Walking into walls?

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This page talks briefly about proprioception and a bunch of other sensory issues that affect how we autistics move and interact with the physical world. They are just little summaries, not much depth, but it covers a lot of ground and explains a lot very simply.

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc. ... 8790&cn=20

I do a lot of head tilting when I'm reading, watching television, or using the computer, I've noticed. Mine tilts to the right, too.

I think that one's pretty normal as I'm ALWAYS having to veer around people walking backwards. On campus, at the grocery, pretty much everywhere and pretty much every time I go someplace with lots of people like that.

That was kind of a lame joke, but my head really does tilt to the right all the time. I don't realize it until I see a photo. I have to bend my neck to the left for my neck to look straight.

Been there done that.. I live in my own world, solving problems, reflecting. Too busy to pay attention to the world around me and the people in it.

Well I'll be . . . apparently it's a vestibular, sensory thingie that tends to improve with some kind of prismatic glasses called "ambient lenses."

Abstract: Autistic children often display abnormal postures, head tilts, and other spatial management dysfunctions. Methods were introduced to measure spatial orientation in tasks in a group of fourteen autistic children in Montreal, Canada. Ambient lenses were found to improve posture, correct head tilts, and improve ball batching abilities. A model of spatial orientation is described and recommendations are made to incorporate ambient lenses in treatment programs.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/g825862h44104310/

http://www.latitudes.org/articles/amb_lens.html

That's interesting. I wonder if it's related to amblyopia, which is neurological and shows up in AS kids a lot. I had it. I'll have to read the link later. I'm off to bed.

That is interesting. I get the tilt thing too, but does anyone have their whole body tilt to one side? That happens to me, and it has caused me to fall over. Though I usually only come close to falling over, or I catch myself on something. Actually, I'm thinking it's the tilt that causes me to walk into things in the first place. And it is mostly to the right. I'll have to take notes on that though. I definitely tilt to the right while typing, which is happening now. Thanks for the info, Sparrowrose.



You should be fine. Confidence comes with practice. I went for my license once when I was 17 and later at 24, which is later than most. I could drive fine before that, but I have issues with being watched (tested), which is why I failed the first time (nerves were shot). I'm better off driving alone (playing music), and not having a passenger(s) who expects me to engage in conversation.



I hate when that happens. And "can't decide on a direction" dances.

You're welcome. I fall over or almost fall over a lot. I don't know if it's tilt or balance. I have lots of balance issues and get dizzy on stairs or on certain strongly patterned carpets. I also get dizzy in the shower from the visual of the water droplets falling around me.



I'm exactly the same way! The only near accidents I've had were when passengers were trying to talk to me while I was trying to focus on driving. And when I try to drive without music, I zone out and end up driving while in a sort of black-out and can't remember the trip afterwards. That's really scary so I always play music now, to keep me aware of where I am and what I'm doing.

Stubbed my toe going around the table, lost balance, regained it, then bounced against the doorframe going to get the cat some food just before I sat down to see this thread.

Usually though, it's just brushing the doorframe a lot. Ripped jackets on doorhandles and such more times than I'd like to admit. I think it's because I try to cut the corner as tight as possible.... Not sure though if that's right or if it's because i'm too distracted to get more than the vague impression of where I have to go. Likely a combo of the two.

Its always good to be polite. I do the same thing.

Quite often my shoulder will bump against a door frame. I take corners pretty fast at work and stick close to the walls sooo....yeah.

I walk in a strait line no problem....when I'm by myself. If someone is walking behind me I feel like they're staring at me so sometimes I tense up.

Since last I was here, I was up and about and I'm pulling up my bra strap as usual, then it came to me...right side, always the right side and a continuous nuisance. Doesn't matter the bra, or how I adjust the straps, with the exception of extra tight on the right side but that just makes things worse (pain). I also have an old top on that I cut the neck out of and it slides to the right side and over my shoulder. It never wants to stay in the middle. Same with any other shirt with a wider opening at the neck. (I hate anything tight or close to my neck.)

My left foot doesn't touch the ground as fully or as firmly as my right. My left hip, looser, like it's being suspended. It causes me pain sometimes. I wonder sometimes if one leg was always shorter than the other and nobody measured me or let me know. When I stand straight as pin I can't sense any difference, or when I let each knee jut out from leaning into the opposite hip. Speaking of standing, I can't do it for long as I'll feel discomfort in my stomach, which can graduate to "woozy" if it continues for too long. I've come close to passing out from standing up too long (Easter service was agony), even with shifting my weight from one leg to the other. There had been times at church where I had to sit down, hoping my parents wouldn't give me a hard time. Same with other events where there was a lot of standing. I can't do it. Walking is not a problem (even if lop-sided), but running can be.

I get dizzy in the shower, same reason as you, which is why I hate showers, but have them anyway. The sticky grip things that I have need replacing. I'm always afraid I'll kill myself in there.

Self-stimulation: Other than full body rocking (which I once did with a lot of gusto), I spent a lot of time as a kid on swings, going as high as I could, and would love to have one now. I have an exercise ball that I bounce on and roll back and forth with, plus an office chair from heaven with it's highly fluid spinning. I also enjoy watching things spin, like coins or tops as a kid.

I'm also curious if any of this is common with ADHD. I know that clumsiness is, but I'm not clear on whether it's coming from the same place as AS. Would you know anything about that, SoSayWeAll?



I almost hit a pedestrian twice with the same friend in my car on two different occasions. In fact, I've decided I can't have her in my car again (I don't blame her, I just understand better what's going on with me now, and it's better to be safe). It's easy to avoid because she lives over 100 miles away now. I've also been known to let a friend drive my car instead to avoid any incidents. I just say I'm tired, or I've been driving a lot lately and could use the break (I've had several jobs in which driving was one of the main duties, so those came in handy).

Zoning out, yes. I travel a 25 mile length of highway that's between us and the town, and they'll be times when I'll "come to" when I'm just about there, where there's traffic lights coming up, but their not yet in view. Always amazes me because it's total amnesia in between A & B. Like I just came through a wormhole.

But I'm not too concerned about those zone outs because I tend to react instantly to any "obstacle" on or near the road. I used to deliver every day during the wee morning hours, when all the woodland critters were out, and even if I was deep in thought and "going through the motions", I was good at spotting animals on the road, even wee ones like frogs. Like when I'll be driving along a dark road and a green frog or American toad or tiny little red newt will stand right out. It puts me in mind of Temple Grandin and her cows. Heh.

Last edited by MechAnime on 24 Jun 2010, 12:38 am, edited 2 times in total.

well of course walls have feelings too, ya know. yeah i do that sometimes as well.

i have horrible coordination and frequently run into the side of the doorway. i think we all the just need the power to walk through walls and we'll be fine. just be careful when you're in a 5 story building....i vote for the power to fly as well.

I've always been fine on shorter drives, but once I had to drive for a full hour and I was driving in the outside lane. Many miles later, I "came to" all the way over in the inside lane, with the side of the car rubbing against the metal guardrail and sparks coming up past the window.

Ever since then, I never drive more than 20 minutes without taking a break and I never drive without music.

i do too. i was just thinking about this and wondering if someone would bring it up. sometimes at the last second have to squish shoulder in to avoid - or still hit the frame. and occasionally almost fall over from a total standstill. it's almost funny, except i worry people will think i'm drunk. when i walk through a cluttered area i put my hands out and place them on objects i have to walk around so i can avoid this sort of thing. like Exclavius i catch my clothes on things a lot.

i also do the head tilt. i always wondered about these things.

there was a topic recently on trouble going up & down stairs and escalators. i also have trouble with treadmills (fall sideways a lot) and walking a straight line. good for ten steps or so .. then a big stumble to one side or another. and walking through threshholds - floor changes, don't always know if i am stepping onto the same level.

i can't just stand up - i lean on things or stay in constant motion, which helps. wiggling legs, pacing, etc.

also i have trouble if i am standing on the slightest incline. i just seem to have the equilibrium of a slightly drunk person.



fascinating. i have never heard this one before. i know some people have problems with the way the water feels. for me it depends on the shower head. the one i have now makes the water itch / scrape a little bit when it hits skin.

@MechAnime & Sparrowrose:
lots of people get "road hypnosis" but i think those on the spectrum get a lot more of it - i miss roads quite a bit. i space out also walking. yesterday i walked out into oncoming traffic (realized middle of 4 lane street). i'm very lucky.