If you suspect autism but then read these autistic traits, you might end up swearing you’re not autistic even though you really are.
Sometimes, autism traits that are listed in content about Autism Spectrum Disorder can trick an actually autistic (though undiagnosed) person into thinking, “No way am I autistic.”
There were 10 “warning signs” of autism that came with an article about a female TikToker who was diagnosed with ASD at 22.
It’s the good thing I didn’t read these warning signs at the time I began suspecting I might be autistic.
Otherwise, I might’ve ended up thinking, “Nope. I’m not autistic.”
Certainly there will be undiagnosed Autistics reading those 10 signs of suspicion and then concluding that they can’t possibly be on the Spectrum.
I have a clinical diagnosis of ASD. Yet I can only check off six of the signs in that article.
I also know other clinically diagnosed Autists who would not be able to check off all of those bullet points.
Of course, we all know that when someone has a condition, this doesn’t mean that every trait of that condition applies to them.
But six out of 10 can be enough to discourage an undiagnosed autistic adult from pursuing an assessment by a psychologist or neuropsychologist.
According to the article about the 23-year-old, newly diagnosed autistic woman, here are the “Specific signs of ASD,” as the article states.
10 “Warning Signs” of Autism
And I put warning signs in quotes because that’s what the article says. Autism is not a danger!
#1 Reactions to smell, taste, look, feel or sound are unusual.
Check for me; I’m extremely sensitive to bad odors; they bother me more than they bother other people.
I’m particularly sensitive to human breath, when nobody else seems to be affected by this.
I can detect foul breath from 10 feet away – even when I’m wearing a doubled-up covid mask. I find it sickening.
There are also certain sounds I absolutely can’t stand. This sensory trait is exceptionally common in autism.
While one Autistic may be affected by only sounds and smells, another may find certain fabrics and food textures intolerable, while a third may find fluorescent lighting very uncomfortable, while not minding strong odors, tastes, feels or noises.
#2 Difficulty adapting to changes in routine.
This is another trait that seems to be nearly universal in autistic people, though the responses occur on a continuum.
For instance, an anticipated change in a simple routine may cause a meltdown in one Autistic, while an unexpected change in a major plan may leave another Autistic fuming internally, yet externally managing the change in a calm and strategic fashion.
Thus far, the vast majority of undiagnosed Autistics will agree with these first two traits.
#3 Unable to repeat or echo what is said to them.
What?!!! An undiagnosed autistic individual could read this and disqualify themselves as being on the Spectrum.
If anything, autistic children – and adults – have been known to do the opposite: It’s called echolalia.
This means repeating or echoing what they hear people around them saying, including people speaking directly to them. They may also repeat what they hear on TV.
Fact is, some autistic children and adults who deftly exhibit echolalia may not even be capable of spontaneous conversation.
I’ve been to numerous events among autistic people. I don’t know a single clinically diagnosed adult — with normal conversational skills — who’d struggle to repeat a statement I made to them or one they overheard.
Say something to me. I’ll repeat it verbatim.
There are autistic people who act in film and theatre.
Do you really think they’d be incapable of being able to repeat or echo what is said to them?
#4 Difficulty expressing desires using words or motions.
“Desires” needs to be defined here. I’ve heard Autists telling people what they wanted. I myself can easily state my desires.
Many content creators are autistic. Do you really believe that as a general rule, they have difficulty expressing their desires using words?
Any articulate autistic YouTuber will crush this trait. However, there may be some validity with the aspect of “motions.”
Many Autistics may exhibit body language that’s incongruous with the words coming out of their mouth.
#5 Unable to discuss their own feelings or other people’s.
This one’s tricky. I would’ve never thought I was “unable” to do this. But my assessment report pointed out difficulty in this area.
#6 Difficulty with acts of affection like hugging.
Another tricky one. One evening I attended a pizza meetup for autistic adults.
At the end, I and a clinically diagnosed autistic woman (whom I’d never met previously) were walking towards our cars. When it was time to part, she asked for a hug!
I’ve also witnessed autistic women, who haven’t seen each other for a while, hugging at autism events.
This trait needs further clarity: Does the difficulty include immediate family members? Close friends? Relatives? Acquaintances? And what about the circumstances?
Plus, there are many neurotypicals who are not huggy-type people. In fact, overly huggy NTs have been known to make other NTs duck for cover.
However, an individual on the Spectrum can clearly sense when their hug tank is naturally near empty even with loved-ones.
For myself, I don’t enjoy hugs unless it’s with my parents or a boyfriend. I’ve read of Autistics, though, who like to hug their friends.
It’s very worth noting that whenever I’ve seen a character on TV hug a doctor or police officer after learning that a family member just died, I’ve always thought that was incredibly silly.
I’ve always thought that if a doctor or police officer ever delivered devastating news to me, the LAST thing I’d want to do is hug them and sob into their chest. Are you kidding me?!
Hugging is a very intriguing human act. At a World Autism Day event, an autistic boy of about six or seven was wrapping his arms around all the adults nearby – who were strangers to him.
This included me, even though I had not spoken to him or even smiled at him.
He just came up and put his little arms around my waist (and I lightly reciprocated so as not to hurt his feelings, though this felt 100 percent mechanical to me; technically, I masked!).
#7 Prefer to be alone.
Preference for solitude is very common among Autistics. Won’t argue with this one!
#8 Avoids eye contact.
I take issue with the inference that being able to hold eye contact probably rules out autism.
Avoiding eye contact is a strong suggestion for ASD.
However, “Avoids eye contact” should never be in a checklist, as this declaration can discourage people with undiagnosed ASD — but who give eye contact — from seeking an assessment.
Instead, the descriptor should be something like, “May give too little or too much eye contact; overthink the process of giving eye contact; or find eye contact unusually distracting under certain circumstances.”
I have a history of overthinking eye contact, but I certainly don’t avoid it when being spoken to or when wanting to assert myself.
I do need to gaze away when I’m long-talking, as maintaining eye contact while I’m explaining things is very distracting.
I’ve been in correspondence with people whose clinically diagnosed autistic children had normal eye contact.
I’ve met an autistic man and his teen son who both reported that eye contact has always felt natural to them. I’ve met others who gave direct eye contact, by their admission.
One guy maintained intense eye contact with me during a controlled argument.
My diagnosing psychologist said that people can be on the Spectrum and still have good eye contact.
Yes, some autistic people avoid eye contact. But “avoids eye contact” is too absolute a descriptor for an autism checklist.
#9 Difficulty relating to other people.
DIRECT HIT! If there’s a universal trait in autism, this is surely it.
#10 Unable to point at objects or look at objects when others point to them.
I challenge this. I’ve been at long tables with chattering autistic people.
For the life of me, I can’t imagine suddenly pointing at something beyond the table – while several of the Autists just happen to be watching me – and them not directing their eyes to where I’m pointing.
This is just way, way impossible to believe. These were engaging individuals with good or well-faked eye contact, articulate speech and the ability to answer any questions given to them.
There is NO way that nobody’s eyes would follow the finger of someone suddenly pointing.
However, I can easily believe that this checkpoint would apply to those with more severe presentations of autism.
But the article’s target audience, along with the TikToker’s target audience, are those with “high functioning” autism.
I also see no reason why none of the Autistics at these gatherings would point themselves.
I was taught as a child that it’s rude to point. I rarely point, but there are times when I have.
I won’t argue that there are Autistics who never point. But to put this in a checklist just doesn’t seem right.
Be Very Leery of Generic Autism Checklists for Signs
Freepik.com
If you suspect you might have ASD and really feel strongly about this suspicion, the one thing you should never do is disqualify yourself based on a short, generic checklist – whether it’s part of an article about an autistic person on TikTok, off a website about developmental disorders or in a pamphlet.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical and fitness topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer. In 2022 she received a diagnosis of Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Top image: Shutterstock/pathdoc
This content was originally published here.