Can't talk to people when you're working on something?

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Yep, I cant talk and properly concentrate on typing or anything else, when I try I either fully loose track of the conversation randomly or I have to stop doing whatever else I'm doing.

Interruptions are frustrating. By the time I have shifted my attention to a person and begun to register their words, they are nearly finished.

I'm this way too - I can't bear to be interrupted when I am deep into something, such as writing, reading, playing a video game or even just thinking about something or attempting to plan something. I have a tendency to be extremely irritable or even outright snappy if I'm disturbed when I'm doing something. I'm not a good multi-tasker!

But I think that rather than it being an aspie thing, it is quite common... even if perhaps it may be worse for some of us or we may react more strongly. I think that it is probably far more rare to be able to solidly multitask! I know very few people who can.

I hate it when I'm doing something and I have to listen or talk to people. I get annoyed and wish them just to go away and leave me.

I have a very hard time interacting while doing something. I notice this very acutely while doing activities like driving a car; I can only talk to someone if the conversation is about the actual driving, or if we´re on a long stretch of boring highway where nothing is happening. Another situation that comes to mind is back when I was a dancer, I always dreaded pas de deux rehearsals. I couldn´t quite understand this, because I actually like pas de deux work, and enjoyed it immensely while onstage. However, one of the things that has become clear now is that I was nervous about the interaction. It took enough of my concentration to pick up the choreography, listen to what the director was saying, and focus on my dance technique, that any kind of interaction on top of this was hell. But my male partners would constantly talk to me! I guess because I was so concentrated, they would try to "relax me" by making flirtatious comments or telling jokes, but it would only have the opposite effect. This was so common, that I believe most NTs don´t have this problem- or at least not anywhere near to the same extent- because people couldn´t seem to understand why I was like this. Some of them thought I was just "too serious", or some thought I was antisocial and were offended. I even remember one particular director sort of banding together with the men, and teasing me about these things...(I was basically bullied constantly by this one director, I realize now, after all these years, it was due to AS stuff, and was probably some social hierarchy thing as well...) Well, I got on another track, sorry.

I also took part on another thread, where someone mentioned they could not take notes while a person was lecturing. I had this problem big time, and ultimately realized that I took in much more information when I didn´t write notes. I couldn´t write and listen at the same time, particularly because they go on about the next thing, while you´re writing about the last thing....impossible to process! I´m sure that´s also related.

While I perfectly well hear people talking to me, I just can't bring myself to answer when I am doing something else that requires attention. My speech just doesn't work when I'm occupied with something else! If something only requires a little attention, I can talk. But it is usually choppy then.

I can multi-task like no other UNTIL someone starts talking then everything comes crashing down. As long as no talking is involved I can run circles around everyone.

I have to block everything out when I'm trying to get something done. People tell me things while I'm working and it completely screws me up. Sometimes I am so focused that I don't hear them, and they end up getting annoyed:

Them: "Mike, you won't be able to post transactions for the next hour."
Me: type type type type
...5 minutes later
Me: "Hey... my transactions won't post"
Them: "I hate your stupid guts, Mike."

I am a mother of 2 ASD children. I am not ASD but I do have a hard time talking to people while on the computer or working ect. For example i get very frustrated when watching tv and someone starts talking to me. Or typing and someone comes in the room to chat? Is that a trait of ASD or just an OCD trait?

Guys, I have just discovered this thread and found the reason why me and my girlfriend argue sometimes. I keep telling her that when I'm typing, reading etc or something that I'm interested in that I wish to focus all my energies towards that task and she always tries to talk to me, blow me kisses, ask for hugs, and its nearly ALWAYS when I'm busy doing the aboved mentioned things. It pisses me off to no end and I'm sure it does to her too. But the whole reason why she's pissed off is coz she thinks I'm ignoring her and therefore she gets in a pissy fit. I try and tell her that my mind is occupied and that I will be with her in a moment, but that's never enough.

I speculate that since so many of us are bringing this up, maybe it is an ASD trait. I certainly put my hand up to vote that it is.

There is NFW you can get my attention if I am doing anything else. For instance, I KNOW the football game is on the TV behind me and my sig other is trying to get my WHAT DAMMIT?! CAN'T YOU SEE I AM DOING SOMETHING???? Sorry about that. You can sneak up on me and scare the snot out of me because I have no idea anyone else is even in the same WTF DO YOU WANT? CAN'T YOU SEE? DON'T YOU CARE? Ummm, anyway, yah, I am one-dimensional when I am doing something else.

BKBJONES, are you psychicaly linked to me? lol.

You definately hit the nail right on the head there.

krex: Wristbands (worn by Autists) really are real - there is such a thing, and for a reason! As elucidated on this thread. The 3 wristbands, in colors indicated, serve a purpose - those who are around you are to know their meaning and act accordingly. I am certain one could find such a colored set - BUT; krex - you're the artist! You could make these, and sell on your site!! ! Just an idea - I like the 3 wristband concept. Saving relationships everywhere, one wristband at a time.

Adam-Anti-Um (love your username, btw): We are with you...So, for all, Lab Pet must be 'In the Mood' to be spoken to &/or engage.
I have THE ultimate song for this - listen below (Just the 1st 'In the Mood' song - not the later part):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSt_bu7n ... 1&index=12

EDIT (might want to listen to this version instead): This is the same song, sans the sappy 2nd song (let's pretend that didn't happen). Disclaimer holds (refer to below - this video is cheesy): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjeCorEQJkM

Disclaimer: Lab Pet does not endorse Robert Plant nor necessarily like his other works - 'In the Mood' is simply expressive of this thread's topic. So there.

Message - Must be in the mood to be spoken to, etc. Refer to thread.