Category: Childhood Autism

Facial expressions between autistic and typical people may be mismatched

Posted on by Gregory Wood
I can relate to this experience myself – Greg

Conversations between an autistic and a typical person involve less smiling and more mismatched facial expressions than do interactions between two typical people, a new study suggests1.

People engaged in conversation tend to unconsciously mimic each other’s behavior, which may help create and reinforce social bonds. But this synchrony can break down between autistic people and their neurotypical peers, research shows. And throughout an autistic person’s life, these disconnects can lead to fewer opportunities to meet people and maintain relationships.
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Motor difficulties in autism, explained

Posted on by Gregory Wood

BY LAUREN SCHENKMAN

Most of my life from a early age I had problems with my hand righting and often got my hands slapped in school with a ruler.   Followed me all my life.   My eye hand coordination was always off and one of the reasons I stayed away from sports.  I also had anxiety for getting feedback from my parents about my walking .  On one of my jobs I was criticized for the way I walked.  In the employers mind I showed no sense of urgency.     Yet I did get things done.   – Greg

Most autistic people — 87 percent, according to the latest estimate — have some sort of motor difficulty, ranging from an atypical gait to problems with handwriting1. These issues are distinct from the repetitive behaviors considered to be a hallmark of autism. And yet, despite their prevalence, motor problems are not considered a core trait of autism, because they also occur with other conditions, such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Confusion at the crossroads of autism and hearing loss

Posted on by Gregory Wood

Hearing difficulties and autism often overlap, exacerbating autism traits and complicating diagnoses.

BY 

I can relate to having hearing loss on this article.  Important for kids and adults to get hearing checked – Greg

At the age of 3, Tyler spoke only about five words at a time, often with a stutter. Doctors initially thought he was deaf, and experts diagnosed him with auditory dyssynchrony, a condition that alters how the brain processes sound. But subsequent evaluations revealed that Tyler’s hearing was just fine.

Yet as Tyler grew, his speech problems — along with other atypical traits — led to a host of diagnoses, including speech apraxia, dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  read more