I’m still on my journey of understanding the differences between autism and other. My focus today is eye contact, so let’s have a discussion!
Guiding questions:
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What do you think is the underlying difference that causes autistic people to use less eye contact than others?
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What does it feel like for you?
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How do you interpret other people’s eye contact?
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Do you avoid it, use short glances, or maintain NT-levels of eye contact?
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Does it vary by situation?
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Anything else you would like to discuss regarding eye contact?
Question is open to anyone. If not identified, then the assumption is the user is autistic. Otherwise, if you’re NT or other ND, please state so 🙂
I have taught myself to do it relatively well, although it still feels like their is electricity in the back of my brain. I can think through it but it’s hard. I also do it intermittently, I don’t make myself hold it unless for very serious conversations. I also tend to look at one eye at a time, but no one has called me out on it yet.
… are you not supposed to look at one eye at a time?
To me, depends at how far I am from them. up close, I can only look at one eye at a time. Which eye I choose depends on how much I want to engage. If I want all in, I’m going with the eye they’re using to look at my eye. If I want a little separation, then I will look at the other. Maybe from about 25 feet (7.5 m), I can focus on both eyes at the same time.
I don’t think so. I think you’re supposed to look at both somehow. I haven’t got this completely figured out.