@kryptonite @QuizzaciousOtter so many of the diagnosis questions for parents are assuming that parents actually know things like “normal eye contact”. Assuming a subjective baseline that might not exist given the hereditary nature of Autism. A lot of the stuff with my kids seemed normal to me, but then my dad always told my mum that he thought I was normal when she expressed doubts. I never bothered with diagnosis myself (no issues I don’t have a system for), but looking back it is obvious.

@kryptonite @QuizzaciousOtter I sometimes wonder if autism is more disabling if there are too many NTs in your immediate family. It seems people assuming you are exaggerating, or otherwise making you doubt yourself/attempt to mask your sensory overload, actually precipitates a pattern of meltdowns well into adulthood. If your parents understand what is going on you are more likely to know your limits or have a system for dealing with it before reaching a crisis.