What To Look For In Photographs Of You As A Child

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That's interesting.

As far as how I looked in photographs, I think I looked pretty normal. I'm smiling in most of them and look present in the eyes.

I was assessed for epililepsy as a kid due to that vacant expression. They said it looked like i switched off and would stare at people when they talked to me.

Maybe i was just bored

I wish could find the place where I said my first words on the Internet!

It was in a research camp called Camp Harrelson. They were conducting research on autistic kids and "normal" kids. My other brother was one of the "normal" kids. This was back in 1966, when I was five years old.

I have pictures of myself from that time. I looked perfectly "normal."

Most of the time, I slept in the "main house." On the day I spoke my first words, though, I slept in a cabin by myself, and walked myself to the therapy room.

Wow, do you remember saying them?

I actually don't. I remember there was some kind of excitement at the time, though.

I do remember, a few days later, asking a teenaged babysitter for an orange soda. I believe I was prompted to do so.

I think I might have been the one mentioned in the OP. At least, I know I have written in WrongPlanet.net topics about using childhood photographs to show certain things related to autism in childhood. In my case, I brought childhood photographs with me to my diagnostic assessment. The photographs I chose showed a child from age two years to age 10 years who stared at cameras, closed his eyes when cameras were aimed in his direction, and never smiled. One particular photograph was taken in the mid-1960s on Christmas morning where I clearly showed no interest in my family or much else; again I was fixated on the camera. Another series of about 12 photographs taken by a professional photographer showed a child at about age three years whose expression transitioned with every successive photograph from curiosity to fear to anger to meltdown in about a minute. I remember that experience well as the photographer didn't understand why I disliked his bright flashing lights.

Of course, photographs alone prove nothing, but they help complete personal descriptions and memories of childhood quite well.

This is an interesting thread... Want to think about it and come back.

Similar to AspieUtah, I too have a set of photos that were taken as a series in relatively quick succession, which show a progression from a happy expression on my face to extreme discomfort and even physically cringing from someone's touch. Now that I know what I know, the photos look like a textbook autism reaction to the situation that was taking place when the photos were taken.

If anyone wants to pour scorn on that and tell me it proves nothing, SURE I KNOW THAT. It proves nothing, but it sure does look like a kid with autism by today's knowledge, and no they are not the only pictures, I have plenty more like that. I'll PM scans if anyone wants to challenge that.

Sorry I'm a little on the defensive around this joint today.

I was a non-verbal, autistic kid who looked absolutely "normal" in photos.

Yes, lights and things causing a reaction in the photos, it's all fair to realize what may be captured is rather telling in many ways.

Btw, my defensiveness in that other post was purely general, not aimed at the OP or you or anyone in this thread -- I just came back to this site after not caring to come here for a few days, and saw some stuff that seemed very pointed --- again.

I was really quite an oblivious kid.