Guest guest Posted August 24, 2008 Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 Hi, I dont have any suggestions for you but I am interested to see what answers you do get because I have the same issue with my daughter..You are not alone!! April > > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 When Kassiane stayed with us a couple of years ago, I asked her about eye contact. She said it is physically painful and it's just to hard to process what people are saying or doing when she has to look at people in the eye. Pennie Abby's Mom **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 I used to wear my hair in my face over my eyes and kept my head down even when I was walking. I rarely looked people in the eye and still have to make a concious effort to do so. For me it is still uncomfortable and makes me very self concious, also others accuse me of scruitinizing them becasue I seem to be studing their face and not looking them in the eyes. When I do look them in the eyes I tend to switch my focus from eye to eye and it makes people feel wierd because my eyes wiggle back and forth. My mother got me broken of the wearing hair in my face to avaoid eye contact by puting it up in a bun. It took into my twenties to realize that I was always looking at the ground when I walked and I have since been complimented on my stature when I walk because once I figured it out, I learned to walk and stand tall and proud. I think for me it was gaining self confidence and self awareness. Most of it had to be brought to my attention. When I was told how rude it was to not look someone in they eyes and how it came off that I did not mean I love you if I was mumbling it and looking away, I started thinking about making eye contact. However, if I find myself lost in a thought much of my responses are automatic and I am still guilty of the backward wave. If I realize I am doing it I turn around and correct myself. Practice makes perfect. Modeling the behavior you want, getting her to exercise these behaviors by anouncing everytime she wants to get up and leave the room might be a good way for her to practice and make it more comfortable for her to use when she is around people she does not know so well. Having her watch herself in the mirror and recording what is appropriate and inappropriate and showing it to her on video with give her a more concrete picture of what she needs to be doing verses what she is doing. It can be done, but much of it unfortionately comes with self awareness and if she is limited in this department and a deep thinker like me, she can make improvements but there may always be those times when the backward wave is all you'll see. http://speakup.today.com Subject: Question about eye contact To: autism_in_Girls Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 7:59 PM Hello all, My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. Any suggestions or advice? Karmen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Although my daughter (5) is not officially dx yet, we have a huge problem with this with her too! Eye contact even with us is difficult at times, and it's usually when we are wanting to be sure she is understanding what we say, sometimes it seems deliberate, but I'm careful to not just assume that things like that ARE deliberate, because truth be told I just don't know. Also Pennie, I can't for the life of me find the article now, but last year sometime I read a thing about kids and eye contact, and while it was more geared toward kids/people with ADHD, I found that it's very liable to be true for kids on the spectrum too. Anyway basically it was a study that said that when they studied a group of children of various ages and asked them questions, ALL children had to look away from the person briefly to answer them, but would regain eye contact within a few seconds... but that children with ADHD consistantly looked away for a longer time than their peers without ADHD... They were saying that the eye contact was too much stimulation and did not allow for their brians to process and answer the question without looking away. Now it could very well be that what I'm seeing in is her ADHD, because I see this in both my girls, but it is very much more prevalent in (who I suspect to be on the spectrum). Theresa > > When Kassiane stayed with us a couple of years ago, I asked her about > eye > contact. She said it is physically painful and it's just to hard to process > what > people are saying or doing when she has to look at people in the eye. > > Pennie > Abby's Mom > > **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your > travel > deal here. > (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Read " The Fabric of Autism, " by Judith Bluestone for starters... and know that we really DON'T make " eye contact " -- we reference one another's faces for meaning, more of a facial gazing, in interactions, we don't make eye contact for the sake of making eye contact. Working on referencing for meaning is more beneficial and it alleviates the need to demand meaningless eye contact. Penny > > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 >My daughter has had poor eye contact since she was 2, she is now 5 and her eye contact has improved so much. I started her on B-12 shots a few months ago and the improvement came about in only a few weeks. She now looks at me when I call her name, she never did that before. NOT that i'm saying b-12 is for everyone, but it definitely worked for her. > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 >My daughter has had poor eye contact since she was 2, she is now 5 and her eye contact has improved so much. I started her on B-12 shots a few months ago and the improvement came about in only a few weeks. She now looks at me when I call her name, she never did that before. NOT that i'm saying b-12 is for everyone, but it definitely worked for her. > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Sometimes it's all about focus. For a lot of ASD kids, eye contact requires a lot of concentration. Trying to make appropriate eye contact AND say good bye AND wave, or whatever, it's a lot to think about at the same time. Plus, making eye contact can cause a lot of anxiety. It's overwhelming. It's also very hard to teach. I think the idea of video taping and letting her see how she looks is a good one. My son is not autistic, but he has a hard time with eye contact in a lot of situations. He just turned 5 and is highly gifted, so he has a lot of ASD/OCD behaviors. Anyway, I asked him, " Why can't you LOOK at me when you talk to me? " He first said he didn't know. Then he thought about it and said, " Well, I can't look and listen and talk all at the SAME TIME! " He also can't sit still and talk at the same time. You know how some people pace when they talk on the phone? Yeah, he paces all the time, even when trying to have " face to face " (lol) conversations. Oh, he has a REALLY hard time looking at a camera and smiling at the same time. I have a lot of pictures of him smiling and looking to one side, or looking at the camera with an open mouth. It helps when I SHOW him the pictures. He knows they don't look right. Of course, the next time I pull out the camera, we have to repeat the process. Practice, practice, practice. Amnesty > > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 I do not like making eye contact, never have. The longer I stare into someone's eyes, the dizzier it makes me feel. Anyone else ever feel that way? I prefer to look around the room or something else while I'm talking to someone. Never really realized it until I learned about autism. The only time I really make eye contact is if I'm trying to prove to someone that I'm interested, like a job interview or something like that, or if I'm arguing with someone and make eye contact to prevent myself from feeling intimidated or to show the other person I refuse to back down. Debi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 I do not like making eye contact, never have. The longer I stare into someone's eyes, the dizzier it makes me feel. Anyone else ever feel that way? I prefer to look around the room or something else while I'm talking to someone. Never really realized it until I learned about autism. The only time I really make eye contact is if I'm trying to prove to someone that I'm interested, like a job interview or something like that, or if I'm arguing with someone and make eye contact to prevent myself from feeling intimidated or to show the other person I refuse to back down. Debi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 I do not like making eye contact, never have. The longer I stare into someone's eyes, the dizzier it makes me feel. Anyone else ever feel that way? I prefer to look around the room or something else while I'm talking to someone. Never really realized it until I learned about autism. The only time I really make eye contact is if I'm trying to prove to someone that I'm interested, like a job interview or something like that, or if I'm arguing with someone and make eye contact to prevent myself from feeling intimidated or to show the other person I refuse to back down. Debi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Yep. I like talking on the phone or in the car, where people don't expect you to make eye contact Amnesty > > I do not like making eye contact, never have. The longer I stare into > someone's eyes, the dizzier it makes me feel. Anyone else ever feel > that way? I prefer to look around the room or something else while I'm > talking to someone. Never really realized it until I learned about > autism. The only time I really make eye contact is if I'm trying to > prove to someone that I'm interested, like a job interview or > something like that, or if I'm arguing with someone and make eye > contact to prevent myself from feeling intimidated or to show the > other person I refuse to back down. > > Debi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Yep. I like talking on the phone or in the car, where people don't expect you to make eye contact Amnesty > > I do not like making eye contact, never have. The longer I stare into > someone's eyes, the dizzier it makes me feel. Anyone else ever feel > that way? I prefer to look around the room or something else while I'm > talking to someone. Never really realized it until I learned about > autism. The only time I really make eye contact is if I'm trying to > prove to someone that I'm interested, like a job interview or > something like that, or if I'm arguing with someone and make eye > contact to prevent myself from feeling intimidated or to show the > other person I refuse to back down. > > Debi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Along with what said I wonder if you can make some sort of game out of it. Maybe she has to greet so many people in the house and gets a reward. I'm trying to think of what a 6 year would enjoy. Or, we're trying this one with my daughter, have her look in someone's eyes as she talks to them, then tell you what color their eyes are. That's if she knows colors. I'd start with people at home so she's comfortable. You might need to model the appropriate way to do this so that she could then do this outside of the home. I hope this helps. Lori > > > Subject: Question about eye contact > To: autism_in_Girls > Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 7:59 PM > > > > > > > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Along with what said I wonder if you can make some sort of game out of it. Maybe she has to greet so many people in the house and gets a reward. I'm trying to think of what a 6 year would enjoy. Or, we're trying this one with my daughter, have her look in someone's eyes as she talks to them, then tell you what color their eyes are. That's if she knows colors. I'd start with people at home so she's comfortable. You might need to model the appropriate way to do this so that she could then do this outside of the home. I hope this helps. Lori > > > Subject: Question about eye contact > To: autism_in_Girls > Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 7:59 PM > > > > > > > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Along with what said I wonder if you can make some sort of game out of it. Maybe she has to greet so many people in the house and gets a reward. I'm trying to think of what a 6 year would enjoy. Or, we're trying this one with my daughter, have her look in someone's eyes as she talks to them, then tell you what color their eyes are. That's if she knows colors. I'd start with people at home so she's comfortable. You might need to model the appropriate way to do this so that she could then do this outside of the home. I hope this helps. Lori > > > Subject: Question about eye contact > To: autism_in_Girls > Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 7:59 PM > > > > > > > Hello all, > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more selective with her because when there is something or someone that she WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > Any suggestions or advice? > > Karmen > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 While a game sounds like a fun idea, I am afraid the intent might be misunderstood. We don't look at peoples' eyes to detect eye color. A child on the autism spectrum who is more likely to interpret this literally, as the reason for eye contact, may misinterpret your intentions if you make it a game. We (society in general) DO NOT make eye contact. We reference faces for meaning. There is information in the way people use their eyes and eyebrows, cheeks, mouths, noses, the pitch and tone of t heir voices during conversation, and we reference the ENTIRE package (along with gestures, body positioning, context, past experiences), something that can't be summed up into the term " make eye contact " . I think that when folks insist on " eye contact " those folks may be misrepresenting what it IS that we do when we reference and facial gaze for meaning during interactions with others. RDI has really helped me understand these ideas. PennY > > > > From: kcboone kcboone@ > > Subject: Question about eye contact > > To: autism_in_Girls > > Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 7:59 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hello all, > > > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact > issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she > also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something > that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that > she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has > already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away > without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then > rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but > without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can > redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye > contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more > selective with her because when there is something or someone that she > WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what > if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become > ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > > > Any suggestions or advice? > > > > Karmen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 While a game sounds like a fun idea, I am afraid the intent might be misunderstood. We don't look at peoples' eyes to detect eye color. A child on the autism spectrum who is more likely to interpret this literally, as the reason for eye contact, may misinterpret your intentions if you make it a game. We (society in general) DO NOT make eye contact. We reference faces for meaning. There is information in the way people use their eyes and eyebrows, cheeks, mouths, noses, the pitch and tone of t heir voices during conversation, and we reference the ENTIRE package (along with gestures, body positioning, context, past experiences), something that can't be summed up into the term " make eye contact " . I think that when folks insist on " eye contact " those folks may be misrepresenting what it IS that we do when we reference and facial gaze for meaning during interactions with others. RDI has really helped me understand these ideas. PennY > > > > From: kcboone kcboone@ > > Subject: Question about eye contact > > To: autism_in_Girls > > Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 7:59 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hello all, > > > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact > issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she > also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something > that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that > she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has > already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away > without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then > rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but > without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can > redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye > contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more > selective with her because when there is something or someone that she > WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what > if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become > ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > > > Any suggestions or advice? > > > > Karmen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 While a game sounds like a fun idea, I am afraid the intent might be misunderstood. We don't look at peoples' eyes to detect eye color. A child on the autism spectrum who is more likely to interpret this literally, as the reason for eye contact, may misinterpret your intentions if you make it a game. We (society in general) DO NOT make eye contact. We reference faces for meaning. There is information in the way people use their eyes and eyebrows, cheeks, mouths, noses, the pitch and tone of t heir voices during conversation, and we reference the ENTIRE package (along with gestures, body positioning, context, past experiences), something that can't be summed up into the term " make eye contact " . I think that when folks insist on " eye contact " those folks may be misrepresenting what it IS that we do when we reference and facial gaze for meaning during interactions with others. RDI has really helped me understand these ideas. PennY > > > > From: kcboone kcboone@ > > Subject: Question about eye contact > > To: autism_in_Girls > > Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008, 7:59 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hello all, > > > > My daughter, 6 yrs. old, has always had some mild eye contact > issues, however, it is now seeming to be more selective. Because she > also has anxieties, she tends to look away or sideways from something > that may be triggering stress or panic. Recently I have noticed that > she will purposefully avoid greeting someone, especially if she has > already turned away. In other words, when she turns to walk away > without saying 'goodbye' I always remind her to say it. She then > rotates her arm to wave towards the back of her, and says 'bye' but > without turning back around, stopping and making eye contact. I can > redirect her and then she will stop and turn around and make eye > contact, but it does not come natural to her. I think it is more > selective with her because when there is something or someone that she > WANTS to look at she will without having to be coaxed. > > > > Wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and what > if so can you share your remedies. I do NOT want this habit to become > ingrained in my daughter as it will be hard to break her of. > > > > Any suggestions or advice? > > > > Karmen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 kassi I to agree and fel FORCED eye contact is cruel and painful and will only cause of me to avoid contact with people altogether if I to feel that others are going to set this expectation to me to look at their eyes. I to teach body referencing such as turning towards the one speaking to you to acknowledge you are of participating and hearing them. Some of us can give of the eye contact if we do not have too much sensory overload from the person speaking. some of us take of the eye contact rigidly and will stare right through the person as if we are of studying their eternal soul LOL. and others like my children give it fleetingly to some ad fair to others and then some they willnot engage with at all in referencing because of the way the person presents to them is of too anxiety producing, or they donot match up in words and movement and things of this causes them to avoid them. I to be of a distance only person but can give eye contact or facial referencing to my childrens and some other children if they are much young and not so socially advanced to with hold emotionals states in ways that I can be to read some. children are very animated and thier emotions are of expressed in ways that are of truth not hidden like older children and adults learn to do. as they get older they express things more subtley and or they build and then dump rapidly wihtout warning and I to have not clue what caused their reactions. this is what fears me of older people and children. children and most people of spectrum usually use words in ways that express truth from their beings and not a falsified way of being. they do not do things to trick or manipulate others but use of the non verbals or words , they usually are of reacting to the momemt by moment things and vent as needed and cope when they are of able but the emotions expressed are usually very true to their emotional states at that moment. I to remember once much early into my therapy with my Dr. Amigo and was of still cautious of him and hims ways and intent and just still observing and exploring him to see where he was in this life towards me. I to remember for a time I to just could be to focus only to hims words and would engage in play with the doll house people and things and then hims words shared somethings and it caused me to seek out hims physical being and I to found him sitting in the chair and I to gave of him the most intense eye contact because hims words indicated that he was of one who is vlaidating me and he seems to understand of me in a way no other dared to learn of me. it was somethings about him but at the same the reality that another human was in the room and the voice was coming from this human caused me a reality check so to speak and it was as if it were of the frist time I to referenced him ever and he then got of nervouse due to my eye contact and just sat still and hims words stopped and it was as if he were studying my intent towards him as I to studyied hims intent to me and I to think maybe we stared at each other for what seemed like eternity but maybe it was in real for a few seconds maybe a few minutes but ever since then I to think this caused of me to not be of able to look at him when he is of speaking to me, but when in group and he is of addressing another I to look at him and study of hims mouth and eyes and expressions and watch intensely the words leaving hims lips. I to study of him much so because he is of different in a good way and I to never had exposure to such a person as he is in this life and so to me often wonder if he is like others who are one way and then change rapidly to be of another way and yet over the 7 years of therapy he is of consistent in hims approach to me. And so while I to hold the strongest respect to him and want of to please of him and let him see of my " able " side I to still no matter how much I to want to give of him eye contact/facial referencing I to simply cant yet. But when one of hims counselors left of hims practice and it was of going to be a forever loss to me I to tried much hard to give of that counselor a brief eye contact because he too always hsared without force how much that would mean to him to be to see of my face referencing of hims in the way of eye contact and so even though we tried of some practice drills i to be fo only able to give of him 1 second skims of the face before the anxiety shut of me down and could nto do it. so when he was of letting me know he eas of going to be of leaving then I to be of gave of him a eye contact more as a gift from me than for the measure of referencing. because if I to looked at him , I to be fo only able to focus to the eyes but the words turn into jumbles masses of sounds with no meaning that is of understood or absorbed. It is like for me one sensory channel that is of open will shut off the others around me if I to be of attending to a specific input such as words , or eyes and things of this. but for me the odd is can have two channels on if I to be fo typing and listening to music or the TV so sort of listening and watching and typing all the same and usually can consentrate more with the back ground noise of the tv or music playing when working on words in a visual format such as typing but not speaking. sondra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 kassi I to agree and fel FORCED eye contact is cruel and painful and will only cause of me to avoid contact with people altogether if I to feel that others are going to set this expectation to me to look at their eyes. I to teach body referencing such as turning towards the one speaking to you to acknowledge you are of participating and hearing them. Some of us can give of the eye contact if we do not have too much sensory overload from the person speaking. some of us take of the eye contact rigidly and will stare right through the person as if we are of studying their eternal soul LOL. and others like my children give it fleetingly to some ad fair to others and then some they willnot engage with at all in referencing because of the way the person presents to them is of too anxiety producing, or they donot match up in words and movement and things of this causes them to avoid them. I to be of a distance only person but can give eye contact or facial referencing to my childrens and some other children if they are much young and not so socially advanced to with hold emotionals states in ways that I can be to read some. children are very animated and thier emotions are of expressed in ways that are of truth not hidden like older children and adults learn to do. as they get older they express things more subtley and or they build and then dump rapidly wihtout warning and I to have not clue what caused their reactions. this is what fears me of older people and children. children and most people of spectrum usually use words in ways that express truth from their beings and not a falsified way of being. they do not do things to trick or manipulate others but use of the non verbals or words , they usually are of reacting to the momemt by moment things and vent as needed and cope when they are of able but the emotions expressed are usually very true to their emotional states at that moment. I to remember once much early into my therapy with my Dr. Amigo and was of still cautious of him and hims ways and intent and just still observing and exploring him to see where he was in this life towards me. I to remember for a time I to just could be to focus only to hims words and would engage in play with the doll house people and things and then hims words shared somethings and it caused me to seek out hims physical being and I to found him sitting in the chair and I to gave of him the most intense eye contact because hims words indicated that he was of one who is vlaidating me and he seems to understand of me in a way no other dared to learn of me. it was somethings about him but at the same the reality that another human was in the room and the voice was coming from this human caused me a reality check so to speak and it was as if it were of the frist time I to referenced him ever and he then got of nervouse due to my eye contact and just sat still and hims words stopped and it was as if he were studying my intent towards him as I to studyied hims intent to me and I to think maybe we stared at each other for what seemed like eternity but maybe it was in real for a few seconds maybe a few minutes but ever since then I to think this caused of me to not be of able to look at him when he is of speaking to me, but when in group and he is of addressing another I to look at him and study of hims mouth and eyes and expressions and watch intensely the words leaving hims lips. I to study of him much so because he is of different in a good way and I to never had exposure to such a person as he is in this life and so to me often wonder if he is like others who are one way and then change rapidly to be of another way and yet over the 7 years of therapy he is of consistent in hims approach to me. And so while I to hold the strongest respect to him and want of to please of him and let him see of my " able " side I to still no matter how much I to want to give of him eye contact/facial referencing I to simply cant yet. But when one of hims counselors left of hims practice and it was of going to be a forever loss to me I to tried much hard to give of that counselor a brief eye contact because he too always hsared without force how much that would mean to him to be to see of my face referencing of hims in the way of eye contact and so even though we tried of some practice drills i to be fo only able to give of him 1 second skims of the face before the anxiety shut of me down and could nto do it. so when he was of letting me know he eas of going to be of leaving then I to be of gave of him a eye contact more as a gift from me than for the measure of referencing. because if I to looked at him , I to be fo only able to focus to the eyes but the words turn into jumbles masses of sounds with no meaning that is of understood or absorbed. It is like for me one sensory channel that is of open will shut off the others around me if I to be of attending to a specific input such as words , or eyes and things of this. but for me the odd is can have two channels on if I to be fo typing and listening to music or the TV so sort of listening and watching and typing all the same and usually can consentrate more with the back ground noise of the tv or music playing when working on words in a visual format such as typing but not speaking. sondra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 kassi I to agree and fel FORCED eye contact is cruel and painful and will only cause of me to avoid contact with people altogether if I to feel that others are going to set this expectation to me to look at their eyes. I to teach body referencing such as turning towards the one speaking to you to acknowledge you are of participating and hearing them. Some of us can give of the eye contact if we do not have too much sensory overload from the person speaking. some of us take of the eye contact rigidly and will stare right through the person as if we are of studying their eternal soul LOL. and others like my children give it fleetingly to some ad fair to others and then some they willnot engage with at all in referencing because of the way the person presents to them is of too anxiety producing, or they donot match up in words and movement and things of this causes them to avoid them. I to be of a distance only person but can give eye contact or facial referencing to my childrens and some other children if they are much young and not so socially advanced to with hold emotionals states in ways that I can be to read some. children are very animated and thier emotions are of expressed in ways that are of truth not hidden like older children and adults learn to do. as they get older they express things more subtley and or they build and then dump rapidly wihtout warning and I to have not clue what caused their reactions. this is what fears me of older people and children. children and most people of spectrum usually use words in ways that express truth from their beings and not a falsified way of being. they do not do things to trick or manipulate others but use of the non verbals or words , they usually are of reacting to the momemt by moment things and vent as needed and cope when they are of able but the emotions expressed are usually very true to their emotional states at that moment. I to remember once much early into my therapy with my Dr. Amigo and was of still cautious of him and hims ways and intent and just still observing and exploring him to see where he was in this life towards me. I to remember for a time I to just could be to focus only to hims words and would engage in play with the doll house people and things and then hims words shared somethings and it caused me to seek out hims physical being and I to found him sitting in the chair and I to gave of him the most intense eye contact because hims words indicated that he was of one who is vlaidating me and he seems to understand of me in a way no other dared to learn of me. it was somethings about him but at the same the reality that another human was in the room and the voice was coming from this human caused me a reality check so to speak and it was as if it were of the frist time I to referenced him ever and he then got of nervouse due to my eye contact and just sat still and hims words stopped and it was as if he were studying my intent towards him as I to studyied hims intent to me and I to think maybe we stared at each other for what seemed like eternity but maybe it was in real for a few seconds maybe a few minutes but ever since then I to think this caused of me to not be of able to look at him when he is of speaking to me, but when in group and he is of addressing another I to look at him and study of hims mouth and eyes and expressions and watch intensely the words leaving hims lips. I to study of him much so because he is of different in a good way and I to never had exposure to such a person as he is in this life and so to me often wonder if he is like others who are one way and then change rapidly to be of another way and yet over the 7 years of therapy he is of consistent in hims approach to me. And so while I to hold the strongest respect to him and want of to please of him and let him see of my " able " side I to still no matter how much I to want to give of him eye contact/facial referencing I to simply cant yet. But when one of hims counselors left of hims practice and it was of going to be a forever loss to me I to tried much hard to give of that counselor a brief eye contact because he too always hsared without force how much that would mean to him to be to see of my face referencing of hims in the way of eye contact and so even though we tried of some practice drills i to be fo only able to give of him 1 second skims of the face before the anxiety shut of me down and could nto do it. so when he was of letting me know he eas of going to be of leaving then I to be of gave of him a eye contact more as a gift from me than for the measure of referencing. because if I to looked at him , I to be fo only able to focus to the eyes but the words turn into jumbles masses of sounds with no meaning that is of understood or absorbed. It is like for me one sensory channel that is of open will shut off the others around me if I to be of attending to a specific input such as words , or eyes and things of this. but for me the odd is can have two channels on if I to be fo typing and listening to music or the TV so sort of listening and watching and typing all the same and usually can consentrate more with the back ground noise of the tv or music playing when working on words in a visual format such as typing but not speaking. sondra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 For all you ladies does it seem like if you give a man eye contact they sometimes take it as flirting? For all you men, why is that? Debi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 For all you ladies does it seem like if you give a man eye contact they sometimes take it as flirting? For all you men, why is that? Debi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 For all you ladies does it seem like if you give a man eye contact they sometimes take it as flirting? For all you men, why is that? Debi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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