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draxen
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04 Jan 2008, 4:29 am

Apologies if there's a similar thread elsewhere, but I thought it'd be useful if we could share tips on how we coped pre and post DX.
As this forum is aimed at those of us who weren't aware of their situation until later in life I thought it'd appropriate to post here. (Mods feel free to move to another forum if you think there's a better place).

Anyhoo, like most of us I've struggled to cope with NTs in social situations, the more "vibrant" situations (ie bars, clubs etc) were the worst for me. I hit on the idea of telling folks I was slightly deaf. Not bad enough to warrant a hearing aid, just a little hard of hearing. As a result people would speak a little more carefully and slowly when I was around and made more of an effort to include me in conversations.
It helped me and it might help someone else. Anyone got any other practical tips ?



Izaak
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04 Jan 2008, 5:44 am

Amongst touch happy NT's that like to put arms around shoulders or plenty of pats on backs or hugs (for when MoOS are involved) I would just say I was sunburned and they tended to leave me alone.

only for touch aversives and people in hot climates though.

I like the hard of hearing bit though. Which is essentially true for those who have the hearing sensitivities or problems tuning out background noise.



draxen
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05 Jan 2008, 4:42 am

I'm shortsighted, without my glasses anything more than a few feet away looks blurred. To help me maintain eye contact in meetings, restaurants etc I'd simply take my glasses off. If I couldn't see people's eyes in detail it became a lot easier to maintain eye contact, I simply couldn't tell if we were looking directly at each other or not.
It also helped me if I was giving a presentation or speaking in public. If I took my glasses off I simply couldn't see my audience and my stage fright disappeared :)



Pandora
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05 Jan 2008, 8:04 pm

draxen wrote:
I'm shortsighted, without my glasses anything more than a few feet away looks blurred. To help me maintain eye contact in meetings, restaurants etc I'd simply take my glasses off. If I couldn't see people's eyes in detail it became a lot easier to maintain eye contact, I simply couldn't tell if we were looking directly at each other or not.

It also helped me if I was giving a presentation or speaking in public. If I took my glasses off I simply couldn't see my audience and my stage fright disappeared :)
Brilliant idea! I also took a book or some craftwork to potentially anxiety creating places so I didn't have to talk right away. The craftwork was better as it would be a good conversation starting point.


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