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- opusaz, on 01/16/2009, -0/+21I've been diagnosed as mildly autistic. It's not that I don't know what a smile, etc. means. It's just that I don't understand why you should smile when happy. There are so many other subtle indicators to someone's moods and intentions, that most common expressions seem grotesquely exaggerated to me, that everyone else view as normal. Putting me into a room full of expressive people is overwhelming and exhausting.
Most overt expressions of emotion do not come naturally to me. I don't have to pretend to be happy, I just have to put a conscious effort into appearing happy. And so I often come across as insincere at best, creepy at worst.
Most pets have no trouble detecting my moods without me trying.
PS...I have no idea what's possessed me to post all this on digg. - casspa, on 01/15/2009, -2/+19This is a beautiful story.
- inactive, on 01/15/2009, -0/+14If it actually works, that's awesome.
- bringmeupmusic, on 01/15/2009, -2/+12Not sure I believe this, but perhaps it could work along with behavioral therapy..?
- JesseJ, on 01/16/2009, -0/+9The world needs more of smart people who care.
- RedneckwithGuns, on 01/16/2009, -0/+7As long as it's only supplemental to the parents' help and actual social interaction I can't see why it wouldn't help. Assuming it is actually effective the only reason I can see for the parents of an autistic child not to own it is the cost.
- OrangeTide, on 01/16/2009, -2/+8Michael Savage thinks autistic kids just need to be disciplined by their parents and they would start behaving normally.
On his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage claimed that autism is "[a] fraud, a racket. ... I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is. What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot.' " - ClevelandBrown, on 01/16/2009, -2/+8Tom Cruise does not approve.
- opusaz, on 01/16/2009, -0/+6Well, for things like facial expressions, no. I just have to dial them up. Way, way up.
But casual physical contact really does seem alien. I suck at it, and am always a bit startled when someone pats me on my back or squeezes my arm, etc. High fives and 'hip' handshakes are simply incomprehensible. - seanmulkerne, on 04/23/2009, -1/+6I have a very seriously autistic brother, but he can thankfully recognize emotions like this (to a certain extent, at least). Nevertheless, this is a great thing and a step in the right direction. Autism is a condition that has received far too little attention considering its magnitude, and I hope more like this will be done in the near future.
- pinchduck, on 01/16/2009, -0/+4Do you end up essentially emulating expressions that you have learned match certain emotional states? I can see where that much conscious effort just to portray a given emotional state could be exhausting.
- CaptainLando, on 01/16/2009, -1/+5I'm familiar with Baron-Cohen's work. I'm glad to see this coming out, as he is one of the top researchers in the field. If you're interested in this kind of thing, read his book titled Mindblindness. It's a concise but strong overview of the implications of autism.
Also, expect to see more products like this in the next year or so ;) - moocow1452, on 01/16/2009, -1/+4"See, robots can't feel your pathetic human emotions... And that makes me sad."
- failtrain, on 01/16/2009, -0/+3Well I do not approve of Tom Cruise.
- kerbe6, on 01/16/2009, -0/+2Maybe you're just stressed? Stress is actually a pretty normal thing in life.
- inactive, on 01/16/2009, -1/+3Did he confuse autism and ADD?
- AZTriGuy, on 01/16/2009, -0/+2I, for one, am very glad you posted. I have children with varying degrees of autism, two who communicate pretty well and one who doesn't communicate well at all. I've often wondered what's going on in his head, how he perceives the world around him. From experience, I know what things overstimulate him and situations to keep him away from to keep him comfortable, but I like hearing your description of how you interpret others' emotions and signals.
- CaptainLando, on 01/16/2009, -0/+2Use google scholar to look up Simon Baron-Cohen. That will guide you to a wealth of published results on this type of intervention.
If you want a shortcut, take my word for it. I've read 40+ academic papers related to this type of treatment for autism since August, and while I can't say that it will without a doubt work for your cousin (all children with autism are different), studies show that this type of intervention does have measurable positive effects. - RandomEyes, on 01/16/2009, -0/+2Thank you SO much for this response! Believe it or not... finding articles and submitting them to digg is definitely the best when they actually make people THINK and respond. Learned a lot from your response, and it's great to hear your point of view.
- MAARRS, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1I could have used that DVD with my ex-boyfriend.
- jayj95, on 01/22/2009, -0/+1I was diagnosed with autism 10 years ago (I am now 13 and a half, just above the age limit for Digg) and I seem to understand facial expressions. :) means happy. :( means sad. Yes I do understand that some autistic are worse off than me. It saddens me because people assume that because I have autism that I don't understand. So to all the parents out there just because your child has autism, it is not all doom and gloom. So enjoy the journey.
- smashthetv, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1Simon Baron-Cohen is Sasha Baron-Cohen's brother.
- rowbot, on 02/06/2009, -0/+1>.<
aspergers is a type of autism...sort of. - bmcnally, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1My kid cousin is autistic and this honestly looks like a great resource.
Does anyone know how well this works? I'm inclined to believe it works on a theoretical level, but I'm curious to see if practical data backs it up. - Splutterbug, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1This looks fantastic, well done to the poster for finding an article that is interesting, important and doesn't consist of a an Apple / Linux top 10 list
- steviekearney, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1Anyone know where to download or even just watch this ? Couldn't find a torrent.
- jbmcb, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1> Putting me into a room full of expressive people is overwhelming and exhausting.
You should be a computer programmer. - dianebl, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1and this is related to the story how?
- jbmcb, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1Or Scotty.
- failtrain, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1A smile
:o) - bmcnally, on 01/16/2009, -0/+1It sounds like he's talking about ADD/ADHD/whatever they're calling it now, not autism (partly because this is a common argument against those diagnoses).
- MAARRS, on 01/16/2009, -1/+1Are you pointing out that Jason Statham has the emotional acting range of an autistic child???
B/C if you're not, I am. - MelissaOfTroy, on 01/16/2009, -0/+0That was really well put. What you said makes perfect sense.
- JoeRikino, on 01/16/2009, -0/+0An excerpt of this on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4yJ3cxT3qs
Sounded like a scam, but the video actually looks like it actually might work.
Lil scary, though. - lyssword, on 01/16/2009, -2/+2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWLREn_vYKg at the funicular railroad Oliver was oiling his rail.
- stephakneex, on 01/20/2009, -0/+0totally!
- stephakneex, on 01/20/2009, -0/+0This is wonderful<33333333
- adrianmchs, on 01/16/2009, -3/+2I want to know what a smile is...
I'm so depressed..... =( - Curvearth, on 01/16/2009, -3/+2"Jenny's adventures are part of a DVD for autistic children released this week in the United States called The Transporters."
I wonder if it had Jason Statham. - rowbot, on 01/16/2009, -6/+4i have high functioning aspergers (aka im perfectly normal) its just a lame diagnosis because i get stressed.
- bigwillystyle, on 01/16/2009, -3/+1whats a smile
- Claverhouse, on 01/15/2009, -9/+3*wonders if George Bush is autistic*
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