Informal Poll I was seriously thinking about that the other day when I felt myself zoning. I don't like wearing shoes, either.  Also, at night no matter how cold it is, I hafta put my feet outside the covers.  I also was basically a loner at school and was kicked out of two schools cuz of my behavior.    However, I did graduate on the B honor roll.  I also suffer from klaustraphobia (sp)  In order for me to fly on a plane, I hafta take ativan so as not to freak.  But come now, isn't this just people in general?  Does everyone in this world  have autistic like symptons???  [QUOTE=Jean] DOes it involve compulsive behaviors that are directly caused by anxiety? TY [/QUOTE] Bingo! Anything they do compulsively to relieve anxiety is CAD. For Connor it's Trichotillomania (hair pulling). He also shreds things like crazy to relieve stress, mostly fabric, like clothing tags, and pulling threads that hang off of fabric. He also loves to spread out Elmer's glue, let it dry, and then peel it off. He searches out glue in every classroom, and then can become obsessed to the point of distraction by it. Obviously, because he feels the most stress at school. [QUOTE=Screeech_2001] Does everyone in this world  have autistic like symptons???  onclick="AddSmileyIcon'smileys/smiley3.gif'" alt=Shocked http:// www.autism-pdd.net/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif">[/ I][/QUOTE] Yes. I really believe that everyone has autistic-like behaviors.I have serious issues with sound.  I can't tolerate loud volumes and most of the time regular volumes seem extra loud to me.  Hubs and I are constantly fighting over the volume on the TV and the radio. Autism is actually a normal phase for infants to go through--Daniel Stern has a classic book on infant dev. Also, I read a few years ago about a theory that it was the increase in left brain people marrying other left brain people to might be part of the increase in autism over the last two decades.  There is a statistically significant difference in the Silicon Valley in California of a greater increase in incidence than elsewhere in the country.  Interesting.     This is very interesting! My son walks on his toes and I also did this unknowingly until I was 20.  A friend asked me why I always walked on my toes and I hadn't realized I did this. Now, I make a conscious effort not to walk on my toes. It's difficult sometimes. Also, I'm not a social person but force myself to be when the situation requires it. I think everyone can find some autistic-like behavior in themselves if they look hard enough.Mypaul, there's also inorganic mercury in the San Francisco bay which may or may not be in our drinking water (although it shouldn't be) but it's also evaporated into the air, which may also account for the increase in autism in this area.  Also, autism rates have significantly decreased since our state banned thimerosol in vaccinations. chris27w Sometimes toe-walking is caused by tight calf muscles ... try stretching your calf muscles several times daily.  It might help. :) Kellie <-- physical therapist prior to Mommyhood Kellie, Thanks for the info! I'm going to try that! Christie Huh?  When did they "ban" thimerosol???  I live in California.  I think Dr Edralin still uses that.  I asked him before AJ got his shots if they were safe.  He said yes..the mercury isn't as much as it used to be years ago.  Hmmm Screech it was a few years ago, I don't remember exactly when.  Since then, Doctors have only had to voluntarily stop using it and a statewide enforcement goes into effect in 2006, since everybody had to first get rid of the stock they had on hand. I thought it was 2003 when they 'banned' thimerisol. If you would like to share......... Is there anyone in your family background that had ASD, or an ASD like problem? Do you feel that you or your childs other parent have ASD and / or Sensory processing issues?   I will go first, The more DH and I learn, the more we think DH has symptoms of aspergers. My DH more or less put himself on a GF/CF diet as a child. He learned from trial and error that when he ate lots of wheat products or lots of diary he suffered everything from nausea and constipation to brain fog. When I was learning about sensory processing disorder (formerly known as Sensory intergration dysfunction), I had a light bulb moment, thats me!!!!!!!! The textures, the feeling like I am smothering with coats, I havent worn gloves in years, I can hardly stand socks and remove my shoes the second I walk in the door.   yes..........we found that hubby's uncle spent his whole first grade year under his desk..........he today is an extremely intelligent man with social disfunctions........my stepson's mother is also very odd......as she doesn't have empathy and she cannot kid and doesn't take joking  very well.........and those sort of things..........so we definately feel that Curtis' autism is an inheredited trait...........his maternal grandfather is also OCD.......along with a few other undiagnosed issues.........so we see lots of charateristics from all sides........... Very interesting! No one in our families has ever been dx'd with anything like ASD. However, I always tease my DH that he's the autistic one be/c he's very introverted (around everyone else but me) and he doesn't seem to read people very well (except for me -- but that may be more of a survival instinct ).  He is also very sensitive to sounds (like he can't stand the soft ticking of a clock in the kitchen) and temperature (he fiddles with the heat and a/c more than anyone I've ever met!).  He can be extremely focussed ... if he's reading or working on the computer and I'm talking to him, he can completely block out what I'm saying to concentrate.  (Even if I'm whispering sweet nothings and not nagging him. ) kaviar38611.3303819444 ROTFL Kellie, even the sweet nothings blocked huh????   My DH has not been diagnosed either, however the Dr that dx my son told me that very, very often she finds a family background of traits, tendencies of asd like symptoms. I also read that a growing number of adults are going for evaluations and finding themselves with ASD or ASD like dx. I'm the youngest of 6 and we all have major sensory issues--sounds, lights, clothes, etc.  But no other issues in sibs.  Two of my sisters have two boys each--now in their mid 20s--who have signs.  One of them was practically non-verbal, tantruming, and no eye contact til he was 4 and had tubes put in his ears.  Even though the school told my sister they thought he should be evaluated she chose to believe the tubes were all he needed as he did improve.  He had a horrible time in school, had to go to an alternative high school and has horrible social skills.  Other sis had son who has always been brilliant, very immature, huge sensory issues and horrible social skills.  He is Aspergers she and I now know. Karen, can you tell me about compulsive anxiety disorder? My DS has ADHD, anxiety and OCD behaviors related to his infantile (or classic) autism. Hmmmmmmm, sure seems like CAD is something I need to know more about. DOes it involve compulsive behaviors that are directly caused by anxiety? TY When Connor was first diagnosed, DH's jaw literally dropped as we listened to the psychologist describe how Connor views and relates to the world around him. It was as though she was describing DH! Suddenly his entire life made sense to him. He was diagnosed with OCD shortly thereafter, and though he has never officially been diagnosed with Asperger's, trust me, he has a toe or two on the spectrum. I don't have any of the social issues my boys have, but I definitely am somewhere on the OCD spectrum. And my sister has agoraphobia and was recently diagnosed with ADD. When we were sharing our son's dignosis with family, my brother-in-law and father-in-law both remarked separately, "I wonder if I'm mildly autistic". Both are engineers, loner-types, are very reserved in most social situations, though they are both very nice people and we get along great. My husband has a real sarcastic/witty sense of humor and my father-in-law is always missing his jokes. When we described some of Elliot's behaviors they both recalled doing similar things when they were younger. No family on either side has been diagnosed with anything however, and it was my son's late language development that first caught our attention, and there are no late-talkers either. We've never thought of ourselves, dh & I, as having any of the autistic tendancies, though my husband is a bit of an introvert, and I can be very anxious with difficuties sleeping. We're also both horrible nail-biters...I know, it's a disgusting habit, but I'd call that a sensory issue. Rachel
	Copyright Autism-PDD.net