Children or adults who are considered autistic see and understand the world differently. Their perception of things is quite out of the norm, and people usually think of them as special individuals.
Source: pixabay.com
All About Autism
Autism is not a disorder. Therefore, there is no cure for it. Autistic people are born with various degrees of neurodivergent traits. Meaning some of them have refined senses and use them to bring logic into their surroundings. Others seek repetitive behaviors, and these usually follow specific patterns.
Most of society often thinks that autistic people are dumb, slow learners, and unintelligent. That is perhaps due to a lot of autistic individuals struggling with severe learning disabilities and requiring an extended level of support in their everyday lives.
However, that is quite the opposite. The brain of these autistic individuals has a mild focus on a specific architecture. One side of the brain can access information more intelligently and can support an extreme ability and strong interest in particular areas.
Take the identification of a dog as an example. For most normal kids or adults in the world, the first thing that comes to mind is that a four-legged barking animal is considered a dog. There’s nothing wrong with that since that’s a fact.
However, autistic people organize information and categorize animals. They know a barking creature is a dog, but autistics identify them individually. Meaning they are more drawn into specific details. The particular autistic characteristic makes it difficult for them to generalize the information as they pay close attention to the objectives.
Source: pixabay.com
The Complexity Of The Brain
Autistic people’s brain processes and functions are incredibly complex, affecting how they experience things. They follow a rigid routine every day to help them limit their sensitivity to sensory input. It means that they hear more sounds than usual whenever they hear things.
But as much as they are keen on details, their struggle often starts when others simultaneously speak and create a sound. Autistic people can’t follow up on that. Thus, listening and understanding become way too challenging. They may hear everyone and know the words they utter, but they’ll never comprehend.
Another autistic characteristic is when they touch something and feel specific textures. Their sensitivity is heightened, and that makes eating an intense experience. Autistic people develop problems with eating when the smell or taste of their food is too much for them to handle.
Walking barefoot or playing in the dirt is similar in relation to touch. This sensitive experience often overwhelms autistic people’s brains and makes them question its significance to the world. Thus, autistic people look for patterns while finding answers to these experiences that force their brains to think more logically.
Source: pixabay.com
The Repetitive Behavior
Autistic people’s repetitive behavior is not a motor condition. Instead, it is a process they utilize to bring order to their ways of moving their body. The finger-flicking, arm or hand-flapping, spinning or twirling, repeating phrases, rocking, jumping, and head-banging are complexities they often do for stimulation.
In society’s attempt to understand autistic people’s ways, they assumed that their condition is an adaptive function. They thought that their routines were manageable and that autistics only use repetition to further understand what their brain is not gasping.
But that’s farther from the truth. Autistic individuals use repetitive behavior to soothe themselves. It is their way to relieve stress so that they can have a chance to at least follow a pattern while there is difficulty in predicting a specific event. They also take advantage of their behavior to regulate their emotions.
Source: pixabay.com
Social Disconnection
If you’re handling spouse with autism or dealing with your kid or loved ones disorder, autistic people may seem normal on the outside, but they always experience trouble connecting with others. Unlike what society thinks, autistic individuals know their condition and understand that social settings overpower their sensitivity and desire for order.
Autistic people are often hard to deal with, not because they are sensitive, but because even their emotions run incredibly complex that they also work with a predictable pattern. That explains why they often misread body language and social situations and, unfortunately, upset other people around them. They also have a hard time identifying facial reactions, which causes them an issue with communication and social interaction.
When these social misunderstandings happen, autistic people feel they are to blame. They believe the uncomfortability in the social setting is their fault. As a result, they avoid making eye-contacts or keep away from others in general and leave the premises whenever possible. Besides, they perceived the topics as irrelevant and often boring anyway.
Insights And takeaway
Autistic people are dealing with the condition that has no cure. So instead of treating them differently, society should learn how to accept that there are other people who think, act, and respond more unlikely than usual.
As much as these people require therapy to be welcomed into the world, why can’t society adjust and celebrate these individuals’ indifference instead? If you, or you know someone who is suffering from autism disorders, you may refer them to talk with a licensed professional for they can provide proper treatments for autism.