs
no
have fixed interests or obsessions
no
physically awkward in sports, often those that require simultaneous application of different skills.
yes
Not a team player in any sense.
I'd say no, school would say yes
Possibly
have an unusually accurate memory for details
Very much so
sleeping or eating issues that cause problems
no
trouble understanding and processing things they have heard or read
no
Inappropriate facial expressions or body language
no
unusual speech patterns, repetitive or irrelevant remarks
no
stilted, formal speech
no
overly loud, high or monotonous voice
no
stims that may involve rocking, fidgeting, joint cracking, humming, pacing...
no