Object fixation

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How many of you can relate to this?

I have a tendency to focus on small details and ignore the big picture. I am often seen staring out the window or another specific detail of my environment. This often causes me to black out and lose awareness of my environment. This is especially maladapative during school. In many instances I was unaware of specific tasks the teachers mandated or requested of us or even unaware I was called on because I was staring at a dent in a chalkboard, the patterns on the ceiling, someone's hair (which I've tried to cut back on; I've been accused of staring at people and I suppose I do or have done in the past, but never out of malicious intent), the window or any other detail in a high school classroom setting of 20 plus people. I used to blame it on my ADD, though I do question how much of my ADD behavior is simply autistic behavior.

I was reading critera of autism/aspergers and noticed a narrow fixation on objects was a listed symptom. I asked my mother about this and she reported I was frequently observed fixating on lint or stains on the floor, nature details, dust particles in the air (one of my favorite activities as a child was trying to collect them), any object I was holding, my toys or even my clothes. I recall being scolded for presenting such behavior; I would be staring at trees out the window while eating breakfast, for example, and would start laughing or smiling "inappropriately", and might even stim. My breakfast was often left mostly untouched due to this, and it drove my mother insane. I've gotten better at focusing on tasks as I've gotten older but it's still a common pattern of my behavior.

This often happens to me when I'm in a group of people. I lose interest quickly because group dynamics are usually not worth the bother. I'll fixate on objects in the environment.

Sometimes it's related to disinterest of the task at hand. Other times something simply catches my attention and I fixate on it. It happens with my thoughts as well, but it's probable being "lost in thought" is a general human behavior also frequently exhibited in NT's, though it may be stronger or more prevalent amongst autistics.

I'm NT but this was a reason my counselor once suspected I was autistic.

Attention to detail is a common autistic trait (especially meaningless detail), but not exclusive to autism. I always referred to myself as being 'overly perceptive' as I noticed that others were generally ignorant to such things. My autistic friend (not to a surprise) is the most similar to me in this regard.

I did that often as a child in school.
I would perceive some pattern and my mind would focus on it for a while.

I generally do that. I always notice the small details and sometimes point them out. My mind/ eyes take in every part of my environment. Generally I don't point them out because when I do, people think I have ADHD. No.. I don't. I just see (and hear) everything. There is no filter.

I do this too! I often catch myself staring at a small detail of an object. It's like I can fixate on a single aspect of something and become consumed with it.

I've been that way since I was a kid: seeing faces and other shapes in bathroom tile, studying the texture of bricks or stone in afternoon side lighting, focusing on inconsequential details of any kind. Just this morning I was called to sit in for a meeting where someone was working on a laptop with a projector screen. I was mostly interested in the fact that the "Start" button was emblazoned across the side of the presenter's bald head whenever he leaned forward to type. To my credit, I was still able to participate somewhat in the discussion, despite the fact that the dude's head was far more interesting than what I was supposed to be concentrating on.

In my case, at least, my obsession with details has helped nurture my primary special interest in photography. Very often I notice details that most people don't appear to see. They're often surprised by the beauty of mundane details that neurotypical people seem programmed to overlook.

I think that NTs' brains filter out most real inputs in favor of subconsciously constructed inputs.
I think my brain does the opposite.

I do this all the time - I concentrate on one small detail to the exclusion of everything else....it's part of what helps me to "go inside my head" when I don't feel safe at any time.