Melanie Audet’s Post

All people on the autism spectrum have agnosias but it will depend on what types, the presentation, the frequency and how much they have impact on the individual. I have documented mine for over 15 years visual agnosias (simultagnosia, semantic agnosia impacting on social perception), faceblindness, auditory agnosia, body agnosias (visual spatial dygnosia, pain agnosia, hemiplegia) and alexithymia. Paul Isaacs 2024 Autism’ is one word but underlying autistic development and behaviour can be a ‘fruit salad’ of conditions. One of those is commonly Agnosias. Gnosia means ‘to know’. Agnosias are where the brain struggles to put meaning to incoming sensory information. Common agnosias in those with autism include - Social Emotional Agnosia (difficulty reading facial expression/body language). - Atonia (difficulty processing tone of voice) - Prosopagnosia (face blindness). - Visual Agnosia (meaning blindness, context blindness). - Auditory Agnosia (difficulty distinguishing speech from other environmental sounds). - Auditory Verbal Agnosia (meaning deafness) - Visual Verbal Agnosia (difficulty reading with meaning). - Body Agnosias (difficulty processing body messages and processing the body as a whole). - Anosagnosia (difficulty perceiving one’s own condition), - Alexithymia (difficulty processing one’s emotions) may also be present. Donna Williams 2012 #informationprocessing #agnosias #perception #languageprocessing

Happy World Autism Day! Now, let's talk about how autism is talked about. In the DSM 5, the US Mental Health handbook for medical and care professionals, autism is described using deficit language that prioritises the discomfort of the neurotypical observer. I found it a hard read, as it was dehumanising and portrayed autism as an abnormality. What we need to do is reconceptualise autism from the perspective of the autistic experience, e.g.: Instead of: “Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction…failure of normal back-and-forth conversation…abnormalities in eye contact and body language.” How about: We have our own rich and diverse communication norms. We respond to another’s stories with our own as a show of solidarity. We share and express our joy through talking about passions - and enjoy others talking about their own. We judge others by how they treat us, now what their eyes are doing. Instead of: “Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships…sharing imaginative play or in making friends.” How about: We are loyal friends, and we prioritise truth and clarity over harmony and feelings, and mutual respect over blind acquiescence to authority. Our ‘imaginative play’ is our wild inner universe of complex pattern-creating mechanisms. Instead of: “Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities…inflexible adherence to routines…” How about: In economies that push for continuous change and sacrifice people’s wellbeing the pursuit of infinite growth, we accept our very human need for consistency. It allows us to focus, and maintains our wellbeing. Our stims are powerful tools for summoning consistency in our anxiety-ridden world, calming us and enabling us to live. Instead of: “Unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment…, e.g. adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects.” How about: We’re designed for the natural world. Artificially-created spaces, lighting, sounds, smells and textures are an anathema, especially as we take in much more information than those around us. We strive to connect to the world and are more aware of what connects and disconnects us from a sensory perspective. Autistic people are not abnormal or failures, but normal and successful given the right support. Yes, we have challenges, but it is the deficits in the way autism is described, the abnormality in how we are pathologised, and the failure of institutions to help us, that add to, or even create, our disability. As a society need to start talking about autism more positively and from the perspective of the autistic experience, as only then can we move forward to create a more autism-inclusive world. #worldautismday #autismacceptance https://lnkd.in/eVC762F6

Don’t Judge Your Autistic Employee’s Intentions by Their Facial Expressions or Tone of Voice If you’re a neurotypical person, you may wonder, if you can’t judge an autistic person’s intentions by their facial expressions and tone of voice, what can you use as an accurate barometer? Our words. Autistic Emotional Expressions Look Different Than Neurotypical Expressions Many autistic people have what non-autistic people describe as a “flat affect” of the face and voice. This may mean that even if we feel a strong emotion, our facial expression and tone of voice will remain blank and/or monotone respectively, which can be confusing to the neurotypical observer who relies primarily on non-verbal communication. Conversely, we may also have facial expressions and tones in our voice that make us seem bored, sad, or even angry when we feel perfectly content. Having neurological differences that make our facial expressions and tone of voice seem to contradict our internal environment can be frustrating for you, the neurotypical employer, and us, the autistic person who isn’t aware of how we’re being perceived until someone has a sudden emotional reaction to it. I Don’t Know What My Face or Tone of Voice Conveys For me, one of the most confusing aspects of being autistic in a neurotypical world is when people react suddenly to my facial expression or tone of voice as though I meant to insult them, or I was trying to “say something” with my face or voice that contradicts my words. It took me a very long time to realize just how nuanced neurotypical communication is and how much of it relies on the non-verbal. I had to take the time to learn about facial expressions and their meanings through books and online resources. I also started recording myself to see and hear what other people were reacting to. (Click on the link below to continue reading.) https://buff.ly/3QduUow #Autism #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #Disability #Diversity #DEI

Increase your understanding of your co workers and employees

Why Your Autistic Employee May Come Across as a “Know-It-All” “You think you’re so smart!” “You’re a real know-it-all, aren’t you?” I used to hear phrases like this often, especially in school and in the workplace, and, like many things neurotypical (non-autistic) people said to me, the accusations seemed to come out of nowhere because my intentions were so far removed from how my words and mannerisms were being perceived. After decades of life, years of therapy, lots of research, interacting with my autistic peers, and tons of trial and error (hard emphasis on “error”), I learned to decipher how my autistic traits were perceived by those who do not share my neurotype. Here are five common reasons I believe autistic people are seen as showing off their intelligence in a condescending way when it’s actually due to a difference in brain wiring: Vocal Tone Many autistic people have a marked difference in their speech compared to their neurotypical counterparts. We may have what is known as a “flat affect” in both our facial expressions and tone of voice. This means we may speak in monotone or with less inflection than you’re used to hearing from non-autistic folks. Unless they’re tired or annoyed, which can make even the most mundane question or observation sound rude. However, since many of us also cannot detect how different our vocal tone sounds from others, it may come as a shock when our listener reacts by snapping at us or accusing us of intentions we don’t have. The best workaround I have found for this is for non-autistic folks to focus on the words the autistic person is using, rather than the tone. This can take a bit of practice, especially if the speaker’s tone triggers feelings of being rejected, dismissed, or insulted. If you find yourself feeling triggered by your autistic employee’s tone of voice, take a deep breath, remind yourself that no insult was meant, and then respond only to the literal words they’re saying. (Click on the link below to continue reading.) https://buff.ly/3Kz5kHt Specialisterne USA #Autism #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Employment #Disability #Inclusion

‘But you can’t be Autistic you… ‘are too empathetic’ ‘make eye contact’ ‘seem fine’ ‘don’t look like you are’ [insert other damaging stereotypes based on white, middle class boys] Part 1 of 2. Make way. Myth busting rant coming through. Let’s take these one by one. Important caveat - Autistic people have spikey profiles and are all different. 👉 ‘too empathetic’: It is not uncommon for Autistic people, especially women to be hyper-empathisers. In my case, this is empathising to the extent that I will feel others people’s pain and emotions like they are my own. Sometimes this can be so overwhelming that I shutdown and appear to not be able to perform empathy. 👉 ‘make eye contact’: Masking or camouflaging is learning to hide Autistic traits or behaviours in order to stay safe and ‘pass’ in a neuro-normative society. Part of my masking is forcing eye contact. I only really feel comfortable making eye contact with people I know very well. Even then, if I am struggling to process something and articulate it, I will look away. I find eye contact distracting and too intense when it’s with a relative stranger. Autistic people may make ‘too much’ or ‘too little’ eye contact (the correct amount remains a mystery to me). 👉 ‘seem fine’ See the note above on masking. Again this could be especially relevant for late discovered women and non-binary people. We have learnt to suppress and ignore our needs. Often because we’ve been told over and over that we are ‘too sensitive’ or ‘don’t be silly, it’s fine’. When you are continually reminded that apparently your nervous system and judgement is off, you start disregarding it completely and push through. 👉 ‘don’t look like you are’ Right?! Stop! What is Autism supposed to look like?! Are you telling me that you can look at someone and know that they are Autistic? *pauses to take a slow breath* It is incredibly harmful to run with this narrative. If you have a set idea of what an Autistic person looks like, you are discounting all other Autistic people that don’t meet your particular concept. I’d put money on most people views involving a white, middle class boy who flaps their hands and has a fascination with trains. Thanks Kanner, Asperger and Baron Cohen for pushing that one. ✨To sum it all up - stop telling people that they can’t be Autistic, just because they don’t fit the cookie cutter concept in your mind. 💡Listen, be curious and look to understand their individual experience. What reactions have you heard to someone disclosing they are Autistic? #Neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #Autism

Thank you for sharing this insightful reflection on the importance of precise language for many autistic individuals. It's fascinating to hear about your experience and how you and your daughter navigate communication with such attention to detail. The example you provided about sharing dessert with your friend highlights how being specific in your wording can help convey your intentions more clearly, even if it may seem unusual to non-autistic people. Your commitment to clarity and accuracy in communication is commendable and speaks to the value you place on ensuring mutual understanding. I appreciate your perspective on the challenges of small talk and the struggle with finding the right words to express thoughts and emotions. It's a reminder of the diversity of communication styles and preferences among individuals, and the importance of respecting and accommodating those differences. Your commitment to precision in language is not a flaw, but rather a unique aspect of being autistic. It's inspiring to see how you embrace and navigate this aspect of your neurodiversity, and I look forward to hearing more of your Autistic Insights in the future. Keep up the fantastic work! 🌟 #AutisticInsights #Neurodiversity #CommunicationSkills #PrecisionInLanguage #UnderstandingAutism #EmbracingDifferences #RespectIndividuality #UniquePerspectives #InclusiveCommunication #AutismAwareness #MTICBIAI #MyTraumaIsChronicButIAmIconic

Phone communication can be particularly challenging for individuals with autism due to various factors: 1. **Lack of Visual Cues**: In face-to-face conversations, individuals rely on visual cues such as facial expressions, body language, and gestures to interpret social cues and understand the context of the conversation. However, phone communication eliminates these visual cues, making it difficult for individuals with autism to accurately interpret the intentions and emotions of the person on the other end of the line. 2. **Sensory Sensitivities**: Many individuals with autism have heightened sensory sensitivities, which can make phone conversations overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Background noise, loud voices, or unexpected interruptions can be particularly distressing for individuals with sensory sensitivities, making it challenging for them to focus and participate in the conversation. 3. **Difficulty Processing Verbal Information**: Individuals with autism may have difficulty processing verbal information in real-time, especially when it is presented without visual cues or context. This can result in misunderstandings, confusion, and difficulty following the flow of the conversation during phone calls. 4. **Literal Thinking**: Some individuals with autism may exhibit literal thinking patterns, meaning they interpret language in a very concrete and literal manner. This can lead to difficulties understanding idiomatic expressions, metaphors, or abstract concepts commonly used in verbal communication, which are often present in phone conversations. 5. **Anxiety and Social Challenges**: Many individuals with autism experience anxiety in social situations, including phone conversations, due to challenges with social interaction and communication. Fear of saying the wrong thing, uncertainty about how to respond appropriately, and difficulty initiating or maintaining a conversation can all contribute to anxiety during phone calls. 6. **Executive Functioning Difficulties**: Executive functioning challenges, such as difficulty with planning, organisation, and prioritisation, can also impact phone communication for individuals with autism. Remembering to initiate or return phone calls, keeping track of important information discussed during the conversation, and following through on commitments made during the call can be particularly challenging. Overall, the combination of sensory sensitivities, difficulty processing verbal information, literal thinking, anxiety, and executive functioning difficulties can make phone communication uniquely challenging for individuals with autism. Recognising these challenges and providing alternative communication methods or accommodations can help support individuals with autism in effectively navigating phone conversations. #MTICBIAI #MyTraumaIsChronicButIAmIconic #AutismCommunication #PhoneChallenges #SensorySensitive #VerbalProcessing #LiteralThinking #SocialAnxiety #ExecutiveFunctioning

The communication differences of autistic people often receive a lot of focus and are at times labelled as ‘deficits’. Under that premise, you might assume that autistic people struggle to communicate with each other. However, research into a theory called the “Double Empathy Problem” suggests a different story. The theory predicts that communication effectiveness is impacted by whether or not people with the same type of brain are communicating with one another. A research study has combined non-autistic and autistic people in different groups and measured rapport during communication. These were the findings: - The mixed groups had the worst ratings of rapport. - In the self-rating report, the non-autistic groups had the best rapport. - In the observer report, the autistic groups had the best rapport. So, what does this all suggest? Communication becomes difficult when we encounter people who are different to us. If we all put some effort into understanding communication differences, we can start feeling more connected with others. You can learn more about this groundbreaking research via the link below. https://buff.ly/45XEu5z Image description: The following quote is featured against a green background inside a rectangular white frame alongside a character from the Secret Agent Society program. "Have you heard of the Double Empathy Problem? The theory suggests that communication between autistic and non-autistic people is impacted by differences in how our brains work, rather than anyone's deficits." A summary of the research study described in this caption is featured in the images that follow.

Some thoughts that I have had some difficulty getting out recently that I think need to be shared: The double empathy phenomena is a massive problem in the workplace for neurodivergent and autistic individuals. But the impact doesn't stop there: it continues to infect the workplace for anyone who signals any sort of difference that challenges the norm of "the standard American worker" (or any countries expected norm for that matter). When it comes to neurodivergent and autistic communication there is simply not enough desire on the neurotypical side for them to further try to understand us or even let us clarify because it has been so pathologically and systemically believed that autistic people are "the problem" in the communication equation. But that can't be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that any form of neurodivergence has been seen as the issue for decades to where there has barely been any attempt whatsoever to check and balance that belief. See, our society and even so-called "experts of autism" (as well as other forms of neurodivergence) have conveniently proliferated this thought that we neurodivergent folk are the sole issue for so long, a thought so insidious to the point that any and all attempts by neurodivergent individuals to clarify and facilitate understanding are written off as us purposefully trying to manipulate or hoodwink our audience. So our attempts to facilitate understanding are essentially chronically doomed to be dead in the water, with no hope of being heard out. This *has to* change. People on both sides of this are suffering. Not just the neurodivergent population. Neurotypical and allistic people suffer from this refusal to understand us. They suffer from the lack of innovation caused by cutting off mutual understanding from neurodivergent individuals. Lack of access to a wider connection with the more intricate and specialized areas of knowledge neurodivergent individuals are more likely to have. Stagnation of managerial ranks because they filter out anyone who doesn't "go along to get along" which prevents most neurodivergent individuals from even achieving any type of leadership position. So many existential problems this world faces require a mix of both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals to solve. We need the innovative and novel ideas of neurodivergent people to be able to communicate with and be understood by neurotypical people who generally have better executive functioning capabilities than neurodivergent folk. This one-way understanding needs to stop. It has been our burden for far to long to learn how to behave like a neurotypical, talk like a neurotypical and understand neurotypical society. Now are the days for neurodivergent behaviors to become understood, neurodivergent communication to be clarified, understood with resonance and for us to put this double standard surrounding communication in the trash. It never served us.