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pandd
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25 Feb 2009, 6:38 pm

LuckyBunny wrote:
I had the same situation until I took the aspie quiz with my mum watching and verifying my answers.

I had a similar experience (pre-diagnosis) with my partner. He was very skeptical until he went through that on-line quiz, but once he saw the kind of information it asks about (and knowing the kinds of strengths/weaknesses/personal eccentricities I am characterized by), his opinion altered quite substantially.
robo37 wrote:
But I've seen lots of other aspies say their shy.

I've seen lots with blue eyes.

Quote:
Don’t people with AS have problems speaking to people? Isn’t that the same as shyness?

No. Many people who are deaf have problems speaking to people (in particular people who do not know how to use sign language), but not all such people are shy.
People with AS do have difficulties with communication, but many of these difficulties are related to lack of reciprocity, impaired non-verbal expression/comprehension, and tendencies to talk at rather than with others. For many of us the actual speaking is not all that difficult, and in fact sometimes those around us might wish we did have more difficulties with speaking (because then we might shut up for a change).

Further, not all difficultywith speaking is about shyness. Sometimes the reason is cognitive (for instance lack of ability to imagine some useful comment, or inability to convert thoughts to words smoothly). When these things happen in the absence of any causal anxiety, then it is not an emotional/shyness issue but rather a cognitive/competency issue.
Stew54 wrote:
So, being spectacularly clumsy and poorly co-ordinated could be associated with being socially awkward, rather than just another of life's crosses. Who knew? And having important routines too? And being much more interested in a series of obscure subjects than I ever was in the school curriculum or my responsibilities at work? And being exhausted beyond measure after socialising with people?

It explains so much, including things one is not necessarily aware even need explaining. For instance, who even thought for a moment that there was anything at all odd about lining things up or sorting them into categories for hours on end (on a routine and regular basis)? It always seemed like ordinary child-hood behavior to me.



Who_Am_I
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25 Feb 2009, 7:49 pm

robo37 wrote:
Don’t people with AS have problems speaking to people? Isn’t that the same as shyness?


Not necessarily. Shyness is not the only possible reason for communicative difficulties. If your brain won't connect with your mouth; if you can't remember your words; if you can't initiate speech; if you can't think of anything to say even when you can do all of the aforementioned things, and if these problems are caused by things other than anxiety about talking to people, then it is not shyness.


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Woodpeace
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26 Feb 2009, 11:45 am

I remember my mother being surprised four to five years ago that I had self-diagnosed as autistic. She said I was shy which I am. I would now describe myself as borderline autistic.