Smitha Chandrashekar - Psychometrist
Navigating the world through the lens of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a journey that unveils a wealth of unique perspectives and challenges. As someone who has closely worked with individuals on the spectrum, I have come to understand that for individuals on the spectrum, the act of seeing everything but struggling to maintain eye contact is not just a quirk or a preference; it is an inherent aspect of their cognitive and sensory experience. Imagine standing in a bustling city square, surrounded by a cacophony of sights, sounds, and sensations. For neurotypical individuals, making eye contact may come naturally as an extension of social interaction. But for someone on the spectrum, it is almost like navigating a labyrinth of discomfort and overload. The world is a symphony of sensations for them. Every texture, sight and sound, is amplified, enhanced, and processed in great detail. It is as if their senses are tuned to a frequency that others cannot fully comprehend. In this chaos of sensory input, making eye contact becomes a daunting task, taking valuable cognitive resources away from comprehending the world around them. When they look at you, they see every minuscule detail; the slightest shift in your facial muscles, the flicker of emotion in your gaze, the little details that most individuals miss. It is not that they are uninterested; rather, their attention is consumed by the intricate dance of sensory information bombarding their brain. Sadly our society places immense value on eye contact as an indicator of connection and involvement. We are all taught since a very early age that "look me in the eye" implies honesty, sincerity, and respect towards the other individual we are conversing with. However, for individuals on the spectrum, this expectation can feel like an impassable barrier, a constant reminder of their perceived inadequacies in the area of social interaction. The struggle to maintain eye contact is not a sign of rudeness or boredom, but rather of the sensory overload and cognitive dissonance that characterize ASD. Despite the struggle, there is resilience. Despite the limitations, individuals on the spectrum have a unique perspective--the capacity to look beyond the surface and delve deeply into the complexities of human connection and emotion. Their gaze may not always match yours, but their minds are brimming with insight, empathy, and understanding. So, the next time you see someone who has difficulty making eye contact, I encourage you to go past the surface; to see the individual behind the hesitation, an individual with a wealth of untapped potential and insight. And perhaps, by accepting their differences, you can form connections that go beyond the boundaries of eye contact and appreciate the diversity of the human experiences.
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