The fundamental difference between NTs and people with AS

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There are many 'NTs' who also have sensory issues to varying degrees.

So, no, that's not exactly the difference unless you claim those people are pretending to have sensory integration deficits or deny their existence.

I think there are ways to make Aspies more social if their parents catch it early. If they know their child has it they can react in a positive way and help the child overcome some of the social deficits.
I think some of it is nature, some nuture. It's likely most reading this were not diagnosed at a particularly early age since AS wasn't diagnosed much if it all before 1994.
I was diagnosed with ADHD early on because no one knew about AS most of my traits were spectrumized tho. My mom knew there was something different but didn't have the resources to deal with it. There wasn't enough research or information about early intervention. I think it makes a big difference. You have to give them the message early on that socializing is a fun thing and it's okay if they make a mistake now and then.

Exactly. The real difference is a fundimental difference in how people with AS (and likewise NLD) communicate with people, but also percieve communication. We have difficulty especially with regards to synthisizing body language and facial expression. While some people with aspergers can do it intellectually some times, having the intuitive ability does not exist. As a result we depend more on other forms of communication, which makes us seem odd, like we work on our own wavelength.

I mean there is the problems with emotional issues as well, Aspies lack emotional emotional range or emotions exhibit themselves in an atypical fashion. There are NT with sensory issues, but what seperates us is how we communicate, how we think, and how we feel. Fundimentally, we are wired extremely differently than NT, and it goes beyond sensory issues.

I don't think we are that different from NTs. It's easy to use hyperbole to distort reality. Yeah, there are some differences, sure. Do we need air to breath? Yes. Do we need food to live? well, yeah. Do we walk on two legs? Most the time. Most people at least, pretend to have the same needs. Most people play the same games too, it's just that some are in denial about it. For real.
Enter the cliche: No two people are exactly alike >=))

Actually I think it's absolutely different for many, depending on the (yet unknown) cause of their form of autism.

I can't relate to many posts and articles about AS because my neurological deficit/impairment is just different from that of other people who come under the same label. Maybe because the causes are different, who knows? Or the causes are the same, but environmental factors led to different forms of autism? It could be a lot that eventually results in those differences of what autism is for each autistic person.

On the topic of sensory issues: I have got those pret-ty badly. In sixth grade I ran out of the band room during band "free practice", which hurt my ears to the point that I couldn't take it anymore. I nearly had to drop out of high school because just going down the hallway would cause me to drop to my knees and cry in pain. Ever since my mom switched churches, I have not been able to go to church due to the noise and the amount of people.

If anyone lays a hand on my shoulder from behind, I jump ½ a meter into the air and get very ... well, agitated and tell them to stop it or take the consequences. Usually, they never do it again
I don´t think NT´s feel that strongly about this.

And another thing:

One big difference to me, now that I have met aspies in a local group, is that Nt´s do "small-talk", because, if they talk about anything important, they get into a fight, verbally or for real.

When I talk to aspies, I call it "Big-talk", because, no matter how intellectual, personal or important the subject is, people may be loud and eager, but they rarely get into a fight or want to hurt each other. They just want to have the right to be right.

This is how I see it.

sensory integration dysfunction is apparent in many but not all people with an ASD.
I have fairly severe sensory integration dysfunction...sunlight hurts my eyes, random sounds and noises hurt my ears. I have worked out a strategy with my psych to deal with it and it is working well.

What KevinLA does say that makes perfect sense is the need to keep our co-morbid of anxiety at low levels. MOST ASD people tend towards higher levels of anxiety than the general population and so we need to work at keeping anxiety at bay and staying as relaxed as possible. Increased anxiety does lead to more difficulties with living, with meltdowns, with stress and with managing certain aspects of our ASD.
Yoga is good.
Exercise is good.
Good food is great.
fresh air.

These things are important for all human beings. They are REALLY important for us, in my view.

Actually, did you know that bipolar people can experience sensory overload and dysfunction? My OT told me that.

I agree that sensory issues vary a lot in our community and some people don't seem to have them at all.

I do that too. I startle really easily. If someone is coming in the opposite direction and I can't see them because there's a corner involved, when they are suddenly in front of me that really scares me. It causes a bit of a panic and I sorta yell that startled sounding "aaahaaahaaaaahaaaa". Like I just saw a rampant tarantula rummaging thru the house. It really jolts me, so to speak. It's because I am not expecting to see them and suddenly they are there, right in front of me. I really dread when that happens.

my reaction to unplanned touch is exactly the same, aldebaran.

I also enjoy your distinction regarding "small talk" and "big talk."
very good!

I agree with the above two posts. I see communication (receptive, and expressive as well as nonverbal) to be the biggest difference. My husband has quite a few sensory issues, and he's definetely not on the spectrum, though he is dyslexic. Even if all of my sensory issues were gone tomorrow I couldn't move fluidly in sync with the rest of the world. Even in the best of circumstances (where my sensory issues aren't being triggered) I struggle with socializing with others. They're communicating on a different frequency, and with a different set of rules than I am.

Sorry, but as an AS who can slip between both worlds I can tell you that intelligence is very highly overrated, and that clinging to the notion of "Intelligent AS people are superior to unintelligent AS and NT people" is complete sour grape bullyouknowwhat.

Doesn't matter whether you're AS or not: think/act like you are superior and you are quite correctly kicked in the teeth and a deservedly uncomplimentary sign is hung 'round your neck.

Intelligence is like money--good for some things, useless for others. More than intelligence is required to complete life's biological, physical, metaphysical, and social transactions, and that's no more of a conspiracy against intelligent people than sand is a conspiracy against water.

Furthermore, the bitter hateful tone of many of the posts on this thread demonstrates the truth of the fact that AS folks can have personality disorder diagnoses. Difference is, an AS person doesn't have to hang from more than one cross just because s/he chooses to carry more than one cross.

There's only one cross that an AS person is compelled to carry...the others can be ditched. Fail to accept that and you are doomed as much by your own choices as you are by the ignorance of others.

Sorry. Just had to raise the BS flag on a few of the self-serving contradictions. Not my job to correct other people per se', but it's also not my job to carry extra crosses just because of public misconceptions deriving from from entirely non-AS origins. Not fair to me, you, them, or us.

I know what it feels like. It gives you a feeling of helpless depression, of not being able to control your life...

I wish you well!

after only one year in psychology i have learned that Neurotypicals are mostly socially driven; all they want is to be accepted by others. They strive for relationships and a high social status. They're interests do not occupy all their time, they like sameness but do well in chaotic and changing environments.

i dont get why people are saying neurotypicals are dumb. They're all smart in different ways, Facts about science, movies and video games just dont always interest them to the extent that they interest us.

I just have to agree with this quote! "Harmless sociopath"
is a striking (but accurate) way to describe what I've
become after so many social failures...

Thankfully as the years go by I accept myself more, but its
still hard to live in a social world.