Can I have a typical example of an autistic child's inability to form social relationships?

Answer 1

Children with autism many times walk into people and do not make eye contact. They also cannot understand the emotions of others and therefore cannot make social relationships through consoling or befriending one in good times or bad. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I like what Kate said....it's a myth. Autistics can form some very strong and permanent social relationships.

With my son, he wants to have friends, he goes out of his way to talk to people and play with them. However, his mannerisms (rocking, talking about his favorite topic: VIDEOGAMES) put people off and then THEY have the inability to form a relationship with him. He has several friendships now, with people his age. It's really great, because some of them are good enough to tolerate what he does or says, but are strong enough to say, that's inappropriate to say, or I don't like you being so close to me.

So, I'd say it's some of that socialization that people talk about on the homeschooling string. Most people are socialized to judge a person by his appearances, and make very little effort to get to know him. My son accepts everyone as they appear to be, because he doesn't know that they are sneaky and making fun of him.

It's sad, really, because I know many autistic adults and they are AWESOME people. And obviously I think my son is cool...

but back to the topic, if something like not speaking on topic (bwahaha) is a problem, it would be that he is very interested in something, and doesn't understand why others don't share that very same enthusiasm for it. Because he thinks about his topic so much, it was very easy for him to turn every conversation back into it, and we worked for a long time to remind him (train him) to do other conversations, lots of work on what topics go together, appropriate body space, volumn, etc. For a long time his favorite phrase was 'Not to change the subject, but...' LOL! That took a while for him to get past!

Answer 3

I'm the parent of 2 kids on the autism spectrum. Some individuals with autism are unable to take another person's perspective which basicially makes it hard to maintain a conversation, much less a friendship. People on the autism spectrum can be blunt.....very straight forward (no filter from brain to mouth). So, they can be perceived as rude. But, it's not that. I find that people who receive early intervention services (get a diagnosis early) are able to benefit from programs. I don't think everyone with autism "learns" social skills. I think it's more about getting used to how "typical" people function and acquiring these skills because that's what it takes to function in the world. My kids can "play school" well. However, they need to let their hair down at home.

Answer 4

I'm autistic, and I'll try to explain this "social disability" myth from an autistic point of view.

Autistics aren't necessarily unable to form social relationships. We're usually just fine with other autistics. The problem with social relationships with non-autistics (neurotypicals or NTs) is that autistics and NTs have different native nonverbal language and different styles of interaction. For example, NTs use an intrusive give-and-take method of conversation, whereas autistics do better in parallel. While NTs tend to communicate by exchanging short bits of information in "small talk", autistics are more likely to monologue about their interests and try to communicate at a deeper level. We have more intense interests than NTs, and sharing these interests bores most non-autistics. If we have trouble with speech, and use alternative communication systems, some people might be unwilling to attempt to communicate with us. Also, NT kids value their social ranking highly (autistics don't have social rankings - we're more like cats in that regard) and may not want to be seen with a "weird" autistic.

We're also not any more lacking in empathy than NTs. We can have very strong empathy with other autistics, and some of us are overwhelmed whenever we go out because we mirror the emotion that we think others are feeling. NTs would be lacking in empathy from an autistic viewpoint because of the way they bully us, excuse the parents who murder us, and consider the accomplishments of a therapy that aims to force us to expend tremendous energy in order to pretend to be "normal" to be successes.

Some autistics also develop severe social anxiety resulting in inability to interact socially after having been told over and over again that the way they are is defective. If we've been forced to fake NT and not allowed to interact with our own kind, we may have trouble forming relationships with other autistics.

You can probably come up with a few ways in which we'd have trouble forming relationships with NTs based on my explanation. Basically, the NT approaches the autistic, or the autistic approaches the NT. The autistic tries to interact in a way that is typical to him or her, the NT doesn't know how to respond or doesn't want to be seen around the autistic and decides not to pursue a friendship. If the NT insists on following rules of interaction that are painful for the autistic, or bores the autistic with their insistence on small talk, the autistic will probably give up. Even if we have learned to fake NT "successfully," it is still apparent that there is something odd about us, and that is enough to repel a lot of NT kids.

Answer 5

Here are some examples. Some kids with autism have more difficulty than others:

Poor eye contact when speaking with another

Inability to demonstrate empathy

Poor impulse control (speak before they think....i.e., an AS girl told a teacher she (the teacher) needed to use Slim Fast because she was fat!)

Difficulty making friends with peers because peers don't have the ability to repair communication breakdowns.

Small repertoire of things they can talk about (they like only a few things and don't have a base for discussion things that aren't familiar.)

I hope this gives you some insight.

Answer 6

I have a nephew with Asberger's syndrome. He's 15 and still plays with toys. He doesn't have many friends because the kids his age think he's "weird". He throws tantrums and goes balistic if he doesn't get his way. He has no interest in the things a boy his age should like, like girls, cars, etc. He just wants to concentrate on his toys. His is very high functioning...as a matter of fact at one time he was in the gifted class. It has been a very difficult, trying thing for his family and those around him.

Answer 7

The parent will say goodbye to them, and the child doesn't even acknowledge their existence.
They don't notice other children around them.
They have a hard time playing appropriately with other children- they don't know how to join in other's play or participate.
They don't have the communication skills to be able to hold a conversation with another person.
The world is about them and their feelings... they can't put themselves into other people's shoes and understand how they may be feeling.

Answer 8

I worked with a 14 yr-old kid with Asperger's--high functioning autisim. He had all the commom traits (didn't hit, though). Never talked nor had eye contact and did what he wanted and frequently walked out of the special Special Ed Therapeutic Classroom--when he wanted to.

I LOVE Piaget's Cognitive Stages, and while "Don" wouldn't respond to or on a verbal interaction, he was fascinated when we dropped down a knotch to Pre-Concrete Cognitive Stage of diagramming behavior!! CJ Jung writes that diagramming "desensitizes" us from the human pain. "Don" made a tape with me eventually, diagramming AND EXPLAINING not only his behavioral patterns, but his FEELINGS!!

I used Glasser's Basic Emotional Needs--Belonging, Power, Fun and Freedom-------I may have forgotten one, as I've been out of "The Biz" now for a while. But "Don" could analyze the emotional gains of each and every behavioral pattern of his--AND trace it back to his Family of Origin--the setting that NECESSITATED his developing his unique pattern. Since behavior is on a Sensori-Motor level, it is pre-conscious. Once he diagrammed that pattern, he could then go up a notch to Concrete Cognitive Stage and verbalized his actions!! As he became aware that as a child he had HAD to devise this method in order to get his emotional needs met, his behavior became more productive and more on a verbal interaction with people!!!

This method worked extremely well with a 15 yr-old guy with severe case of Tourette's, as well!!

PIAGET ROCKS!!!

Answer 9

i`ve worked with the mentally challenged, austism is usally a problem of not being able to relate to others & trouble with too much stimulation.the trouble with "normal " people is their own fear of people with these challenges- they are more receptive to other people`s "spirits" negative or positive.i have a friend who has an autistic child (moderate) i made a special point to pay attention to him in our outings (a group of friends with their own childern.) i got him his own special treat bag ( a magnifying glas with light) that delighted him. he was in special ed at my daughter`s school,when i would see him, i would give him a hug which he hugged back. he did`nt know my name, but he knew me! all i can say is the more love they get, the more they give.

Answer 10

I never got married or had any children. I'm high functioning.