robert7111a

Hi Willow-Tree I'm really sorry. I just a bit skeptical as one gets anything in life for free. And I have since found on another post that you have written a book about yourself? This is great news - only problem is, the text is too small for me to preview it. Honestly no offence meant, I hope you can forgive me...:embarrassed: (couldn't find suitable smily)

Is this a scam?

Some people are "oversensitive" to quiet sounds (such as the hum of a fridge/buzz of fluorescent lights) that "normal" people tune out. These people find said sounds annoying and distracting. My hearing is so sensitive I can literally hear silence (ever heard of Brownian motion?)

I find it hard to focus at times due to easy distractibility (i.e. the ADD element). Especially in my house where there are too many distractions! I have the attention span of a flea. If I am doing serious study, I need dead silence and four bare walls without a window. Oh what I'd give for linear straight-line thinking ... lol

Hear! Hear! I think the fact that people with AS overanalysing things can be a real bonus because we look into things more and not go with the herd mentality. We don't just accept things "as is".

I can't "do" linearly - i.e. one thing at a time. The nature of my work (in particular) requires that I do/read/research many things at once. This is why I have several writings of notes (for various topics) on the go. Like Sa Skimrande, I have various "production lines" all at different stages of "production/remediation". Like at work, I have several "tabs" open on the PC as I have to jump from one to the next. At home, I can do this to suit the mood. Sometimes I do wish life could just operate on a linear process so that I can just worry about one thing at a time

Hi metalhead1994 Did the diagnosis come out of the blue or were you expecting it? Do you normally suffer from depression? I see you write songs - why not write one expressing how you feel? Might be one way of getting it out of your system. Your friends should be able to offer support (if they're true friends of course) Having AS is nothing to be ashamed of.

Hi Lizzy-Wilson Obviously it will be daytime when you read this so hope you've had a good night's sleep and today is a better day. And the injury to your arm is depressing enough. I go through having low days and wondering who/what/where I am and any little thing gets out of proportion. But then I bounce back and everything is ok again. I'm sure you'll do the same But don't over-exert yourself at work...take things easy. Robert

My thoughts exactly. I have never had many friends. Always been a loner and until last year, never knew why. I never really understood casual friendships. Now I have a better understanding of myself and "NT things" in general, and changed the way I interact with people, I certainly have far more casual relationships with people than all the years of my life. But the social skills element is still missing although I am a little better than what I used to be. I never realised how "bad" I looked or the fact I was giving out negative body language which obviously put people off. No wonder people didn't "like" me. So don't dispair, work on yourself, observe others and it can be done. But don't be too intense with people - keep friendships casual and open like Mannify says and you might never know where they may lead.

This is very interesting as I'm completely the opposite. I have so many things "on the go", virtually nothing gets finished. I put this down to dyspraxic tendencies. Just to illustrate the diversity of "The Spectrum"

Well done! I would die if I had to give any sort of presentation...

I'm eating Lindt 99% right now...yum

Personally I don't like any "label" but I prefer the term autistic over autie. But then perhaps I personally prefer the term "different" or "difference" and dislike the term "gifted". But then that's just me. I have gone through the last few months slightly confused (hence not contributing towards this forum) in the sense of "who am I" but with my knowledge increasing that little bit each day with the "whats and whys", I am definately on the spectrum and exhibit little snippetts from each of the SpLD's on the autistic spectrum. I know I am "different" and am now proud of it.

I'm fascinated by this topic. Yes, I often find if I engage in casual conversation with (particularly) somebody in authority, such as one of my doctors, my eyes start to well up. This is embarrassing and I have to pull a hanky out to pretend to blow my nose (and wipe my eyes at the same time) I have finally realised why people are giving me funny looks or looks of hostility: I am looking at them for too long (i.e. seconds). The reason I look at people is to try and observe and learn non-verbal cues. I have also finally made my wife understand why I look at people - purely for the reason to observe their non-verbal body language. It is like a second (or foreign) language to me.

Yes I know EXACTLY how you feel/felt SmileyK. At my last works xmas do, we met in a pub before going to the restaurant. It was all very cliquey with people in their own small groups. Nobody spoke to me. I felt so alone and knew I stuck out like a sore thumb. I did not know how to initiate an intelligent conversation. I nearly walked out to go home. Fortunately in the restaurant, somebody next to me got very drunk and talked all sorts to me (mainly rubbish) so I had at least a conversation partner

How bad is your OCD ?...really...be honest. How badly does it affect your life? What sort of things do you do? Perhaps taking stock of these things might help with solutions...?

For those that have given up their search to find a job (for whatever reason), is staying indoors and cocooning oneself away from society a kind of defeatist retreat from the world?

Could be your meds are suppressing some of your O C Dness...?

I'm 10 so I'm neither a man or a woman or I'm both My index finger is longer than the ring finger on my left hand (palm facing) but shorter than the ring finger on my right hand So...am I male or female, both or neither !! :lol:

No, hyperacusis and "sensitivity to noises" are two different things although the underlying mechanisms might be similar. Hyperacusis describes a reduced tolerance to loud sounds whilst "sensitivity to noises" describes sensitivity to quiet sounds such as the buzz of fluorescent lights, air conditioning units where the normal squelch function within the brain is impaired Then I suppose this raises the question of "what is loud?" Interesting though...

Oh...thank you Mannify...I still don't know everything about ears but I also have a friend who has APD. We can't go for coffee in "normal" places like Starbucks, Costa etc so have to go somewhere really quiet. She's been moved to a busy office at work and now struggles a lot. Telephone work is also a problem. I get hyperacusis when tired or stressed. If somebody gives me too many verbal instructions, I've forgotten what to do.

I've been away from the forum for a while. Yes, APD occurs due to an impairment in the automatic noise suppression system in the brain (specifically the "top down" efferent auditory system) that causes the basilar membrane in the cochlea to dampen down the vibrations. APD often occurs in the presence of other SpLD's (co-morbidity) where it takes second place in the diagnosis of (for example) HFA but can also occur due to neurological injury after (for example) a car accident. There is unfortunately no cure for APD.

Yes, APD, VPD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, Aspergers etc all come under the banner "Special Learning Disabilities" (SpLD for short) but because there is so much overlap, each is difficult to diagnose individually in which case a person is usually given the generic diagnosed as having Aspergers (i.e. Higher Functioning Autism).

Yes this is disgusting behaviour. Hit the "Report" button and make your complaint. The administrator should then suspend the offending person's account

I could not do without my wristwatch. I live and work to a timetable. I catch a train to work and do my clinic where people come at appointed times. I use time and the position of the sun when out photographing. I use timetables a lot. In my youth, I learnt how clocks/watches etc work. My life is very much run on a timetable so time is definately of the essence. But I am able to forget time such as if I'm having a social drink...