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Hello! Autism and Touch

EllieMSC

EllieMSC

New Member
Hi everyone, Just a quick introduction/question. I am a researcher at the University of Newcastle working in Autism. I came to this forum to look at some of the areas people with ASD feel need further research. My own area is in touch and how this effects social skills. However, i would love to know the areas people feel need more research dedicated to in particular. Therefore I joined this forum i hope that's ok!
 
This would be interesting

» What is Low Latent Inhibition

'Although low latent inhibition can be an incredible gift it does require a high enough IQ in order for your brain to handle the constant processing of stimuli. Without a sufficient IQ level, having low latent inhibition may lead to various forms of autism. It should also be noted that most autistic people have a lower than normal level of latent inhibition, which is one of the many reasons it is so difficult to confirm an LLI diagnosis. We believe that a lot of cases of LLI are actually missed or misdiagnosed as OCD, ADHD or Asperger’s syndrome but to name a few.'
 
EllieMSC said:
...However, i would love to know the areas people feel need more research dedicated to in particular. Therefore I joined this forum i hope that's ok!
Click to expand...

Hello Ellie,

for me it would be centred around women.
particularly menopause. can menopause amplify traits to a point of being non functioning? - beyond HRT :)
(previously able to function)
could this correlate to the much later diagnosis in women?
I'm struggling to find any information on this subject.

And there's the 'usual',
how in the heck do so many young girls slip through the net?

if you, as a researcher have any great links to studies on the above, I'd be interested to read them.

oh, and grateful (where were my manners? :) )
 
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Of course I think the issue with female diagnosis is becoming more well known. But the vast majority of the research is based generally on boys between the ages of 5-18 so the diagnostic criteria is still based on them. And i didn't mention it but i am going to a conference on ASd research priorities so i was hoping to gain some ideas to suggest. I have never read anything about the menopause but that would be really interesting to see. I've attached an article that talks about the gender issues ASD is you're interested.
 

Attachments

All research concerning women,

the results of which would direct much more funding toward developing far better screening tools, awareness, training for medical professionals, those involved in child care and education.

ruling out being missed,
or misdiagnosed with a mental health condition.
 
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Hi, I am a researcher too. My area of expertise is how donuts effect the success of autism researchers. My preliminary findings suggest those who give out donuts freely average 67% more responses and have a 48% greater chance of living happily ever after. ;)
 
Tom said:
Hi, I am a researcher too. My area of expertise is how donuts effect the success of autism researchers. My preliminary findings suggest those who give out donuts freely average 67% more responses and have a 48% greater chance of living happily ever after. ;)
Click to expand...
As long as they don't eat them all!
 
I do wish someone would do a study on female autism relating to letters as male autism relates to numbers because I think it's interchangeable.
 
Thanks for supporting us, Ellie. :blush:

If you need specificity, in your research, I'd focus on women rather than men, and adults, rather than children. There's superfluous research into boys with autism, and many people consequently believe that autism exists only in boys. Ugh.

Empathy and affection might be interesting topics, when correlated with autism.

Many people, with autism, are viewed as unempathetic, because we, on average, manifest less empathy than neurotypical people, but that doesn't mean that we lack empathy.

Also, this thread title got me thinking about autism and affection. I personally enjoy touching and being touched (eg. hugs, pats on the back), which contradicts a trait frequently observed, in autistic people: touch aversion. If I get a hug from someone I like, I feel tingly, giddy, and can't stop smiling and giggling. When touching (or being touched by) people I don't mind, I neither flinch nor scare.
 
Adults more than children and especially women.
I was diagnosed late in life and haven't done too much research on the differences
between men and women on the spectrum. I was 58 before being diagnosed.
Psychiatrists always just said I had anxiety disorder and depression.
Thanks for wanting to help and for the article.
 
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