Could I have a form of Autism?

[Ancalagon]

Hi guys

As the title says, I'm wondering if I could have some mild form of high functioning autism, or whether I'm just.... well developmentally normal but otherwise socially challenged! I remember reading (back on EvAv) that a few forum members were Autistic, so I just wanted to share my experiences and ask you guys what you think. Or anyone else for that matter.

My Mom said that, when I was a baby, I only started speaking at 2. She said I never babbled or anything, just went straight from saying nothing to speaking full sentences (it might have been just after 2, but probably before I turned 3). Anyway, after I started speaking, it was noticed that I have a stutter/stammer. I'm 23 now and I still stutter. My stuttering is generally dependant on who I'm talking to, what I'm saying, and how stressed I am. When I meet new people, I am often completely fluent, paradoxically enough.

I'm not sure what else there is to say about speech and language. My understanding of language is generally excellent - I was ahead of my peers in school in comprehension and writing, and did well in creative writing. I also got 2 reviews published by PC Format (won cool stuff!). I dont have a problem with understanding figures of speech at all.

Socially.... well thats a mixed bag. One on one, I can be quite charismatic, but thats really only been possible in these last few years of my life. In high school, I was an awkward teen - I was well respected at school, but not popular. I had a tendency to develop huge crushes on girls at school, but really had no idea what they were thinking, or what they wanted, or whether they liked me, or how to talk to them. Yeah I know teens are awkward, but I only had my first girlfriend at 16 (and my first kiss). So, compared to my peers, I was way behind. That first girlfriend, incidentally.... well we werent close at all. Its hard to describe - I havent had a relationship lasting longer than 2 weeks since, but I've got to know girls better in 2 weeks than I got to know my first girlfriend in 4 months. I suppose that might be another teenage feature though. In general, I find it difficult to get close to people. As I said, when I was young, I had no idea what girls were about, and I think this extended to people in general. Its only recently that I've learnt to use insight to guess what someone else might be thinking (well in the last 2 years or so). When I was young, I never felt part of the group, or that I belonged. I craved acceptance by my peers but didnt know how to get it. I was probably seen as fairly strange.

I'm also a big creature of habit. I eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch most days (I havent changed breakfast in the last few months). I change my lunches every few months, or after I get bored. When I was at university, I ate peanut butter sandwiches for lunch almost every single day for about 2 years. I also have one or two slightly odd quirks. The only one I can remember offhand is the fact that, when setting volume control, I will only set it to numbers that are multiples of 4 or 5, or 3 if I must. Prime numbers, except those under 10, are a no go. So I'd prefer to set my volume to 25, 27 if I needed to, but never 23 or 29.

I saw a therapist 2 years ago, for a while, and asked her about the possibility of me being autistic in some form or fashion. She cleared up some misconceptions I had, explaining that autism isnt a binary condition - its not like you either have it or you dont. Its more of a sliding scale, and she said while I'm not autistic in the strictest sense of the word, I might have autistic tendencies. From the sounds of it, it might be a stretch to say that I have higher functioning autism or even Aspergers, but..... I cant help but feel that I'm different, and its something I dont really know how to explain. So..... I'd appreciate any views on the subject, or just ask if you guys want more information.

[NoName]

I have very little constructive to add but your post was a very interesting read. I hope you find some answers.

[TheFlyingOrc]

You sound like my roommate, who pretty much has what I think of as "Dwight Schrute syndrome". You sound more awkward than a real condition. Honestly, I'd just focus on taking the time to talk to people more and try to understand their thought processes so that you can empathize more, rather than feeling separated.

Everyone does something weird with volume control.

Your first kiss at 16 is not event slightly odd, it just means you weren't one of those kids who wanted to get girls to validate himself. Mine was 19, and I'm married now. :)

A lot of it could just be your personality, try taking this little test (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) and finding your Meyers-Briggs type. It isn't exactly science, but it helps a lot of people understand themselves better.

[astranoir]

try taking this little test (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) and finding your Meyers-Briggs type.

I have been the same for 5 years: ENFJ.

[wyeast]

Could just be heavily introverted tendencies. Everything else (ok, other than the prime number avoidance) seems all to be within reason for a "typical" person. I try not to say "normal" because who's normal? We're all just a little strange. :)

[shunoshi]

I haven't taken one of those tests since high school. ENTJ, that sums me up spot on.

[Stoke]

I'd say no, maybe very lightly. It sounds more like you're a normal guy with a speech problem and a little OCD, but most people are OCD about something and although OCD goes hand in hand with autism they don't depend on each other. I'll edit the post when I get more time, but that's what I thought after a few minutes.

Edit: Also, you'd have Autism, not Aspergers. The only difference between HFA and AS is that AS has no speech delay.

[Heretic Machine]

A lot of it could just be your personality, try taking this little test (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) and finding your Meyers-Briggs type. It isn't exactly science, but it helps a lot of people understand themselves better.

Your Type is INTJ
Introverted Intuitive Thinking Judging
Strength of the preferences %
78 12 62 22

Qualitative analysis of your type formula

You are:

* very expressed introvert
* slightly expressed intuitive personality
* distinctively expressed thinking personality
* slightly expressed judging personality

Hm, interesting.

[Savok]

You're not autistic. You have some tendencies... it's a spectrum disorder so mildly autistic at best.

I can tell because nowhere did you mention your senses. The horribleness of fluro lighting, the discomfort of air in your lungs, the pain of sharp noises. For the first 12 years or so of my life I had no idea what nausea was, the sensation was so overwhelming for me it just became this horrible noise sending me into a panic attack.

Was your first shower like a thousand knives on your flesh? Did you wet the bed several times a night out of absolute terror of the outside world? Did you want the noise from other people to stop so badly you were willing to die to do it?

....

You're very mild at best.

And for the record, I've never even kissed a girl, I'm in my mid-20s. I don't even go outside, one day I'll be talking to my dead mother who I'll keep in a locked room.

[shunoshi]

I don't even go outside, one day I'll be talking to my dead mother who I'll keep in a locked room.

Strike Australia off my places to visit before I die. :p

[Savok]

Most of the animals here are lethal anyway.

[Ancalagon]

Thanks guys.

Well no, my senses never bother me. I get irritable when I'm in crowds, but nothing I cant handle.

Thats kind of the reason I posted - that I seem normal enough. If you met me, about the only thing you would notice is my speech problem, and even that depends on the day. Believe it or not (despite what my internet persona would lead you to believe), I'm a relaxed, "nice" kinda guy.

I guess it comes down to having the perception that there are "normal" and "not normal" people, and then wondering which category I fall into. All people I know have no speech, developmental or social disorders that I'm aware of, and because I havent had nearly as much success in the relationship game as all of my friends, I start to wonder if I fall into the "not normal" category. Am I just looking for an excuse for my failings with women? I dont know, thats why I'm asking whether its feasible that I fit somewhere on the Autism spectrum, although I realize it wont be too far from the non-Autistic side.

[Savok]

I stutter too, mostly because I don't breathe correctly. And like you I was late talking but spoke pretty damn well when I did. Maybe you inadvertently got early desensitization treatments or something, I don't know. At any rate you're fine now, on the spectrum possibly but not enough to be called autistic.

[Scull]

Asperger's?

Nah, it doesn't sound like autism at all.

[BlackPete]

You don't have to be autistic to be anti-social :D

I'm not autistic, but people do bore me pretty easily... I don't know why. That leads me to not giving a rat's ass about being involved in some conversation about a subject matter I have no interest in.

I could go on with other examples but in a nut shell... I am not a social butterfly, and I'm fine with that as I find other venues that I love doing (photography, hiking, etc...) so I'm happy with that.

You may just be the "strong silent" type ;)

[DoctorFinger]

Your therapist is right that it's not a binary condition. But more to the point, even if you were mildly autistic there's not a lot in the way of treatment available other than the therapy it sounds like you're already engaged in.

As for your stuttering, there are two therapies that work wonders on different people.

First, when you start stuttering, or you're going to enter a situation where you feel you're going to stutter, take your forefinger and thumb and press them together, like you're trying to squeeze something. Focus on that squeezing while you speak. It's a more alternative method, but it's done wonders for a neighbor with a similar situation.

Second, the more classical therapy: try singing when you speak. Use your diaphragm while talking, and even the worst stutterers tend to be able to speak normally.

[Savok]

Second, the more classical therapy: try singing when you speak. Use your diaphragm while talking, and even the worst stutterers tend to be able to speak normally.
So that's why I'm fluent when I'm in one of my rages.

[Thanasimos]

Most of what you described is more or less the same as me. I'm pretty sure I'm not autistic, because I've worked with a lot of autistic children (and have a good feeling for what it looks like); by extension, I'm pretty sure you're not autistic. Interestingly enough, I took that little quiz on a whim and I'm also INTJ.

[TheFlyingOrc]

So that's why I'm fluent when I'm in one of my rages.

You sing when you're in a rage?

[TheFlyingOrc]

Hm, interesting.

Check yourself out on Typelogic (www.typelogic.com) It's quite informative.

[Savok]

You sing when you're in a rage?
No, but I get the same vibration in my chest when telling my 360 to lick a nut as I did when we had to sing the anthem at school.

[TheFlyingOrc]

No, but I get the same vibration in my chest when telling my 360 to lick a nut as I did when we had to sing the anthem at school.

My understanding is that stutterers only have trouble when they're trying to "just be themselves". Any non-normative behavior helps the stutter.

[Savok]

But I'm always angry at some asshole...

[Everyone vs Dinosaurs]

Some of those things sound Autistic, but so what? If you have lived a fine life thus far, does it even really matter?

[TheFlyingOrc]

Some of those things sound Autistic, but so what? If you have lived a fine life thus far, does it even really matter?

I am absolutely in love with your username, I thought I should tell you.

[LarsenNET]

I had a tendency to develop huge crushes on girls at school, but really had no idea what they were thinking, or what they wanted

Don't worry, I've been married 9 years and I still don't know what she is thinking or what she wants :p

[TheFlyingOrc]

Don't worry, I've been married 9 years and I still don't know what she is thinking or what she wants :p

It's me. Your wife wants me. Slathered in butter.

[BlackPete]

It's me. Your wife wants me. Slathered in butter.

Woot, I got sigged. Now if only I can remember what the hell I was talking about :p

[maverick106]

It's me. Your wife wants me. Slathered in butter.

Orc, the other white meat.

[TrackZero]

As the title says, I'm wondering if I could have some mild form of high functioning autism, or whether I'm just.... well developmentally normal but otherwise socially challenged!

No, that's just what every geek thinks at some point to make an excuse for their lack of practice in social environments. You also don't have as asperger's syndrome.

[Heretic Machine]

Check yourself out on Typelogic (www.typelogic.com) It's quite informative.

Yeah, I read all of the links they had on the results page. What I took away from it is that I'm not terribly social or empathic, and I'm a pragmatic idea man who isn't good with the details of an idea. When I start learning about something, I try to learn everything I can about it, which makes my knowledge specialized but useful.

I guess it matches up pretty well, I just wonder about the down-sides of that personality type; sites like that never seem to want to point them out :p

[TheFlyingOrc]

Yeah, I read all of the links they had on the results page. What I took away from it is that I'm not terribly social or empathic, and I'm a pragmatic idea man who isn't good with the details of an idea. When I start learning about something, I try to learn everything I can about it, which makes my knowledge specialized but useful.

I guess it matches up pretty well, I just wonder about the down-sides of that personality type; sites like that never seem to want to point them out :p
Not having...empathy?

Edit: Also your personality type sounds like the definition of a nerd. Minus the useful part.

[Heretic Machine]

Not having...empathy?

That never hurt Data!

Edit: Also your personality type sounds like the definition of a nerd. Minus the useful part.

Hey, they compared me to Gandalf the Grey... and Hilary Clinton. But Gandalf the Grey is the one I'm going to stick with :p

[Ancalagon]

Your therapist is right that it's not a binary condition. But more to the point, even if you were mildly autistic there's not a lot in the way of treatment available other than the therapy it sounds like you're already engaged in.

As for your stuttering, there are two therapies that work wonders on different people.

First, when you start stuttering, or you're going to enter a situation where you feel you're going to stutter, take your forefinger and thumb and press them together, like you're trying to squeeze something. Focus on that squeezing while you speak. It's a more alternative method, but it's done wonders for a neighbor with a similar situation.

Second, the more classical therapy: try singing when you speak. Use your diaphragm while talking, and even the worst stutterers tend to be able to speak normally.

Well, I'm not seeing her for therapy anymore - that was mainly to help me deal with depression, which I've overcome now. Plus she's about 7000 miles away now.

As for speech therapy, I actually went for speech therapy for a number of years. I found a technique that works for me, but I just need to put it into practice, which I havent done for a while, because I'm stressed and have busy days. As Savok says, its all about breathing, so they are just techniques designed to ensure a smooth flow of air.

Some of those things sound Autistic, but so what? If you have lived a fine life thus far, does it even really matter?

Well.... not fine. I guess I'm just trying to make sense of it, I dont know.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

Well if it makes you feel any better, Albert Einstein didn't 'baby talk' either. He only began to speak as soon as he could craft full phrases/thoughts.

[fitbabits]

Could you have a forum in Austin? An odd request, but sure.

[Zero]

Hmmm. ISTJ. Sounds right.

[Ox]

Check yourself out on Typelogic (www.typelogic.com) It's quite informative.
This indicates that I like to be at the center of attention, but that I'm an asshole to people once I'm there. I call shenanigans.

[Zero]

I call shenanigans.

Uh... you sure about that?:p

[Ox]

Are you kidding me? The milk of human kindness veritably squirts from my nipples.

Sleep well.