Simple Questions regarding sensation

Is the rubbing of textured objects (i.e. carpet) a characteristic of AS? And is feeling an intense "chill" in response to loud noises (door slamming in bathrooom) normal or not?

Heya,

Yes, some professionals dealing with Asperger's syndrome have reported some of their patients showing odd behaviour surrounding the texture of certain fabrics. This can lead to only wearing certain clothes or the continual rubbing of certain objects. When I was younger I sometimes lay on the ground for extended periods of time running my hands across the carpets in the house. The sensation was quite interesting and comforting to me. Now, as an adult, I only wear certain clothes because many are made of fabrics that I find uncomfortable.


Even more common than that among Asperger's sufferers is an over-sensitivity to sounds. The type of sound that is upsetting differs greatly across the syndrome, however. The one that I have heard the most of is the sound of chewing.


Kevin.

robhlee wrote:Is the rubbing of textured objects (i.e. carpet) a characteristic of AS? And is feeling an intense "chill" in response to loud noises (door slamming in bathrooom) normal or not?

First: for moi most definately. I too only wear certain clothes.

Second: it bothers me, but not sure whether it is normal or not (in some cases).

Some noises bother me (clocks, beeping things, things that makes unpredicable loud noises (including people ) or things that make repetitive, less agressive noises.

I hate stationary cars (especially diesel engines) running outside, they turn me nuts. It feels like someone is drilling into your skull with a jackhammer under 10 feet of water. I think it is mostly caused by the reverb between walls, and pressure inside a room. I usually go outside or open all doors and windows to relieve the pressure.

Sound of chewing doesn't really bother me.

I have always rubbed nylon material against itself since I was very very young. I'm 37 and I still buy jackets and blankets with the nylon trim. Always wondered why I did this.....

Lately I started liking this new wickaway fiber clothing. (Cool-Max)
During the summer, I bought a couple of this kind of T-shirt,
and I could not wear cotton T-shirts. But that probably has nothing to do with Asperger's Syndrome.

One thing my wife has noticed is that I like to touch fabrics. I especially like how soft corduroy feels, or velour. I also like Nylon. I am pretty picky about what fabric my clothes is made of.

This is actually pretty hilarious, reading this thread after I went to visit my sister for Christmas.

My sister has a little girl who's 8, and exceptionally Aspie (moreso than I am). For at least 8 straight hours on Christmas my niece was wearing a single pink sock. Not a pink sock and another sock. Not a pink sock and a shoe. Just one sock and one bare foot on the hardwood floors.

My wife noticed this and thought it was odd, then my sister asked her daughter if she was going to put on another sock or take her current sock off. I don't remember specifically how she responded, but it was one of those responses that makes it clear the answer is "no", but also relates an overriding consumption of attention elsewhere. If memory serves she was busy "wrapping presents for ponies" at the time, an activity that takes place solely within realities within her perception and requiring no physical objects. (Note that this was also after all the presents had been unwrapped and she had about 1.43 million things to play with.)


Now at first this also seemed a little odd to me, but definitely something classically "her" to do. (The sock thing, not the pony thing - the pony thing is so normal it doesn't even blip the radar.) But after I thought about it I saw the reason rather easily. Basically I just had to think about doing what she was doing while wearing the sock on just one foot.

Get the soft fluffy fuzzy and slippery on wood of a sock along with the cold smooth hard of the wood on bare foot all at once? Win-win!

The only thing I'd have done different would have to have been switching the sock every so often.

Of course now I'm an adult and I'm supposed to be vaguely "mature", so I can't prance about the house wearing just one sock. On the other hand, it's not at all unusual for me to sit at the computer and type while both feet are propped up on top of the monitor... so I'm not exactly obsessed with appearing grown up.

Chucky wrote:Even more common than that among Asperger's sufferers is an over-sensitivity to sounds. The type of sound that is upsetting differs greatly across the syndrome, however. The one that I have heard the most of is the sound of chewing.


Kevin.

I have phonophobia that is very troublesome and sometimes wear -31dB earplugs all day long. I have a terror of somebody knocking on my apartment door (just writing this started my heart racing). Intrusive noises take me to the point of despair and even suicidal thoughts. At the same time, I'm an amateur musician and enjoy concerts, especially classical, and Celtic music. (My ancestry is half Celtic, which may explain that, at least in a fun way.)

I remember an incident in my childhood when I objected loudly to my parents' chewing and was reprimanded for it. The noise no longer bothers me. But any loud noise that is not "useful" (trash trucks, lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners) can trigger anxiety and even panic.