Joined: 3 Feb 2006 Age: 41 Gender: Female Posts: 10,775 Location: Ohio, USA
25 Mar 2012, 2:18 am
It seems to be a very prevalent observation, but I don't know of any scientific studies of the question. Could be anything from subtle genetic factors to the way we tend to stay inside, with our noses in books, instead of getting ourselves wrinkled from sun exposure. Could just be a fallacy that doesn't really have a basis in reality.
I know I look younger, and so does my (almost certainly diagnosable ASD) mom.
I don't think it has much scientific merit because it couldn't really be used as a screening test; looking younger is too common for NTs and the facial markers would be too subtle to use for computerized screening.
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 19,801 Location: The Gem State
25 Mar 2012, 2:50 am
I'm 21 but my mom says I look between 14 to 16. I'm frequently asked what grade I'm in by people when they first meet me. Then they appear shocked when I tell them my true age. And one of my younger brother's friends once thought I was the younger sibling!
My mom also says that she has trouble telling the ages of anyone she's met at work who is on the autistic spectrum. For example, two of such autistic people are coworkers of my mom's who are both sisters. I thought they were around my age when I met them, but they're actually in their early 30s.
I'm 21 but my mom says I look between 14 to 16. I'm frequently asked what grade I'm in by people when they first meet me. Then they appear shocked when I tell them my true age. And one of my younger brother's friends once thought I was the younger sibling!
My mom also says that she has trouble telling the ages of anyone she's met at work who is on the autistic spectrum. For example, two of such autistic people are coworkers of my mom's who are both sisters. I thought they were around my age when I met them, but they're actually in their early 30s.
Ha yeah, I get that all the time. People think I'm the younger sibling. I'm quite short as well, which doesn't really help.
I don't think I really look younger than my age and had someone on here think I look older but recently someone thought I was 28 and I once overheard my former landlord tell someone that I was much younger than my actual age.
Joined: 19 Nov 2011 Age: 58 Gender: Male Posts: 486 Location: England
25 Mar 2012, 3:06 am
Looking younger is a bit subjective... BUT:
People with AS are said to have expressionless faces.
Some NTs pay to have paralysing toxins (eg Botox) injected into their facial muscles in a quest for similar expressionless (and thereby less lined) features... in an attempt to look younger.
So... Maybe
P.S: Any aspies on here who've had Botox? Did it make any difference?
Joined: 1 Feb 2012 Age: 32 Gender: Female Posts: 51
25 Mar 2012, 3:17 am
bnky wrote:
Looking younger is a bit subjective... BUT: People with AS are said to have expressionless faces. Some NTs pay to have paralysing toxins (eg Botox) injected into their facial muscles in a quest for similar expressionless (and thereby less lined) features... in an attempt to look younger. So... Maybe P.S: Any aspies on here who've had Botox? Did it make any difference?
Is it wrong of me to think that lip injections look absolutely horrible? Constant duckface.
Joined: 1 Aug 2011 Age: 30 Gender: Male Posts: 29 Location: United Kingdom
25 Mar 2012, 4:10 am
I don't think there's necessarily any correlation. If anything, there's a chance people may think you're younger due to perceived social immaturity, rather than down to looks alone.
Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 19 Location: Earth
25 Mar 2012, 4:35 am
Yes, yes,yes, I'm 33, but most people think I'm a teenager
Most of kids think I'm not adult.
My wife (35) said I look like school graduate, despite hair gray.
And I see that most of my classmates are already men and women, but I'm still a boy, a boy with a little gray in hair
In general, I like this, but sometimes it causes problems
_________________ Happiness is to be satisfied with own automatisms.
Joined: 19 Nov 2011 Age: 58 Gender: Male Posts: 486 Location: England
25 Mar 2012, 7:21 am
However... When I was 12 I could pass as legal to work age=16. So I worked with high school leavers for the summer holiday every year... until I left school.
Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Age: 30 Gender: Male Posts: 1,364 Location: Planet Earth
25 Mar 2012, 7:47 am
I look much younger than I am. I'm often guessed at around 13-14, while I'm almost 19.
It's a shame, really, as I'd prefer to look much older than I am.
Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Age: 43 Gender: Male Posts: 1,365 Location: Piedmont Region, NC, USA
25 Mar 2012, 7:53 am
I'm 31 years old, but people tend to think i'm in my mid-20s. THe funny part is that when I was 21, people thought I was in my 30s. Go figure. Course it could be that since many of us arent that expressive, we dont use our facial muscles much, so the stretch and wear on our faces (which would indicate age) would be off.