Autism simulator...

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Well, the NAS has made some videos lately to raise awareness of what it is like to have Aspergers. There is a good one about travelling on a bus - it probably won't ring true for everyone, as we are all different, but it definitely rang true for me.

It doesn't let me post the link, because I'm a newbie, but if you go to the NAS website, and click on 'take action now' in the right hand column, then click on 'think differently' and then on 'understanding autism' and then on 'autism on film', you will see the videos.

i found a few sensory overload similators on youtube thouhgh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPDTEuotHe0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYkfsts8 ... re=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoQJ5M9k76w

This is a quirk I have. I don't know really what to make of it.
I had a discussion with a very sociable acquaintance of mine a while ago.
She was trying to understand my fascination with animals.

From the information she gave me I think she'd see a scene and focus on the people first.



I, however, would focus on the non-human animals first.




This doesn't mean that I can't connect with others or have meaningful relationships with people.
I just find it easier to relate and talk to animals, perhaps because I tend to focus on them first.

These images originally came from a royalty free clipart collection and are for illustrative purposes only. All of the blurred editing is my own.

Thanks for posting these links, I sent a message to one of the creators of the videos. I'm so glad people are trying to help others understand how torturous certain sounds can be to people with Hyperacusis.

Thanks, found it!

Autism in film

*rents land*

Let's do it!

I was thinking if there was a theme park like Aspieland, but then I'm sure there would be something in every ride that might stress someone out. I dunno, I mean how about lets say the slow-moving car rides at Disneyworld, is anyone bothered by something on those?

Sounds like that movie "Brainstorm" where a virtual reality helmet is invented that records a person's feelings, emotions, and senses, then plays it back for another wearer.

For me, I'd like people to experience my Auditory Processing problem where random words blur out, and are uninteligible. Or my face blindness when I can't recognize someone. Or the feeling of people talking on and on and on, not saying anything.

Are they any good? I'm on my phone at the moment so I can't watch them.

The first link actually started to provoke a meltdown in me, and if you asked me to describe what all I saw and heard, I'd be hard pressed, even though I like to think I have a good memory. The noise level was killer. I cheated and turned it down and was still in pain.

The second link, I think I tend to like the kind of sounds NTs like and dislike the sounds that NTs dislike ... That said, I'm certain I have auditory processing issues that stem at least in part from having hearing that's keener than a normal human's. Although, I have finally as a middle-ager lost the ability to hear the high-pitched mosquito sound that people younger than 24 can hear. I mananaged to be able to still hear it up until around age 42, so that's still pretty cool in my book.

The third link I do not relate to very much but definitely found the environment annoying.

But now we need to have YouTube videos showing the good things about autism, eh?

There was a Dexter's Lab like that. Mandark thought by reading Dexter's memories he'd learn how to be a great scientist like Dexter. However, he didn't know Dexter only got as far to recording his childhood, like when he was a baby. So Mandark got freaked out by all that baby nonsense invading his brain and ran off. Afterwards seeing this Dexter said as a remark about Mandark, "What a baby!"

Interesting, didn't relate to any of them but I suppose they where about more severe cases... They look like awareness adverts to me, they might be on TV here soon.

I've known a lot of NTs who seemed unable to learn to cope in such environments. Interestingly, they ended up appearing socially inept, while the autistic people seemed socially capable. I guess it just depends on who there's more of.

Very interesting... This could be used in the on-going "what if the world was full of Aspies" argument, I'll remember this!

The 3rd one reminded me of a distortion effect like that, I've seen used in horror films.

I’m starting to think that my sociable friend’s brain was running on a completely different operating to mine. I think that her brain might even run on the opposite operating system to my own brain.

Her priority queue seems to be as follows:
1) Focus on people
2) Focus on details in the physical environment

I think this is how she’d first perceive a scene:



She would probably strike up conversations with people in the crowd quite easily, but would ignore the dragon’s head until someone brought it up in conversation. Only then would she focus on the dragon’s head.

How I’d first perceive the same scene:



I would ignore all the people and focus on the dragon’s head. I would be fascinated by the intricate designs, colours, textures and patterns on the dragon’s head. I would only have a conversation with a stranger in the crowd if they initiated for me or gave me a vigorous tap on the shoulder. I’d usually “jump” with surprise because my mind was so distracted by the details. Only then would I awake from my detail occupied trance and discuss the event with someone as a social occasion.

It seems that my priority queue is reversed for some reason:
1) Focus on details in the physical environment
2) Focus on people

Often, my priority queue gets stuck on 1) and can’t move onto 2) unless someone comes up and talks to me. I guess this is why I find it difficult to mingle and strike up conversations with people in a crowded room. I’m being distracted the patterns in the wall and the carpet while the rest of them are focussing on meeting people.

These are extreme perspectives at opposite areas. I’ve known of some people who can seem to switch round their priority queues of focus easily, especially on Science courses. They can switch from chat to detail mode and back again relatively easily.

These are royalty free images taken from a clipart collection. These images are for illustrative purposes only. All the editing and blurring is my own.