Can you actually 'look like' you have autism? wtf? someone help, please.?

Question

Ok, Autism. If you have it then you can only act autisic and think autiscally(sp?), am I right? You cant 'look' autistic, can you? Like, by looking at a person, you can not tell if they are autistic or not, right? I reeaalllly need someones opinion or facts on this cause this ***** is trying to tell my friend that she looks autistic, and to me, i dont think that is actually possible. |: Opinions are apprectiated, thanks. (:

Answer 1

I think you have to remember that even if your friend does look like she is autistic, she isn't. But even that, there is nothing wrong with it. Autistic people are just that, they are people.

From what I found, there really isn't that much of a difference in looks, unless they are trained to find the tiny differences.

"Aside from their behavioral symptoms, people with autism have often been described not only as normal in appearance but as unusually attractive. They are certainly normal in stature, with normal-to-large heads. The few studies that have tested nonbehavioral features of people with autism, however, have concluded that there are indeed minor physical and neurological anomalies in many cases, and they are the same ones noted in thalidomide-induced autism. For example, minor malformations of the external ears -- notably posterior rotation, in which the top of the ear is tilted backward more than 15 degrees, are more common in children with autism than in typically developing children, children with mental retardation or siblings of children with autism. Dysfunctions of eye movement had been associated with autism before the thalidomide study, and lack of facial expression is one of the behaviors used to diagnose the condition."

Answer 2

There are no specific facial features associated with autism. Perhaps the "*****" is simply trying to be offensive by suggesting your friend is "different".

Answer 3

I've worked with students with varying degrees of autism, and the biggest difference in how they "look" is actually in their behaviour and mannerisms.  You don't really say who this person is.  It's quite likely someone trying to be rude.  I wouldn't get too concerned about it, if that's the case.

Answer 4

Not really, as you stated it is more actions.  Autism is not like Down Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome where there are common physical traits.  Many people with autism look just like anyone else.  Some are tall, some are short, some are thin, some are fat, etc.

Many people with autism may look like something is "wrong" or "different" about them.  Often times this is due to other causes such as self injurious behavior, lack of hygiene skills, or other impairments the person may have.

Not knowing your friend, I don't know, maybe she exhibits some autistic tendencies.  If you look close enough, most of us do.  I know that I do.  Also, not knowing your age or the ages of those involved, it appears to me that some people need to grow up a little bit and knock off the name calling.

Answer 5

People with Autism DO NOT have an abnormal physical appearance.

Autism is characterized by:

    * communication problems, which may include delays in developing speech, repeating words, and speaking in a monotone that lacks pitch, inflection, or rhythm

    * poor social interaction

    * repetitive behavior and interests

    * unusual behaviors, such as spinning or flapping hands

About one-third of children who are diagnosed with autism develop fairly typically in the first year or two of life, and then begin to regress in the way that they speak and socialize. They may:

    * prefer to play by themselves

    * not acknowledge other kids who play alongside them

    * like to line up objects and sort them into colors

    * have difficulty making eye contact with other people

If a child shows any one of these behaviors on an isolated basis, it's probably not autism. Usually, it's the collection of these behavior patterns that leads to a diagnosis of autism.

Though kids with autism are affected in different ways, in all cases their capacity to communicate and interact with others is impaired. Other behaviors of kids with autism may include:

    * speech that's often limited to a few repeated or "echoed" words or phrases

    * stopping speaking altogether

    * problems with communicating needs

    * withdrawing from physical contact with other people

    * want to be alone

    * seldom playing fantasy or imagination games

    * engaging in repetitive movements like rocking, hand flapping, or spinning objects

    * throwing tantrums that are prolonged and begin with little warning

    * laughing or crying out of nowhere

    * difficulty showing or receiving affection

    * resistance to change in daily routines

    * no fear of danger

    * very physically active or very underactive

    * lack of response to verbal cues (i.e., calling the child's name, questions, etc.)

    * unusual responses to many sensory experiences, especially to sudden, loud noises or high-pitched sounds

    * obsession with predictable rituals and sometimes playing with only one part of a toy

Answer 6

the person can only act autistic,

they cant look autistic....

that's redundant ......

in my opinion us that autism doesn't

affect how u look, only how u think....

Answer 7

Yes, it is possible. I went to a high school that had a lot of autistic people, and a lot of them do share some physical characteristics. Usually a wide, low forehead and slightly squinty looking eyes are good indicators.

Answer 8

I can't tell you how many times I have heard something like 'I had no idea- they look normal/like anybody else'.

As others have said, no there are no physical characteristics of autism.  It is the look of the behaviors.  Low eye contact, repetitive movements, unusual facial expressions, etc.

That person is just trying to be hurtful and make you mad.  It's hard, but just try to ignore her.

Mom of 2 on the spectrum

Answer 9

I am an adult diagnosed with Asperger's, and I also have an older sister with the more classic type (she is very verbal) and also a nephew that's more classic autistic.

Do they look autistic?  Do I?  If you only looked at a still photograph, where they were posing as you'd normally expect, the answer is (at least I think) definitely no.  However, with enough observation, you'll note we move in a different pattern than is expected, in various subtle and not-so-subtle ways, even if we don't do what's commonly referred to as stimming.  Talking to us will likely reveal a different style of thinking based on our speech, even if you aren't watching us with our foreign body language, because the style is different enough I think most people will recognize it as being a little outside of their expectations.  One friend of mine whom I met years before my unexpected diagnosis remarked by reading my emails that I wrote with the same style I spoke.  Indeed, my sister is also more self-consistent in writing and speaking styles than I have noticed in most people.

One thing that I think will tend to be the fastest give-a-way as to someone assessing someone as "looking autistic" is from facial expressions used, and unusual eye contact: you may not register the exact details of the differences consciously, but it can weird a lot of people out.  Back in 2004, out of desperation and lack of work in my regular field in the area, I found myself only able to get employment delivering pizza, which wasn't the easiest job, not because of the thinking involved, but rather sensory issues and dealing with people (not all were working with you, as much as against you: speed is of the essence for making any money, especially with other drivers working, and not all are honest/ethical in how they relate to others) and the job sucked on that account, though I actually managed to get a few hours of overtime, because I was that good and appreciated by the managers for how hard and consistent I worked.  But, one of the people I worked with (perhaps more, I didn't ask) for the longest time thought I was crazy (she's epileptic, so hey, she's one to talk! :D No, she's no more crazy because of that than I am because of AS ) because I didn't appear to make sense to her very social nature, while another driver that had also worked in a special education setting, immediately recognized my nature, before I had said anything.

So, the best answer I can give you, is that if someone is posed in a typical way in a still photo, chances are you won't have enough information to have a clue either way, but if you spend enough personal time with them, and know what you're looking for, it may be more readily visible, but even then, how do you know you aren't looking at something else, such as some sort of neurological oddities, such as Bell's Palsy, or stroke, or nerve damage, without more information?  How do you know that they aren't (sub)consciously acting out a part?  After all, a lot of thespians have figured out how to cry on command, and a lot of depressed people don't seem to smile much or show much life, and then there's the sociopath (not at all related to autism) that is the ultimate "show people what they want them to see even if it doesn't relate to reality" thing (a very bad sort of person for an autistic to run into, I must speak from experience: long enough exposure and using a bit of logic shows how bad they are, despite claims otherwise, but it can be an expensive and painful lesson that takes too much to figure out) and others.  It isn't a cut-and-dried thing: it's all on a spectrum!