Being autistic and random stuff

[Paradox]

RE the Telegraph article: I know...I know...freedom of speech and all that, but I'm really getting tired of all the BS that gets published without critique.

 

[Strixaluco]

Just where I'd go to read bullshit... The Telegraph posts 'research link' to maternal diet and autism, thus blaming mothers, suggesting our existence reflect failures and hunting for more funding for their PhD?

Commenting on the study, Dr Rosa Hoekstra, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, at King’s College London, said: “A healthy diet is associated with many favourable health and wellbeing outcomes, but this paper does not provide evidence that it is an important factor associated with the likelihood of having an autistic child.”

However, knowledge about autism + ability to make conclusions turn the correlation the other way around, if anything.

Many autistic people have autistic mothers, or at least with many traits. Autistics relatively often have food related issues - both sensory and gastrointestinal, which may lead to less-than-ideal diets. So no wonder if the mothers of autistic people have dietary issues.

 

[Strixaluco]

RE the Telegraph article: I know...I know...freedom of speech and all that, but I'm really getting tired of all the BS that gets published without critique.

Even stuff that has been proved nonsense ages ago.

 

[PMarky2]

I often get a kick out of slightly wacky theories, and this week's was that a study had tried to associate Autism with the presence of Neanderthal DNA. Reconstructions of Neanderthal brain structure seem to indicate that they had higher critical thinking skills than their homo sapiens contemporaries, but were less social. This in turn makes me wonder whether anyone has studied the prevalence of autism in East Asia, native American, and sub-Saharan populations. If the theory holds true, Autism should be rarer in those populations as there is less Neanderthal DNA in those populations. Unlike the diet theory, I think this one might be worth some more research if only to debunk it.

On the other hand, I had an acquaintance on another forum who had the sig. line 'Gifted with Asperger's' which I rather liked because although the terminology is out of date, it does get across the point that being high-functioning ASD is not all bad. I could do without the anxiety and other co-morbidities, but I thoroughly enjoy the relentless curiosity and the detachment from a lot of human pettiness that it brings.

 

[Strixaluco]

I often get a kick out of slightly wacky theories, and this week's was that a study had tried to associate Autism with the presence of Neanderthal DNA. Reconstructions of Neanderthal brain structure seem to indicate that they had higher critical thinking skills than their homo sapiens contemporaries, but were less social. This in turn makes me wonder whether anyone has studied the prevalence of autism in East Asia, native American, and sub-Saharan populations. If the theory holds true, Autism should be rarer in those populations as there is less Neanderthal DNA in those populations. Unlike the diet theory, I think this one might be worth some more research if only to debunk it.

Interesting. I've been thinking (without evidence really) that what if autism is just remnants of another human species like neanderthal - who lived in smaller communities that homo sapiens. And isn't the rate of neanderthal genes some 1-2 % in, say, Europe? So it sounds possible.

Btw, East Asia is where neanderthal genes are most common.

Then again in the Melanesia Denisovan genes are found, though hard to find anywhere else.

On the other hand, I had an acquaintance on another forum who had the sig. line 'Gifted with Asperger's' which I rather liked because although the terminology is out of date, it does get across the point that being high-functioning ASD is not all bad. I could do without the anxiety and other co-morbidities, but I thoroughly enjoy the relentless curiosity and the detachment from a lot of human pettiness that it brings.

I definitely recognise this. Could think of making a sig or a sticker with "Gifted with high-functioning autism".

And to hell with the comorbodities!

 

[Strixaluco]

In principle you could even just do research on the genes... Do a comparison, if those with neanderthal genes have more autism than those without.
(Neanderthal genome has been sequenced, after all.)

Edit. Of course it has been done.

Despite these associations, the researchers emphasize that autistic individuals do not carry more Neanderthal DNA overall compared to non-autistic individuals. Instead, a subset of Neanderthal-derived genetic variations is more prevalent in people with autism and their families.

Groundbreaking Study Unveils Role of Neanderthal Genes in Autism

 

[PMarky2]

In principle you could even just do research on the genes... Do a comparison, if those with neanderthal genes have more autism than those without.
(Neanderthal genome has been sequenced, after all.)

Edit. Of course it has been done.

Groundbreaking Study Unveils Role of Neanderthal Genes in Autism

Yep, that was the article quoted by the more 'pop' piece I ran across when taking a break from researching a now defunct Lutheran Synod's origins. It was a welcome distraction during what has intermittently been a rough week.

 

[stickygirl]

In principle you could even just do research on the genes... Do a comparison, if those with neanderthal genes have more autism than those without.
(Neanderthal genome has been sequenced, after all.)

Edit. Of course it has been done.

Groundbreaking Study Unveils Role of Neanderthal Genes in Autism

I read elsewhere of a theory suggesting that the reason Neanderthal's disappeared was that they had lived in a temperate climate where there were fewer mutations in viruses and pathogens. Homo Sapiens, in Africa, were subjected to a greater variety of diseases and so emerged with a broader resistance. Perhaps HS introduced novel diseases to which Neanderthals had no immunity?
Perhaps one day links will be found to the incidence of autism, but it's still early days in understanding the implications of DNA or how the brain operates.

Is autism less common in other races, or do the diagnostic methods result in a bias, in the same way IQ tests skew 'intelligence'? I'll go research...

ETA
From a quick Google it appears there is more stigma to autism in other cultures.
UK's National Autistic Society
If we can trust NBC News there's this
For the first time, autism is being diagnosed more frequently in Black and Hispanic children than in white kids in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

 

[Strixaluco]

I read elsewhere of a theory suggesting that the reason Neanderthal's disappeared was that they had lived in a temperate climate where there were fewer mutations in viruses and pathogens. Homo Sapiens, in Africa, were subjected to a greater variety of diseases and so emerged with a broader resistance. Perhaps HS introduced novel diseases to which Neanderthals had no immunity?
Perhaps one day links will be found to the incidence of autism, but it's still early days in understanding the implications of DNA or how the brain operates.

Is autism less common in other races, or do the diagnostic methods result in a bias, in the same way IQ tests skew 'intelligence'? I'll go research...

Then again HS might not have survived in Eurasia without the genome from neanderthals which provided better immunity...

The drawback it getting overactive at times, resulting in allergies etc.

 

[stickygirl]

Then again HS might not have survived in Eurasia without the genome from neanderthals which provided better immunity...

The drawback it getting overactive at times, resulting in allergies etc.

True
It might have been that folks from Africa had better dress sense and music

 

[PMarky2]

Then again HS might not have survived in Eurasia without the genome from neanderthals which provided better immunity...

The drawback it getting overactive at times, resulting in allergies etc.

The allergy thing is a pain in the butt every spring for both my Autie friend and I. We spend April and May being miserable, though she overloads worse than I do. She usually threatens to move away every spring which puts me into a tailspin until I realize it is just frustration talking.

On a side note, I get a kick out of the fact that Neanderthal Man gets his name from the Neander Valley (Neanderthal) which was named for the 17th century German Reformed pastor and hymn writer Joachim Neander, which links to one of my special interests.

 

[stickygirl]

The allergy thing is a pain in the butt every spring for both my Autie friend and I. We spend April and May being miserable, though she overloads worse than I do. She usually threatens to move away every spring which puts me into a tailspin until I realize it is just frustration talking.

On a side note, I get a kick out of the fact that Neanderthal Man gets his name from the Neander Valley (Neanderthal) which was named for the 17th century German Reformed pastor and hymn writer Joachim Neander, which links to one of my special interests.

Shame his name wasn't Smith or Jones!! I always struggle with pronouncing the name

 

[PMarky2]

Shame his name wasn't Smith or Jones!! I always struggle with pronouncing the name

German names don't bother me, but Neander is a Latinization of Neumann. German academics were always doing it. Melanchthon set off as the perfectly respectable Schwartzerd, and Oecelampadius as Hussgen! Anything French or Spanish, and it is time to send for help! That said, the German Reformation of one of the subjects I teach, so it would be a bit embarrassing not to be able to make a fair approximation at the names.

 

[stickygirl]

Here's something I'd like to share to see if I'm alone on this.

I'm useless in trying to pick out what someone is saying against background noise - like people talking in a bar or club.

Then I spoke to a neighbour today who I don't see often. I struggled to understand what she was saying: we were outside, no intrusive noise to fight against, but I had to ask to repeat things and guess at some things she said. I realised I needed to kind of map out her personal accent and the way she spoke: what phrases she tends to use, her intonation... It's like my brain can't be intuitive with speech. Meeting and speaking to someone new can be a challenge unless we pretty much face to face. I'm not deaf, but I'm sometimes not great at turning the noise from people's mouths into something coherent.

Anyone?

 

[PMarky2]

Here's something I'd like to share to see if I'm alone on this.

I'm useless in trying to pick out what someone is saying against background noise - like people talking in a bar or club.

Then I spoke to a neighbour today who I don't see often. I struggled to understand what she was saying: we were outside, no intrusive noise to fight against, but I had to ask to repeat things and guess at some things she said. I realised I needed to kind of map out her personal accent and the way she spoke: what phrases she tends to use, her intonation... It's like my brain can't be intuitive with speech. Meeting and speaking to someone new can be a challenge unless we pretty much face to face. I'm not deaf, but I'm sometimes not great at turning the noise from people's mouths into something coherent.

Anyone?

You are not alone. I have great difficulty hearing folks talking to me in a noisy place as I seem to be only partly able to filter background noise. People I do not know can be very difficult because I am not used to their accent and intonation.

 

[stickygirl]

You are not alone. I have great difficulty hearing folks talking to me in a noisy place as I seem to be only partly able to filter background noise. People I do not know can be very difficult because I am not used to their accent and intonation.

Thanks
I always suspected it was a problem area for me long before I was diagnosed

 

[Paradox]

Thanks
I always suspected it was a problem area for me long before I was diagnosed

I have the same problem, but have always thought of it as a product of aging. That doesn't apply to you youngsters. My hearing has been tested and confirms some hearing loss, but within the range of what is considered normal for my age. However, the diagnosis also showed the impact of other noises on my ability to hear speaking voices...particularly those in the higher frequency range. And, yes, an unfamiliar accent compounds the problem. I don't think you should assume it is an autism issue.

 

[PMarky2]

Thanks
I always suspected it was a problem area for me long before I was diagnosed

On a slightly humorous note. My Autie best friend is great in those situations as she has a high pitched, loudish voice, so I can hear her over non-specific noise just fine, AND she always has something to say worth listening to.

 

[Strixaluco]

Here's something I'd like to share to see if I'm alone on this.

I'm useless in trying to pick out what someone is saying against background noise - like people talking in a bar or club.

Then I spoke to a neighbour today who I don't see often. I struggled to understand what she was saying: we were outside, no intrusive noise to fight against, but I had to ask to repeat things and guess at some things she said. I realised I needed to kind of map out her personal accent and the way she spoke: what phrases she tends to use, her intonation... It's like my brain can't be intuitive with speech. Meeting and speaking to someone new can be a challenge unless we pretty much face to face. I'm not deaf, but I'm sometimes not great at turning the noise from people's mouths into something coherent.

Anyone?

About half of autistic people have auditory processing disorder. Me too.

If you need to describe it to anyone, this video can do it for you.

 

[Strixaluco]

My hearing is actually excellent... It was tested because of issues in getting what is said. And I've played violin, my hearing regarding tones is actually very precise.

Doesn't help with speech when the issue is not in the ears but ln the brain.

(It doesn't always help enjoying music either... Some singers aren't that precise!)

 

[stickygirl]

About half of autistic people have auditory processing disorder. Me too.

If you need to describe it to anyone, this video can do it for you.

Oh yes to 95% of these! It's such a relief to hear someone describe the same problems I have.

I often pause as my brain unscrambles noises into meaningful words - like an auditory jigsaw. I'll replay the string of sounds in my mind to try to construct it into words. I never thought that could be exacerbated by tiredness.
Watching a movie where the vital words are whispered ... we were not supposed to hear that line?!
I thought friends had gone off and learnt song lyrics, not simply heard and understood them as they were sung
Onslaughts of information. Wait, I'm still unscrambling the last thing you said.
Learning French - hopeless, unless I can see the words not simply hear them.
Echoey surroundings: but no one can hear in those situations. Can they? They can?!

wrt to telephone calls: through work, I've developed a method to organise how a conversation runs. For example, I'll blame telephone noise if I didn't hear something clearly and ask to pause or repeat something, saying I'm writing it down. I can't do social calls because there is no structure or formality to it.

OTOH I focus more in a conversation - I have to, and that makes me a good listener. I do hugs too

 

[Strixaluco]

I do hugs too

Hugs are my go-to for expressing empathy. Works without words.

 

[PMarky2]

Oh yes to 95% of these! It's such a relief to hear someone describe the same problems I have.

I often pause as my brain unscrambles noises into meaningful words - like an auditory jigsaw. I'll replay the string of sounds in my mind to try to construct it into words. I never thought that could be exacerbated by tiredness.
Watching a movie where the vital words are whispered ... we were not supposed to hear that line?!
I thought friends had gone off and learnt song lyrics, not simply heard and understood them as they were sung
Onslaughts of information. Wait, I'm still unscrambling the last thing you said.
Learning French - hopeless, unless I can see the words not simply hear them.
Echoey surroundings: but no one can hear in those situations. Can they? They can?!

wrt to telephone calls: through work, I've developed a method to organise how a conversation runs. For example, I'll blame telephone noise if I didn't hear something clearly and ask to pause or repeat something, saying I'm writing it down. I can't do social calls because there is no structure or formality to it.

OTOH I focus more in a conversation - I have to, and that makes me a good listener. I do hugs too

The phone is a nightmare for me. OK if I am talking to an old friend, but worse than useless when dealing with a stranger or acquaintance. That said, don't expect me to remember a darn thing from a phone conversation...

 

[Strixaluco]

The phone is a nightmare for me. OK if I am talking to an old friend, but worse than useless when dealing with a stranger or acquaintance. That said, don't expect me to remember a darn thing from a phone conversation...

Even generally, remembering conversations mostly works only if things are written down.

 

[PMarky2]

Even generally, remembering conversations mostly works only if things are written down.

I keep a note book by the phone and jot down key words and phrases - it is the only way I'll remember anything. Face to face conversations I need to note down the important points as soon as possible in order to retain them. The funny thing is that once I have made the notes I don't need them again as the act of writing it down fixes it in my memory.