Do autistic people feel the same emotions?

Although individuals with ASD are often very good at analytical problem solving and express, as well as experience, their emotions differently, it is not the case that they lack emotions altogether.

Are people with ASD sensitive?

Up to 90 percent of people with autism are either overly sensitive to sound, sight, taste, smell or touch, or barely notice them at all. Some seek out sensations by, for example, spinning in circles or stroking items with particular textures.

Do people with autism feel the same emotions as others?

People with autism definitely share and feel the same emotions as people who do not have autism. Autism does not make people emotionless. In fact, emotions can be even more intense in autism. For some people with autism, the challenge lies in naming, understanding and expressing emotions.

Why can’t I explain how I feel to people with autism?

While a lot of people have trouble explaining how they’re feeling, this is magnified for many people on the spectrum. Feelings and emotions are usually vague or abstract concepts, so translating that into words isn’t intuitive for many autistic people who prefer direct, concrete forms of communication.

What challenges do people with autism face when expressing emotions?

For some people with autism, the challenge lies in naming, understanding and expressing emotions. The emotions that someone else experiences whether individuals with autism or normally developed people might not be the same as anyone else.

Do people with autism look at faces differently?

We found that people with autism, whether with or without alexithymia, spend less time looking at faces than do people without autism. But when individuals who have autism but not alexithymia look at faces, they scan the eyes and mouth in a pattern similar to those without autism.