Do all aspies have trouble recognising facial expressions?

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I'm currently seeking an assessment for a possible ASD. I seem to be affected by all the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome in some way or another except for one: recognising facial expressions.

I've never noticed myself being unable to read a facial expression in a social situation and any test I've found online indicates I have no trouble with it. Does this mean I can rule an ASD out, even though all the other tests (AQ, Aspie-quiz, EQ etc.) seem to suggest I do have an ASD?

No, this isn't among the criteria. I can read just fine but don't always respond appropriately (timing issues), especially when tired or stressed. This would still qualify you AS LONG as your impairments AND behaviors were severe enough in childhood (this is the key to being distinguished from a run-of-the-mill homeschooled loser with bad social skills).

Another thing is you may not be aware of which higher-order facial expressions you are missing.

IM fine with the basics, I get in trouble with the more advanced ones I suppose. Like the difference between upset and allergies acting up or laughing hysterically and someone in pain. So if my wife is looking teary I just kind of make a stab in the dark at what it is and give her a hug or some zyrtec and hope I got it right. Chances are 50/50 Ill get in trouble for being an idiot or get bonus points rof taking initiative.

I don't have problems in that area.

I've been diagnosed and I aced the face blindness tests online (including the one that just shows the eyes). So no, face blindness is not required for an AS diagnosis. I think we all have different combinations of the various symptoms, but no one person is likely to have them all, which is the medical definition of a "syndrome". In conversation, I only miss others' facial expressions occasionally. However, I have trouble learning who my students are (it takes most of the semester before I get all of them down). And if I'm stressed I have trouble telling them apart even after I know them. And picking familiar faces out of a crowd is nearly impossible.

It may not be in the criteria but it is part of the brain functioning my doc told me, not being able to discern or remember faces or facial expressions. I didnt even recognise myself on pictures as a kid, and I never wanted (still don't) pictures of actual people in my room/flat. I feel stared at lol. I seem to remember ppl in fragments - a beautiful smile, amazing eyes, a beard, a scent and so on, but even ppl I have known for 15 years I worry about recognizing when to meet them in person. I don't really look at their outside, I'm more interested in their words.

OK. Scratch what I just said. I asked my boyfriend about this, and he said "Sometimes you fail to either notice or react when I am upset." Then, I got all disconcerted, "When were you upset?!? You need to tell me these things!" Then we both had a good laugh at my expense, because I just proved his point.

I'd go so far as to say that there is not any one trait of AS that all aspies share.

No, I think I'm pretty ok with facial expressions (just observe used car salesmen to get the gist of people lying haha and you will start learning)

I used to be pretty dunce with general body language but studied that a lot and am proficient in that area as well.

Basically I think. you become a genius at whatever you focus on. If kids dont focus on anyones face growing up (like me a bit) they will be pretty poor at reading them. Once they start observing them they will pick up on it. However looking at people faces in the first place may be hard: stressful and makes me a bit on edge

I can see them fine, it's the interpreting and understanding what it means is what I have troubles with sometimes. An example would be I am talking and I notice someone's expression changes to a funny look. I ask them "what?" knowing something is wrong but I don't understand what it means. Apparently if you have to ask, it means you have troubles with it. I learned that in high school.

No. There's no all or nothing about AS. I'm Aspie but I've never had trouble with ''reading'' any non-verbal cue such as facial expressions and tone of voice, etc.

Studies have been done which have concluded that males are generally worse than females at this. I'd hazard a guess that the average woman with Aspergers is better than the average NT man. My daughter was asked this question, at a sensory assessment last week, and she said that she could tell what emotion person might be feeling. I have to agree, but she does not always respond in a way that the other person would expect or like her to. I don't have a problem at all with this, in fact I suspect I'm better at it than most, but I don't have a diagnosis.

I am very good at recognising people - better than most people however I did miss out on few people. Depend on how focused I am. Given that I watched a lot of televison and reading people because I was pushed a lot in to socialising made me perfect at recognition. How ever I lacked the ability to understand the depth of certain emotions. Now days I can walk down the street and recognise someone even if I saw him 2 years ago some random place. And even find my self wanting to say hello. But I know they do not remember me.

Only a few times did I see a face and not know what it meant. I also cannot remember what those faces looked like. I do sometimes think I'm making the appropriate face when may not be. I should ask someone whether or not my smile is an actual smile.

a lot of aspies seem [by dint of brain scans] to be missing the facial recognition brain module, and must make do with a more generalized visual module not specifically geared to recognizing faces, so that might be part of the reason why a lot of us have a hard time with facial expressions.