Autism Eye Contact (The Great Mystery)

🧠 Neurodiversity Unveiled:
Autism, a neurodevelopmental condition, leads to unique ways of perceiving and interacting with the world. This video aims to shed light on one common aspect of autistic experiences – the difficulty with maintaining eye contact during conversations and interactions.

🤝 Importance of Eye Contact in Communication:
Eye contact is a fundamental nonverbal cue in social interactions. It facilitates connection, signals engagement, and conveys emotional nuances. However, for many autistic individuals, making and maintaining eye contact can be a distressing experience.

🎯 Sensory Sensitivity and Overload:
Autistic individuals often have heightened sensory sensitivity, making them more attuned to stimuli in their environment. The intense sensory input caused by direct eye contact can overwhelm their senses, leading to discomfort, anxiety, and even physical pain.

💬 Focus on Verbal Communication:
Autistic individuals may find it challenging to balance between maintaining eye contact and processing verbal information during conversations. Their focus might be directed towards processing the spoken words rather than making eye contact, leading to misunderstandings about their engagement level.

🧩 Differences in Social Processing:
The neurological wiring in autistic individuals often prioritizes detailed processing of information over quick social interactions. This unique processing style might cause them to miss certain nonverbal cues like fleeting facial expressions, while they absorb the larger context.

🚫 Breaking Stereotypes:
It's essential to recognize that not all autistic individuals struggle with eye contact. Some may manage it well, while others may employ alternative strategies like looking at someone's forehead or shoulders to alleviate discomfort while still being attentive.

🌟 Fostering Inclusive Communication:
Understanding the struggles with eye contact is a significant step towards fostering inclusive communication environments. Embracing diverse communication styles, such as allowing alternatives to direct eye contact, can create more comfortable and accessible interactions for everyone.

🔗 Further Resources:
If you're interested in learning more about autism, neurodiversity, and effective communication strategies, don't forget to check out the links in our video description.

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[ThroughTheLensOfAutism]

I was in High School when people told me that I needed to make eye contact with other people. What puzzled me was that people have two eyes, so I can not look at both of them at once.

[wendyheaton]

Before being diagnosed I used to find unexpected eye contact made me feel like I had been zapped by an electric shock! I am much better at avoiding it now!

[siennaprice]

I have septo optic dysplasia. Which caused me to be born totally blind, and it also caused me to be on the autism spectrum. Fun fact, me, not making eye contact doesn’t really have anything to do with the autism for me, it has more to do with the blindness. I don’t make eye contact at all with anybody due to being totally blind.

[countcoupblessings]

I always made WAY TOO MUCH eye contact . Not realizing that wasn't a regular thing either . That apparently conveyed / communicated many unintentional nonverbal cues in my life . Mostly accidentally positive . (Like appearing confident, conveying others are valued etc) Otherwise neg things like - accidentally seeming intrusive, intense or falsely appearing "interesting romantically" because of prolonged eye contact . Lol .

[SuperGingerBickies]

Dan, I was persecuted (literally and figuratively) by my grandmother for not looking people in the eye when I was talking to them! She would go as far as to impersonate me to make an example of me. She told me that people who do not look people in the eye when they are talking to them come across as distrustful.
Instead, it made me feel humiliated as well as confused.
Back then, I didn't know I was autistic and neither did my family. However, they were rarely positive about anything concerning my 'odd'ness...
It's eight years since I was late-diagnosed with ASD and I rarely cope with it nowadays; it is torture.

[DrRyguy]

It’s so frustrating to hear allistics talk about how anyone who doesn’t look people in the eye is a liar and is untrustworthy. Well maybe we are uncomfortable. But no, we have to change our behavior to accommodate them.

[cleftheart]

I'm on the spectrum and used to find uncomfortable to look into 👀 👁 😵 🙈 🥴 BUT I learned to overcome by focusing on the colors and details of 👀 I love colors...and love the details colors of people's 👀 👁

[DeborahAnnsuperversatile]

I have anxiety when looking at people's faces, let alone trying to look into their eyes.

[PencopiaPictorial]

Hi Dan. I glance around including making brief eye contact. I find when Im ask questions, especially during a job interview, I often look to the left of the person as if Im focusing on whats behind them and occasionally and quickly glance to make eye contact but otherwise, with people I don’t know well, Id just rather not. Some how I feel like they can see my thoughts, internalized emotions, and to some extent, judging me. The opposite of this is meeting someone who I get that neurodivergent vibe from and we start talking and then its a battle of wills to see who gets to talk because we are both bursting with ideas, train of though, agreeing on similar interests and I get really psyched to interact with that person even though later Im exhausted. But it leaves me feeling good.

[Sen_]

Eye contact feels super intimate for me. I might as well be kissing someone if I'm making prolonged eye contact. It usually does make me feel super uncomfortable.

[nnylasoR]

I, can’t, process, your, words, and, make, myself, look, at, your, eyes/face, at, the, same, time.
It’s literally forcing myself and my brain to multitask, overexerting us both.
Some people don’t take it as well as others, but I’ve grown accustomed to offering a disclaimer (and sometimes an apology, to better preserve/nurture a budding relationship) that I simply pay better attention and get my own thoughts out more clearly when I feel free to glance around.

[peteracton]

Eye contact feels very uncomfortable to me. It can even feel hostile. I cannot rationalise these feelings away. It even happens with my nearest and dearest. I generally keep eye contact for a very quick glance (done for them not me) at the end of social contact. I then walk away a bit confused by the way it made me feel. Shades are great!

[Apolonio-ofxf]

I'm A Proud 🦚 Member of The San Diego County California USA Autism Society Community Since December 4 Of 2019!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉!!!!

[sjzara]

Before I realised I was autistic I developed an unconscious strategy of looking away while frowning which made me look like I was thinking about what to say. I assumed everyone did this.

[siwray]

I just find it intrusive to be looked at in many situations.

[animalsarelove]

I've always had trouble making eye contact. Growing up I looked down a lot when I was spoken to. I was incredibly shy, or as I was told back then. Now I'm better at trying to make some eye contact. Not for long though. Thanks for this

[mycrazeee]

Eye contact is physical pain for me and its worse in one eye than the other.

[michaelyyy]

A very helpful presentation. Thank you. Now I'm going back to listening to the Pixies on continuous loop.

[amybaker]

I'm a cashier. I was ringing up a customer and didn't realize I hadn't looked at the person until she spoke. It was my old boss, I had no idea until I heard her voice. lol

I think people look alike, can't remember details of how people look. Most people look blurry to me.


I remember trying to figure out how to "quit staring" while also "look at me while I'm talking to you". I swear my eyes cross from overwhelm.

I don't care what people look like, it's not important to me.

[italianreddnek]

I have read peoples lips, when they talk my whole life. I did not know why until I was diagnosed at age 42.