Any one with an ASD feel like they are pretty NT?

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I don't think it's quite appropriate to label someone as being on the spectrum as young as three unless it's very obvious that they are not reaching certain developmental milestones, as is the case with classic autism.

However I also recognize that it's necessary to do so as this allows for children who might actually be on the spectrum or who might have other developmental delays to receive early intervention at the time in their life where that intervention has the most potential to be beneficial.

That begs the question, are some ASD's merely the result of processing deficits that weren't addressed soon enough? To develop properly, the brain has to be able to make sense of it's environment. People who are born deaf who's deafness isn't recognized early enough run the risk of becoming neurologically stunted. That's where the phrase "deaf and dumb" comes from.

It's been proposed that some individuals with ASD's who have processing deficits cannot make sense of their environment and thus are effectively isolated from it. This might explain why children who are raised in isolation or who did not receive enough human contact as babies and toddler have autistic traits.

To answer your question though, do I feel I am pretty NT? I know I can act fairly NT but I'm highly doubtful most NTs perceive the world the way I do.

I can largely control it,but at the same time due to certain events which i wont go into, I've infact relapsed,but yes it's definitely possible to control it.

I've worked very hard to become more and more NT like. When most people meet me, they don't thing anything is wrong. They just think I have an attitude problem sometimes. If you were to spend several days with me, depending on the circumstances it would range from there's nothing unusual or they'd think I was really pissy and grumpy to be with.

Sometimes. I seem to have insights into how people are feeling, and in emergency situations I've been known to quickly and effectively concoct deceptions and very "people-savvy" solutions to acute interpersonal problems. I've been able to do that kind of thing since I was in my early 20s, so it's not down to decades of experience. Doesn't happen every day, but it happens. The solutions seem to come to me quite intuitively.

My symptoms can also practically vanish when I'm with people I feel really good about, and I can become very affectionate and demonstrative.

I seem to have a built-in geek alarm that warns me if I'm about to fall into a nerdy obsession.

I can't let go of the idea that I have some kind of choice with a lot of the AS traits. That might be an illusion - I saw a film of a stroke victim who couldn't draw pictures properly any more, and he was always freshly astonished that he couldn't, every time he tried......his own incapacity just didn't make sense to him and he couldn't let go of the idea that he could do it really. I often feel that way about my own so-called impairments.

I feel NT a lot of times, possibly because I miss a lot of ASD traits, like honesty, literal thinking, good IQ, and stimming. There are a few other traits that I miss but can't remember at this precise moment (and yes, I do have AS, but I have such a vast anxiety problem that it overlaps the AS and comes out more in my personality. I mean, a person can't have everything, so I naturally miss a lot of AS traits to make room for the unique anxiety issues that I have. That's how my stupid brain works).

I could pass off as an NT with learning difficulties or an NT with anxiety and self-esteem issues.

Because of my deficits with theory of mind I believed for a long while that I was NT, that everyone else had the same hard experience as I do. I was told everyone has it hard and I believed it - untill I was diagnosed with Aspergers and realised everyone else does not have this experience (hahaha).

regardless of how well you learn to fake it, deep down inside you will always be you - with all your AS differences . . . it is neurologically wired into us after all! - this is not intended to be negitive in any way.

I think that the "Autism Spectrum" is sorely flawed and that it is illogical to place NT as some ideal. I prefer to think in terms of two spectrums - one with high and low functioning NTs (we've all met a few "yerp derp") and a completely seperate spectrum which covers us "mutants" - those who are genetically not NT. A spectrum spanning from Classic Autism through Aspergers to the very high functioning Savant who integrates well into society.

This is more usefull to me because I know that even if I learn to "fake it" that I will be pretending, always compensating, always translating through an autistic filter and that deep down inside I will never become an NT - it's not in my genetic.

But at no point is it usefull to say: "Boo Whoo, I am a mutant and will never be normal" rather in truth it was somewhat afferming to realise that I am not like "the normals" - in so many wonderful ways! and that much of what is hard about being AS has more to do with NT "deficits" than any real drawback of my genetic condition.

Would it be so bad to be AS if NT's worked a little harder on inclusion, that "different is wrong" instinct that leads to bullying, gangs, various forms of exploitation and more subtle discrimination - you get the point. Here I m not trying to bash NT's in any way but rather put out there that it is not just us that have personal improvement to do when it comes to allowing everyone to integrate and be included.

I know our schools are already over burdened but I believe that it would be so much more effective if "early interventions" were not just about teaching us to hide behind an NT disguise but also targeted NT children (think anti bullying programs as a start) to teach inclusion and tolerance and how to let everyone "get along".

Yes, and I agree. There should be early intervention classes that teach children to accept others of their differences. I do believe though myself that I do have NT traits and AS traits. Deep down I know my AS traits are there, but they aren't really shown. To anyone else I meet I am just another NT person. And I am thankful that i'm not bad off like others with an ASD. Yes, I get quite sad when I think about my differences, but then I think "You know Zach, you could have it worse." I am thankful that I have great social skills, and that I am able to cope in a NT society. I don't really have anxiety, and I do just fine around large groups of people etc. I do not stimm, or really have any tics. Really my only traits of autism are losing train of thought easily, and not following some directions, but other than that, I'm A okay. I am an independent adult, and hopes to one day Find someone who will accept me no matter what my differences may be.

Have you read the diagnostic criteria?
See below:
[The following is from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM IV]

(I) Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

(A) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(B) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(C) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(D) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

(II) Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

(A) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(B) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(C) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(D) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects


(III) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

(IV) There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)

(V) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

(VI) Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia."

From what you have said, you may be right (more NT than AS) - sounds like either you are unaware of some of your social imaprements due to theory of mind issues or you have been misdiagnosed!

Well, I am very self aware of the things I do, and none of which you have posted sound like myself. Now, in the past, I'm sure people knew I was AS when I was a child, but now, it's like I was never that way at all. I consider myself a regular 20 year old NT, although my AS symptoms aren't very present, and haven't been for awhile. I do everything that people in mainstream society do. I go to parties, I socialize very well, I have great eye contact, and I have plenty of interests that others would find acceptable. I wouldn't just go up to a complete stranger and say "Hey! Will you be my friend?" But who in their right mind would? It's all about how to approach, and strike up conversations in the right and formal matter. I usually talk to people on campus when i'm smoking, or I forgot something so i ask someone if they have any extra of what I need, and conversation just starts there. Now, I do have my derp & clumsy moments from time to time, but who doesn't? That's about the extent of my so called AS. I truly believe that some people with early interventions and the right kind of help can eventually grow out of how they once were with their ASD, which I believe is my case. My symptoms are present, but not active 90% of the time. I had plenty of help as a child and even went to a special school, but even then I still felt somewhat NT. I was only on medication for a very short period of time, and haven't been on them since a child. I don't know, I'm just always around NT people, and it doesn't bother me any. Over all, I see myself as a NT mainstream type person, with a few exceptions. Like I said before, I do get depressed about it sometimes, but I always think that I could have it worse off.

I'm far from normal. That doesn't mean I have AS, though.

It is entirely possible that I am simply an introverted nerd with social awkwardness.

Is your eye contact learned or is this done naturally?

I only got diagnosed with NVLD (I personally think I have PDD though) several months ago, but I do feel quite NT these days. Funnily enough, it was because I got bullied in subtle ways that I started becoming more aware of when people weren't being literal. I guess the fact that I have a completely NT older sister also helped a lot. Still, like you, I'd be worried about people seeing me in a different light and treating me differently if they found out that I'm slightly autistic, so I'm not very open with a lot of people. If your DP is a pic of you, then you're at least ahead of me in terms of appearing NT

OP, it looks like you are struggling with self-awareness and finding an identity. I can see that it is difficult for you as you have been given a label that does not necessarily suit your behaviours at this point in time. It is possible to no longer recieve a diagnosis if you have adapted that much, but the reality is, you will always have a mind that was originally rooted in ASD behviours.

There is a huge problem with the AS/NT dichotomy in that often people who are caught in the middle (such as myself and possibly the OP) don't really fit into either category. It really presents as a spectrum of its own rather than two separate entities. I'm sure there's plenty of other people out there who have strong autistic traits but not enough to neatly warrant a diagnosis too.

Most people say, screw categories and be yourself. It is not that easy, as this post demonstrates. When you have spent your whole life having major aspects of your identity questioned, it is hard NOT to want to fit into a specific category.

My wife reminds me as well. It still bothers me when a person says a word and they don't really mean it. I hate that with a passion and it bothers me. A couple means two. Here is something to think about. My ASD psychologist told me this. Ultimately, in the long run and in the bigger picture do these semantics truly matter? If I'm trying to get things done and it is not critical to getting it done I say probably not it is better to let it go.

My whole point to this post is just to say that some people with ASD's are different from one another, some people can cope, and other's cant. I just so happen to fall in the category of those who can cope with their ASD, and are able to filter things as a NT person would. Yes, i know deep down in the corner of my my mind my AS will always be there, even if I don't show symptoms regularly, but it's still a part of me. And yes, that is me in my avatar picture. I have a tattoo of a rose on my right arm, and above it it says "Mamaw" who was my grandmother who is recently deceased due to lough gherig's disase. Her name was margaret rose, hence why I have a rose. I was just wondering if there was anyone on this site who feels the same way as myself. Everyone here is so supportive, which is something I could use right about now.

As my mother says "What's normal?" and she has also told me if normal meant having nothing wrong with you, there be no normal people in the world. My husband says everyone is normal for themselves.

Then to turn around and say we are not normal, what they mean is we are not like the others because what we are doing is in the minority. I think there are two different kinds of normal.