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The DSM-5 Autism criteria, translated by an autistic.
A thread.
#AllAutistics #AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptanceMonth
#AutismAcceptance
A thread.
#AllAutistics #AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptanceMonth
#AutismAcceptance
“Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, abnormal social approach, failure of normal conversation”
Autistic translation: We succeed at getting to the point and skipping the formalities. We don’t know when it’s our turn, so we either interrupt, keep quiet or meow.
Autistic translation: We succeed at getting to the point and skipping the formalities. We don’t know when it’s our turn, so we either interrupt, keep quiet or meow.
“Reduced sharing of interests, emotions or affect”
Autistic translation: We want to share our special interests, but eventually learn to keep it to ourselves. We may share emotions but can’t describe them. So we keep a straight face.
Autistic translation: We want to share our special interests, but eventually learn to keep it to ourselves. We may share emotions but can’t describe them. So we keep a straight face.
“Failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.”
Autistic translation: We may want to socialize with neurotypicals, but either don’t know how or stopped trying. We interact with other autistics much more easily.
Autistic translation: We may want to socialize with neurotypicals, but either don’t know how or stopped trying. We interact with other autistics much more easily.
“Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction...”
Autistic translation: We’d like you to cut it out with the body language and subtle expressions, and just say what you mean. Also, don’t mistake our stimming for a rude gesture.
Autistic translation: We’d like you to cut it out with the body language and subtle expressions, and just say what you mean. Also, don’t mistake our stimming for a rude gesture.
“Abnormalities in eye contact and body language”
Autistic translation: Eye contact is distracting and uncomfortable. Our body language is either 'stimming', 'getting comfortable' or 'trying to stay still and keep a straight face'.
Autistic translation: Eye contact is distracting and uncomfortable. Our body language is either 'stimming', 'getting comfortable' or 'trying to stay still and keep a straight face'.
"Deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication”
Autistic translation: Our expressions and gestures reflect how we really feel, but they are taken personally and seen as inappropriate, so we awkwardly fake them.
Autistic translation: Our expressions and gestures reflect how we really feel, but they are taken personally and seen as inappropriate, so we awkwardly fake them.
“Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships”
Autistic translation: We are very loyal, but might also forget that someone even exists. This means we either offend the friend or assume we did, avoiding them forever. Trauma also plays a role.
Autistic translation: We are very loyal, but might also forget that someone even exists. This means we either offend the friend or assume we did, avoiding them forever. Trauma also plays a role.
“Difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts…”
Autistic translation: Acting ‘normal’ is so difficult that we spend our whole lives studying other people, copying their behavior and comparing ourselves to them. Some of us don’t bother.
Autistic translation: Acting ‘normal’ is so difficult that we spend our whole lives studying other people, copying their behavior and comparing ourselves to them. Some of us don’t bother.
“Difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends…”
Autistic translation: When asked to play ‘house’, we might choose to be the dog or a refrigerator. Our imagination is fine, but sometimes it’s so ‘outside the box’ that others can’t relate.
Autistic translation: When asked to play ‘house’, we might choose to be the dog or a refrigerator. Our imagination is fine, but sometimes it’s so ‘outside the box’ that others can’t relate.
“Absence of interest in peers.”
Autistic translation: To the contrary, peers lack an interest in us. We are interested in peers whom we can relate to, but struggle to find common ground. We often have oodles of compassion, but don’t know what to do with it.
Autistic translation: To the contrary, peers lack an interest in us. We are interested in peers whom we can relate to, but struggle to find common ground. We often have oodles of compassion, but don’t know what to do with it.
“Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech”
Autistic translation: We enjoy the rhythm and patterns of movements and sounds to regulate our emotions and senses. Put simply, stimming feels good.
Autistic translation: We enjoy the rhythm and patterns of movements and sounds to regulate our emotions and senses. Put simply, stimming feels good.
“Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines or ritualized patterns”
Autistic translation: Because everything is so stressful, confusing, loud and unpredictable, we rely upon sameness to function. If we also have ADHD, routines are still needed, but hard to keep.
Autistic translation: Because everything is so stressful, confusing, loud and unpredictable, we rely upon sameness to function. If we also have ADHD, routines are still needed, but hard to keep.
“Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus”
Autistic translation: We’re so into our hobbies and passions that it makes allistics uncomfortable, especially if the interests are highly specific. If our interests ‘pass’ as normal, nobody notices.
Autistic translation: We’re so into our hobbies and passions that it makes allistics uncomfortable, especially if the interests are highly specific. If our interests ‘pass’ as normal, nobody notices.
“Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment”
Autistic translation: Everything is either too loud or too quiet, too busy or too slow. Our sensory experience is so intense that it can’t be ignored.
Autistic translation: Everything is either too loud or too quiet, too busy or too slow. Our sensory experience is so intense that it can’t be ignored.
Here’s the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder.
Hopefully my translations helped you better understand a loved one or yourself!
#AutismSelfAwareness #AutismSelfAcceptance https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html
Hopefully my translations helped you better understand a loved one or yourself!
#AutismSelfAwareness #AutismSelfAcceptance https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html
If you think that YOU might be autistic, this thread is a great place to start.
#AutismSelfAwareness #AutismSelfAcceptance
https://twitter.com/steve_asbell/status/1232060929405259782?s=21 https://twitter.com/steve_asbell/status/1232060929405259782
#AutismSelfAwareness #AutismSelfAcceptance
https://twitter.com/steve_asbell/status/1232060929405259782?s=21 https://twitter.com/steve_asbell/status/1232060929405259782
