What is autism?

[RL Clown]

Seriously, I don't understand what autism is... I looked up the definition of autism on the internet, but I'm still confused... I understand that people who have autism have trouble speaking. But everybody stutters. Does this mean that everybody has autism? Can you give me an example of an autistic person?

[nahuel]

Look at the DSM IV and DSM 5

[Mindf!3ldzX]

Examples of autism will not suffice, because each individual person is well, an individual, you can't just slap a label on someone and say "That's Autism"... Just like you have many first person shooter games, well Quake is a first person shooter, but that doesn't mean each individual example of a FPS will look like Quake!


The best thing I could do for you, is give you some basic search engine lessons on finding out anything and/or everything you want to know about anything. Knowing how to operate a search engine can lead to infinite self-prescribed answers to any of your random thought generated questions.

It would be like this, you tell me "I want to know about _____" then I would show you how I would word the search criteria for finding the answer's.

Hit me up in PM with as many questions you would want answers to with as many random's as you can,and I'll throw back at you examples of what google can or can't do in terms of picking words or criteria to use for searching. Most times, less words in a search engine net better results than specific word searches....

[Frost R17]

Well I may be of help, because I was diagnosed with autism until I developed Asperger Syndrome.

People with Autism tend be in their "own world", meaning they don't communicate with other people very well and more concerned with "sameness". However, they can be bright.

Asperger Syndrome, which I have, Are more developed than autistic people are; However, communication skills are limited and more emotional. However like autism, they can be bright. Albert Einstien possibly had Asperger Syndrome; also Bill Gates, the creator of Microsoft, possibly have Asperger Syndrome as well.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

Well I may be of help, because I was diagnosed with autism until I developed Asperger Syndrome.

People with Autism tend be in their "own world", meaning they don't communicate with other people very well and more concerned with "sameness". However, they can be bright.

Asperger Syndrome, which I have, Are more developed than autistic people are; However, communication skills are limited and more emotional. However like autism, they can be bright. Albert Einstien possibly had Asperger Syndrome; also Bill Gates, the creator of Microsoft, possibly have Asperger Syndrome as well.

Thank's for you're reply and putting yourself out there like that.

[PrimalLove]

Imprinted brain theory is currently our best theory as to how Autism comes about in development. EMB (Extreme Male Brain) is another competing theory but they are actually very similar. In essence this theory is the outcome of more paternal and less maternal gene expression (via epigenetic mechanisms) can lead to development of autistic spectrum disorder. Interestingly both theories seem to predict that the opposite (too much maternal expression) leads to schizophrenia. ASD is defined in DSM V (the current version) and lays out the current accepted definition of and symptoms of ASD for clinical diagnoses. For more info on imprinted brain theory that is easy to digest read The Imprinted Brain.

It's called Autistic Spectrum Disorder because Autistics are literally on a spectrum that varies depending on their family genetic history, severity of epigenetic expression, etc. But what exactly does this mean without all the jargon? Think of autism as the brain becoming extremely specialized. Instead of developing a wide range of new skills it begins to close off pathways and limiting development in one path and developing more extremely in another. Most activity in the body acts independent of one another. Every cell can do what it needs to do without needing to ask every other cell or a boss cell what to do. It does get instructions and cues from the environment that drive it's behavior, but otherwise it just does what its suppose to do. This is incredibly efficient and an evolutionary marvel to be sure, but when epigenetic expression change the environmental cues, the cells don't know that this particular expression is actual bad for the body as a whole. No one cell can take into account what the outcome will be for every other cell systemically. That is the cost of an efficient system.

The brain follows the development that is possible given the epigenetic environment to which it is presented. When you express for too much paternal expression this leads to limited or impaired brain development is maternal specific brain areas. So lack of speech development (communication), inability to understand non-verbal queues (facial expressions), anxiety (Extreme fear of social situations, very primal fear), Hypersensitive or Hypo sensitive and they will develop repetition routines (often to ward off stress or anxiety) that will be repeated over and over.


This will show areas of the brain most often affected by Autism.

Mild autism is called Asperger Syndrome, or High Functioning Autism. Interestingly, like anything, if you are on the right end of a spectrum you get to take advantage of the benefits of some additional paternal expression. They will still have trouble in social situations, they often cannot understand emotions or how people think (limited ability for conscious empathy), communication can be impaired to some degree, may suffer from behavioral problems, but they are often able to live pretty normal lives and even be very successful. What makes someone with Aspergers unique is they tend to specialize extremely well. They can also focus on problems without much distraction.

I highly recommend Thinking in Pictures and this one.
For more information.

[Cobalt]

I once repaired an old style Tape Deck for an autistic kid. He kept sending it back, saying the tapes played too fast. We had a calibration machine and test tapes played back at the calibrated speed just fine. After sending it back the 3rd time for a redo, his mom called us and said he was autistic. I wound up playing his own tape he made that he sent back with the tape deck to him over the phone. Then I calibrated it to "his ear" through the phone line. Seemed all he wanted was some special attention....his mom claimed he had "perfect pitch".....

[ArrrCee]

I once repaired an old style Tape Deck for an autistic kid. He kept sending it back, saying the tapes played too fast. We had a calibration machine and test tapes played back at the calibrated speed just fine. After sending it back the 3rd time for a redo, his mom called us and said he was autistic. I wound up playing his own tape he made that he sent back with the tape deck to him over the phone. Then I calibrated it to "his ear" through the phone line. Seemed all he wanted was some special attention....his mom claimed he had "perfect pitch".....

That was really nice of you to do that. I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't take the time, so that is cool of you.

[MadGypsy]

I'm not autistic. I'm just regular retarded.

[OMacKnight]

I've been diagnosed with high functioning autism. But it's not really something I've ever actively thought about in all honest. :v

But you have to remember autism can be referred to as a spectrum of mental disorders, so it's a simple question with many lengthy answers I suppose.

[nahuel]

@PrimalLove great information but i have a little correction, the current version is "DSM 5" not "DSM V", THE APA chose not to use roman numbers to post updates more easily(DSM 5.1, DSM 5.2 etc ... )

[PrimalLove]

@PrimalLove great information but i have a little correction, the current version is "DSM 5" not "DSM V", THE APA chose not to use roman numbers to post updates more easily(DSM 5.1, DSM 5.2 etc ... )

Ah I wasn't aware of this! Thanks!

[Mindf!3ldzX]

seen this, [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrIZJnVxCbY[/ame]

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