"You're not autistic, you make facial expressions!"

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My psychologist actually told me this last week. You've GOT to be kidding me. Sure I know some Aspies who have very blank faces, but I also know many who are quite capable of it.

....do you guys make facial expressions??

Of course! Although, my facial expressions often do not match the emotion I am actually feeling, but still, that must count for something, right?

Does your psychologist not know that you don't have to tick ALL the boxes?

My son is well on the way to being diagnosed, and he is very facially expressive.

My sister, who isn't diagnosed but I have thought for a long time may be Aspie, has a fairly blank expression most of the time. She's one of those people who when told to smile, will say, "I AM SMILING!"

I've thought about going for assessment as I have a fair number of traits, but unlike my sister, I am very facially expressive.

Right! I even told her that, that NTs get a little funny around me after a while because my facial expression and tone of voice don't always match. I told her how I'm often accused of being angry when I wasn't, or how things come out wrong. But no, I'm not autistic because I'm quite expressive. I've also been told (by another psychologist) that I can't be autistic, I make eye contact. For crying out loud, I've known severely autistic kids who can still make eye contact.

Right!! I was like...how can you be so black and white? Especially in women, it's a known fact that many of us can "fake it" very well. There are different kinds of Aspergers...the "blank faced robots", the "information kiosks" (who won't shut up) and the "chameleons." Chameleons are usually women, and can give the appearance of being outgoing, social and almost normal. I've actually been described as bubbly, which I always find amusing. My cousin is the same as me, it's only when you spend time with her you see the facade drop. Her voice becomes monotone and she stares in front of herself blankly. Then she snaps out of it and becomes "faux normal" again.

Sounds like you need to get a new psychologist who actually knows what he/she's talking about.

I can smile, I can frown, I can make funny faces. I would get a new shrink if I were you.

Oh, yes. I make faces. BUT my face does not register my inner emotions or feelings. If I'm talking about how I'm doing physically, and I'm doing lousy, I'll say "lousy," but my face and body language say nothing is wrong. Friends have commented on this, and have ignored my words because of my body language.

I actually had one friend say I seemed to be performing. When I make jokes I make a face, or I do it to make a point if I'm talking about something serious. I didn't know what to think. My therapist said it's more dramatic, and she said it didn't seem out of line. One thing I did notice--women who seem more concerned about acting "ladylike" didn't like my faces. One told me it seemed "out of place, and unattractive." Meh.

Yup, I think I do need a new one. This chick told me hand flapping is perfectly normal, it's a stress reliever. Now I have no problem with hand flapping, but it's not neurotypical. My regular doctor was onto Aspergers right away, so she sent me to the shrink...but she knows nothing about Aspergers except for the stereotypical diagnosic. So I'd have to go in there staring to the side and talking like Rainman to convince her

Shelby, my psychologist seems to think the same. He thinks i could be diagnosed with Aspergers and that i tick many boxes, but i think he deep down would rather help me then diagnose me. Perhaps your psychologist just doesn't really like the idea of putting a label to you. You know yourself and it is very likely you are Aspie if you feel so. If your psychologist is good, regardless him not really wanting to give you an assessment/diagnosis, continue seeing him if you can afford it and if its helping. Mine actually seems to be giving me good ideas as to how i can cope with my extreme introvertedness and social inadequacies which could affect me after i finish my studies in finding jobs.

Sounds like an aspie in denial. People who think autistic behavior is normal, they could be aspies themselves and don't want to admit it so they are better off saying "nah that's normal, everybody does that" because they don't want to be different so they think they can escape a condition by saying it's normal.

Right on! The guy is think that Asperger's Synsrome is a black and white disorder, when it's not. I'm on the spectrum, and I make facial expressions all the time.

In most social situations I have a flat face, that goes nicely with my monotone voice. But I have had some people commenting on my face expressions because they do not match with my mood. I used to have moments where a facial expression would freeze on my face. Say I was grossed out by something, that look would stay on my face even when my mood goes.

Actually, facial expressions are a good sign to tell if someone has autism or not. In nearly all cases there is no expression, and in a few, a smile is all that they can achieve (and it's usually used incorrectly just as much as it is used correctly).

This is why it gets mistaken for schizophrenia so much (they both share the "flat-affect").

If you don't literally match the DSM check list you really have to go to a psychologist who specializes in autism. They have a better intuitive understanding of what AS / autism / PDD look like and can diagnose without referring strictly to the DSM check list. Also, the symptoms you displayed as a child are very important for a full picture.

For the record I've always used and understood facial expressions and I'm certainly on the autism spectrum. I currently have or have had pretty much every other symptom on the DSM criteria for AS. AS / autism isn't a one-dimensional thing.

eeeeehhh......YES!