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starkid
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26 Feb 2014, 10:50 pm

If a psychologist blatantly misinterprets a bunch of someone's body language, facial expressions and other nonverbal stuff during an evaluation, is that not a sign of a communication deficit?

For example, the psychologist:

thought I made eye contact when he greeted me, but I only looked vaguely at the general area of his face
thought I was irritated about being asked about my mental health history, but I was not
thought I stopped "fidgeting" because he noticed that I was fidgeting, when in fact I wasn't paying any attention to his noticing
misinterpreted my sigh as me not wanting to do one of the tests
thought I enjoyed a test that I didn't like

And then wrote in the report of me: "largely could communicate her affective experience."

wtf is that? It's like he was just guessing how I felt. I don't even know what to think, I am so frustrated.



Lumi
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26 Feb 2014, 11:19 pm

Not sure if I can answer your question. By your post, you seem to have "passable" body language. Do you need services of some kind?


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starkid
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26 Feb 2014, 11:25 pm

Lumi wrote:
Do you need services of some kind?


Not right now. I just wanted an accurate evaluation.



Norny
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27 Feb 2014, 12:37 am

1 of the reasons I really don't want to be evaluated by anyone other than an absolute expert.


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btbnnyr
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27 Feb 2014, 1:44 am

It is true that NTs can't tell the difference between looking them in the eyes or somewhere else on the face.


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Waterfalls
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27 Feb 2014, 6:55 am

I see you're in the US. Everyone seems to be rushing to reduce diagnoses of ASD in the spirit of being up to date with DSM V. I hope they sort this out soon.



LostInSpace
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27 Feb 2014, 8:25 am

People usually can't tell whether you're looking in their eyes or not when you look generally at their face.

For the other stuff, you may have been giving off body language that for NTs would mean one thing, but for you meant another. It sounds like she observed nonverbal behavior she was familiar with, and interpreted it in the usual way. You might have to explain to her that although your body language was saying one thing, you were feeling another.

For me, I always have a problem with people thinking I'm anxious when I'm not, because I speak quickly and make poor eye contact, which for NTs are signs of anxiety. It's annoying, but it's not fair for me to assume that other people will understand that while in *most* people that behavior means anxiety, for me it is just status quo, unless I actually tell them.


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