Are facial expressions always a learned ability?

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Would you say that all people with autism have to learn how to interpret facial expressions and what they mean - or would you say it's possible for a person with autism to know it without having to learn, just like an NT person?
Is it a diagnostic criteria for autism to have a hard time with reading people, or can you be autistic even if you're good at reading people?

If I could even get to looking at people properly then I could start to learn about facial expressions but even getting to that point would be like asking me to jump over the Grand Canyon. I avoid looking at people and especially eye contact whenever possible sometimes I feel the need to look at them because in the past NTs have become insulted because I haven't looked at them so I have to jump this canyon every once in awhile. But it usually causes me to stim aggressively and I might cry about it later.

Eye contact and facial recognition is an extremely difficult thing for me. So much anxiety surrounds it. I have tried to overcome this for more than 40 years but it just ain't happening.

_________________
*** High Functioning Autism - Asperger's Syndrome ***

ADHD, OCD, and PTSD.

Keep calm and stim away.

Some, yes... but babies will frown, smile and grimace right out of the womb. I would say no.

I'm trying to look into the possibility of having autism myself, but I've never had any trouble reading faces or seeing things in between the lines. I've practically made it an interest to study people and understand the root of their emotions and behavior. Place me in a social situation though and I definitely feel like I'm on the "wrong planet" and lacking a manual. I just wonder if the fact that I'm otherwise good at reading people, if not better than most people even, would rule out autism as a possibility entirely.

Try this website, they reckon that they can teach most people to read emotions just from the face alone in conversation.

http://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/20 ... sions.aspx

What does this mean for AS: accomplishable way into accurately interpreting NT's speech.
And the emotions which accompany it in real time.
It work's but takes a long time to learn

New research has been done since this was published
I will try to find it as it may shed more light on the problem