| Traits |
Struggles |
Strengths |
| Differences in social communication |
- May struggle to figure out subtext or unspoken expectations
- May have trouble with working out the meaning of tone (for example sarcasm)
- May have trouble translating concepts into words or not be able to speak at all
- May take things literally, leading to misunderstandings
- May take longer than others to process information/questions
- May be very blunt
|
- Direct and clear in communication
- Honesty
- For some, strong "emotional empathy" - compassionate and justice-sensitive (Verrier 2024)
- Often great attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
- Might be less likely to judge others’ differences harshly, or more likely to question norms which aren’t working well
|
| Sensory processing differences |
- Sound or light sensitivity - easily distracted or even distressed
- Difficult to work in busy places
- May not notice when hungry, thirsty, or needing the toilet
- May have very particular taste in foods which is harder to cater for when not at home
- When overloaded/overwhelmed, may "melt down" (losing control of behaviour) or "shut down" (becoming unresponsive)
- Auditory processing difficulties may lead to problems understanding speech
|
- May be a strong visual thinker
- May be a very fast reader (a subset of autistic people are "hyperlexic")
- Able to focus very intensely when the sensory conditions are right
- Attention to detail and analytic skills may be particularly good
|
| "Restrictive and repetitive behaviour" |
- Difficulty with changed plans and interruptions
- May become very focused on a particular subject of interest and find it hard to direct attention elsewhere
- Repetitive movements ("stimming") may be judged harshly by other people
|
- Often great at sticking to predictable routines - highly reliable
- May develop great expertise in subjects of interest (which could be anything!)
- Interest-motivated - connecting a task to something authentically interesting makes it easier!
- Repetitive movements ("stimming") can be a great and reliable source for increased focus
- Pattern-finding skills are often excellent
|