Do you know anyone on the autism spectrum?

Sunny

Sunny

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Not sure which Forum topic this should go under, but probably this one, as it deals with a "social issue."

Lately, there's been a lot in the news, some new TV shows, etc. dealing with people who are mildly autistic. Not on the level of Rain Man, just sort of "odd." I've become more sensitized to this subject, maybe we all have, and have been noticing some pretty weird behavior among people I meet all the time, who have nevertheless lived reasonably "normal" lives. Example: a gentleman of my acquaintance in his 80's, who is very intelligent, a retired professional, excellent bridge player, attendee at lectures and college-level classes etc.... and yet has the social skills of a 5-year-old. A surprising number of people seem to be emerging whose behavior might fit on the autism spectrum, who function pretty well in the world but still manage to annoy people a lot of the time.

I have to wonder if maybe I'm becoming oversensitized to this autism business? Can people fit the above description and just be obnoxious without necessarily being autistic? Or has autism been with us all along but largely unrecognized? I wonder how it's diagnosed?

In the TV shows such as the comedies Atypical, and Doc Martin, the autistic person is treated sympathetically and kindly. I wonder, are the truly autistic mostly kind, decent people whose perspective on life is just a little "off" from the normal? Or do most of them fit the rude model of my acquaintance?

And then, maybe some people are just plain rude without being autistic? (Just thinking out loud here). Any thoughts?
 

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It might not be anything thing like autism, it may just be an "old guy" thing. I am just a kid(only 65) but I know several guys pushing 80 that, for whatever reason, don't give a damn about being civil, I guess they feel they've paid their dues.

Or, maybe something more neurological is going on...
 
Sunny said:
Not sure which Forum topic this should go under, but probably this one, as it deals with a "social issue."

Lately, there's been a lot in the news, some new TV shows, etc. dealing with people who are mildly autistic. Not on the level of Rain Man, just sort of "odd." I've become more sensitized to this subject, maybe we all have, and have been noticing some pretty weird behavior among people I meet all the time, who have nevertheless lived reasonably "normal" lives. Example: a gentleman of my acquaintance in his 80's, who is very intelligent, a retired professional, excellent bridge player, attendee at lectures and college-level classes etc.... and yet has the social skills of a 5-year-old. A surprising number of people seem to be emerging whose behavior might fit on the autism spectrum, who function pretty well in the world but still manage to annoy people a lot of the time.

I have to wonder if maybe I'm becoming oversensitized to this autism business? Can people fit the above description and just be obnoxious without necessarily being autistic? Or has autism been with us all along but largely unrecognized? I wonder how it's diagnosed?

In the TV shows such as the comedies Atypical, and Doc Martin, the autistic person is treated sympathetically and kindly. I wonder, are the truly autistic mostly kind, decent people whose perspective on life is just a little "off" from the normal? Or do most of them fit the rude model of my acquaintance?

And then, maybe some people are just plain rude without being autistic? (Just thinking out loud here). Any thoughts?
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I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but what comes to mind is a book I recently read where the author (a psychiatrist) uses the term 'creeping brackets'- other books have said basically the same, on both medical and mental-health issues: the diagnostic criteria expands and expands to include nearly everybody.
On the topic of autism, specifically, I heard it mentioned long ago as a rare condition that causes extreme difficulties for children- they cannot easily communicate with or connect to other people, including family members and peers. It wasn't too long ago, though, that ads on tv started mentioning current statistics- around the same time I heard the Sheldon Cooper character on "The Big Bang Theory" was allegedly in the expanded category. So a person who's a little odd and a little quirky now has this label. Frankly, I believe it's wrong and misleading, and can also be harmful to people (especially children) who have a mental-health diagnosis based on nothing more than personality characteristics.
 

Yes, I have a couple of relatives who have been diagnosed with a spectrum disorder (mild in both cases) and a couple more who probably are on the spectrum but have not been diagnosed. It's hard to discern the fine line between spectrum disorder and just "quirky".

Where's the point where being "set in your ways" and/or "stubborn" becomes "spectrum disorder and unable to deal with any changes"? The Spousal Equivalent is somewhat like that; he resists changes and is very uncomfortable with changes in plans, whereas I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of gal. It causes a certain amount of friction between us. I call him "Sheldon Lite" (referring to Sheldon Cooper in Big Bang Theory).

When it comes down to it, we're all "on the spectrum" SOMEWHERE. Otherwise, we'd be robots.
 
neotheone said:
It might not be anything thing like autism, it may just be an "old guy" thing. I am just a kid(only 65) but I know several guys pushing 80 that, for whatever reason, don't give a damn about being civil, I guess they feel they've paid their dues.

Or, maybe something more neurological is going on...
Click to expand...
In my experience, rude middle aged people usually morph into rude old people. Sudden changes in temper from formerly sweet tempered individuals, on the other hand, usually indicate health issues.
 
jujube said:
Yes, I have a couple of relatives who have been diagnosed with a spectrum disorder (mild in both cases) and a couple more who probably are on the spectrum but have not been diagnosed. It's hard to discern the fine line between spectrum disorder and just "quirky".

Where's the point where being "set in your ways" and/or "stubborn" becomes "spectrum disorder and unable to deal with any changes"? The Spousal Equivalent is somewhat like that; he resists changes and is very uncomfortable with changes in plans, whereas I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of gal. It causes a certain amount of friction between us. I call him "Sheldon Lite" (referring to Sheldon Cooper in Big Bang Theory).

When it comes down to it, we're all "on the spectrum" SOMEWHERE. Otherwise, we'd be robots.
Click to expand...

This reminds me of a commercial that was on local tv awhile back- it was advertising both a restaurant chain and a mental-health treatment place:
An older couple went out to dinner at their favorite restaurant. The husband ordered his favorite, usual meal, while the wife scanned the menu to see if there was something new or interesting to try. The waitress, her voice dripping with concern, said to the wife: "He's not willing to change- how does that make you feel?" Geez!! :p
 
Yes, a former neighbor's 6 year old grandson. Although he didn't speak, one only had to make eye contact to know that he was quite intelligent. He didn't interact verbally, but his eyes and facial expressions were easy to read if one took the time to do so. I'm not sure his family always did.
 
Have worked in the field for 35 years before retirement, so have met and interacted with many people "on the spectrum". Many lack proper social skills, have no internal censor, etc, and thus, even to those of us who understand their special needs they can appear annoying. I know one young man with Aspergers, which technically is no longer on the spectrum. He is a "savant" when it comes to filmmaking, and has produced and directed several films dealing with disabilities. But, he is lacking in the social area. He wiil invade personal space, speak his mind with no filter. Like that. But then again, he will sometimes stop and ask "do you think this is an appropriate time to discuss ****:" So he kind of understands. A friend's son has been tested for Autism, but has been told he is not. If you want to know more about how a person with Aspergers can be involved, go to the filmmakers website https://espocinema.wordpress.com/
 
My niece,Katie is an special ed teacher teaching very young,autistic children in kindergarten in the NYC school system. She's been a teacher for 6 yrs,has 2 assistants to help her.I'm proud of her to have find a career she truly loves&helping these young kids.I asked her if she thought Barron Trump{President's youngest child} was mildly autistic,she said 'yes' Sue
 
helenbacque said:
Yes, a former neighbor's 6 year old grandson. Although he didn't speak, one only had to make eye contact to know that he was quite intelligent. He didn't interact verbally, but his eyes and facial expressions were easy to read if one took the time to do so. I'm not sure his family always did.
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Yes.. My grandson's IQ has been measured at 139... However, social interaction and physical touch are difficult for him. When he was younger he was prone to irrational rages and tantrums.. He is now 14 and appears to have grown out of that.
 

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