this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2026
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Autism

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Now everybody freeze! (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago by ickplant@lemmy.world to c/autism@lemmy.world
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[–] Glowstick@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)

From what I've read, having a deficit in social communication is a core definitional symptom.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6105175/

"Autism spectrum disorder is defined by two core symptoms: a deficit in social communication and..."

https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-diagnostic-criteria-dsm-5

"[The DSM-V states] that an autism diagnosis requires persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following: deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships."

https://www.autismalert.org/uploads/PDF/INFO--DSM%205%20Diagnostic%20Criteria.pdf

Exact text of the DSM-V on autism:

Diagnostic Criteria

A. Persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication as manifested by all of the following:

  1. Deficits in using communication for social purposes, such as greeting and sharing information, in a manner that is appropriate for the social context.
  1. Impairment of the ability to change communication to match context or the needs of the listener, such as speaking differently in a classroom than on the playground, talking differently to a child than to an adult, and avoiding use of overly formal language.
  1. Difficulties following rules for conversation and storytelling, such as taking turns in conversation, rephrasing when misunderstood, and knowing how to use verbal and nonverbal signals to regulate interaction.
  1. Difficulties understanding what is not explicitly stated (e.g., making inferences) and nonliteral or ambiguous meanings of language (e.g., idioms, humor, metaphors, multiple meanings that depend on the context for interpretation).

So, I'm not a diagnostician, but if you have above average ability to read social cues, then that sure sounds like it excludes a diagnosis of autism.

If anyone has information from an authoritative source that explicitly says otherwise then I'd be interested to see it, thanks

[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

To me, this meme explains the internal workings of some autistic people. What you see on the surface is a person unable to respond in a socially appropriate way. Underneath it could be a deficit in reading social cues or an overload of social cues (which is explained here). The latter is more common in AuDHD - the combo of autism and ADHD. The DSM-5 is way behind the times and does not recognize AuDHD as its own thing. Hell, before 2013, having austism would rule out ADHD and vice versa.

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 7 points 1 month ago

The DSM-5 is way behind the times

Understatement of the year.

[–] TerdFerguson@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

So, I’m not a diagnostician, but if you have above average ability to read social cues, then that sure sounds like it excludes a diagnosis of autism.

I'm glad you disqualified your opinion before you shared it because ability for reading cues is a very narrow aspect of what could contribute to difficult social interactions.

Some of us develop a heightened kind of vigilance for social cues because of how we've been punished for our natural lack of understanding them, and that doesn't necessarily confer ANY ability to effectively act on those cues appropriately in the way we ought to.