Tonight I was asked if I had autism again. This happens a lot. She said that somebody told her a while ago that I had autism but it was meant to be mean. She stood up for me, but I still don't understand why people would confuse me with someone with autism. They must be so ignorant about me. I'm extremely empathic, and autistic people aren't. I do have a really hard time reading people, but that doesn't mean I don't understand other people's point of views. I put myself in other people's shoes all the time. I just have a hard time reading their facial expressions and body language sometimes. But SOME people also think autistic people are retarded. The people who think that, are themselves, retarded. It makes me mad when people put labels on others without even understanding what they're actually saying. That's all I have to say about that.
Does anyone else have people confusing their disorder with autism? Note, I say disorder, and not disability. I believe a disability is not being able to do anything, which isn't true for me. Disorder is a much more realistic term.
Dyspraxia and Autism
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Captain_Ludd
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Re: Dyspraxia and Autism
Umm, not exactly but I have had people say I'm a bit like the guy of big bang theory (which I sort of take as complement cos hes awesome 
), so maybe slightly.
But like you (at least I think) I'm considerably more empathetic than most, but again because I tend to be quite slow to become emotional myself people think there's something "a bit odd about me".
Also like you I really struggle with reading body language and don't pickup on undertones well which some people read as a bit emotionally stunted.
But then Dyspraxia as has been well documented on the forum, is an autistic spectrum disorder so its not surprising really.
People need to remember just cos we struggle picking it up (and in my case may be displaying it ) doesn't mean we don't understand emotion and empathize with it - and IMHO that's the key difference between Dyspraxia and "true" Autism.
As for retarded its such a sweeping statement that its basically a load of Cr*p, they now believe Isaac Newton was Autistic and Would you call him a retard
??
), so maybe slightly.But like you (at least I think) I'm considerably more empathetic than most, but again because I tend to be quite slow to become emotional myself people think there's something "a bit odd about me".
Also like you I really struggle with reading body language and don't pickup on undertones well which some people read as a bit emotionally stunted.
But then Dyspraxia as has been well documented on the forum, is an autistic spectrum disorder so its not surprising really.
People need to remember just cos we struggle picking it up (and in my case may be displaying it ) doesn't mean we don't understand emotion and empathize with it - and IMHO that's the key difference between Dyspraxia and "true" Autism.
As for retarded its such a sweeping statement that its basically a load of Cr*p, they now believe Isaac Newton was Autistic and Would you call him a retard
??Re: Dyspraxia and Autism
I'm really confused, because I had an evaluation several years ago and autistic spectrum disorder was ruled out, but I was diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder. I researched that and read, almost everywhere, that it's just a fancier name for dyspraxia. And then you just said that it's a form of autistic spectrum disorder. I think it's time to get re-evaluated so I can get a straight answer. 
Re: Dyspraxia and Autism
Dyspraxia is such a neuro diverse condition and not everybody is the same.Controlled voluntary movement involves many systems,but the three main areas that are implicated in Dyspraxia are
The sensory pathways
The motor system
The central nervous system as a whole.
Some people may over lap with autistic traits and some may have dyslexia as well but not every Dyspraxic will .
Some dyslexics have Dyspraxia as well although they might have the Dyslexia much worse which for school work will appear far more obvious .
Although balance and co-ordination is more prevalent in Dyspraxia. Many difficulties that arise in Dyspraxia also arise in Dyslexia for example
Both conditions come with Attention Deficit
in Dyslexia does he have a poor concentration span for reading and writing
In Dyspraxia Attention span is poor
ADHD may also be prevalent.
Spacial awareness
In Dyslexia Is he unusually clumsy? Does he confuse left from right
The same questions they ask in Dyspraxia
Auditory delay/confusion
Dyslexia does he have difficulty carrying out three instructions in sequence and in Dyspraxia unable to remember or follow written and verbal instructions.
Late Development late at learning to walk and talk both appear in both conditions as well as having behavioural problems and these are only a few that I have mentioned.
Some Dyspraxics dont like change or like to stick to their own routine,may not like socialising to much .or if you are out in company and some body tells you a joke it can go straight over your head or you miss the point of a conversation which may make you seem slower than other people you may be less confident than others,which may appear in autistic traits and maybe mistaken for this but not always the case.Everyone is different . I sometimes wonder if the NHS know what they are talking about half of the time I suppose it all depends on how good the clinician is that you are sent to .
The sensory pathways
The motor system
The central nervous system as a whole.
Some people may over lap with autistic traits and some may have dyslexia as well but not every Dyspraxic will .
Some dyslexics have Dyspraxia as well although they might have the Dyslexia much worse which for school work will appear far more obvious .
Although balance and co-ordination is more prevalent in Dyspraxia. Many difficulties that arise in Dyspraxia also arise in Dyslexia for example
Both conditions come with Attention Deficit
in Dyslexia does he have a poor concentration span for reading and writing
In Dyspraxia Attention span is poor
ADHD may also be prevalent.
Spacial awareness
In Dyslexia Is he unusually clumsy? Does he confuse left from right
The same questions they ask in Dyspraxia
Auditory delay/confusion
Dyslexia does he have difficulty carrying out three instructions in sequence and in Dyspraxia unable to remember or follow written and verbal instructions.
Late Development late at learning to walk and talk both appear in both conditions as well as having behavioural problems and these are only a few that I have mentioned.
Some Dyspraxics dont like change or like to stick to their own routine,may not like socialising to much .or if you are out in company and some body tells you a joke it can go straight over your head or you miss the point of a conversation which may make you seem slower than other people you may be less confident than others,which may appear in autistic traits and maybe mistaken for this but not always the case.Everyone is different . I sometimes wonder if the NHS know what they are talking about half of the time I suppose it all depends on how good the clinician is that you are sent to .