ANSWERING QUESTIONS YOU'RE TOO SCARED TO ASK ABOUT AUTISM 

Geneticist here: there's not just "some" evidence that autism is inheritable. There are very obvious family lines given how rare the trait is in the overall population. The reason it is not 100% inheritable is because it is a polygenic trait meaning that multiple genes determine whether someone is autistic or not and so it can skip generations.

I went semiverbal yesterday for the first time in a while after a very overwhelming previous day and it was really hard. My mum was trying to talk to me but I could only really give one-word answers and “mm-hmm”. She kept getting frustrated because I wouldn’t keep a conversation with her. After a while, I managed to get out “I’m not me right now” and she kind of understood. That was not a fun day

I never realized that going non verbal is an autistic trait, what you described is a perfect way to describe how I feel. I start feeling too many emotions and it’s so hard to comprehend and so much work to understand that i feel stuck when I try to make words. I don’t have a diagnosis but I want one, I feel like it would help people understand me more.

My sisters friend who only hung around me for 2 days asked me if I was autistic and my whole family laughed and said "NO BAHAHAHHAHA" It was sad but the person who asked me was the one who gave me the idea that eventually lead to an ASD Diagnosis and now I can't help but resent the family that laughed at the idea with no consideration. and I'm offended that a girl I only knew for 2 days could see my autism but the people who've known me my whole life didn't see it

A+ description of 'high functioning'. Even when we talk about high or low support needs I think some people forget to recognise that it is not always a permanent category, our support needs can be more or less depending on what we're dealing with at the time.

Bleh. “Everyone’s a little bit x” is awful, I get that with adhd sometimes.

NT call us who are different the weird ones, but they are truly the weird ones. They don't understand people who don't fit the societal norms! Great questions Chloe!

I would love to see a video of you telling stories from your childhood that you now realize were neurodivergent experiences. I feel like a lot of us would relate!

You know, every time that I'm watching your videos it's like embracing and returning a part of me that I had in my childhood but that was kinda hidden through masking and luck of support. It's so unfair of how society treats us, like I always was okay, I just wasn't working as neurotypical expected. And now I'm going through reevaluation of everything haha.

So... I've been wanting to ask this for a while. I'm neurotypical and I have a therapist who always refers to autistic people as "affected by autism". This always bugs me because what the hell, it's not an external factor that "affects" them it's something they are. Should I correct her? The thing that's holding me back is I'm not autistic and I don't wanna be one of those people that make a huge deal out of problems of minorities they're not a part of (e.g. white people that scream cUlTuRaL aPpRoPrIaTiOn at everything). But since this is kind of a general consensus in the autistic community is it fine for me to be like "hey I watch a shit ton of autistic creators and they all prefer identity first, can you say that instead"?

It’s really important that questions like this are answered, so thank you, it’s so hard to find information and people can get laughed at for not knowing the answer :)

Hello Chloe umm idk really what to say because I haven’t even finished the video but before there is a million comments I just wanted to say that from a 12 year old autistic girl who has struggled all her life that you are an inspiration and you have helped me accept me self so much so thank you for what you do 💛💛 also I think a lot of you tubers will get annoyed my this but first?

People should NOT be afraid to ask questions about autism. In fact, asking questions about Autism is a good thing because that means you wanna learn, and you SHOULD want to learn. So, do not be afraid to ask questions, autistic people like Chloe will gladly answer them for you.

6:59 i feel you on this one- took me ages to get diagnosed because doctors thought i was having long term side effects from a concussion... if they had actually talked to me and asked me about it i could have easily told them that i had been experiencing these symptoms my whole life 😅

Dear Cloe, thank you so much for your work and your videos. You have helped me so much understand, appriciate and help my autistic son! You are spreading positive autism awareness. Thank you, you are making the world better!

Wooooo she’s back! Girl, you put the words I struggle to say into (perfect) formation 😂👏💕

I got the opposite misdiagnosis. I was given autism first and then later it turned out to be C-PTSD and BPD. My trauma symptoms causing me to act out as a child were confused for autistic traits because this was still the time period of "autism is the bad kid disorder".

The way you summed up the education system was pretty spot on also something else i wanted to mention is exams in general i feel like results themselves are causing mental health problems especially for the people who have learning disabilities and don’t learn in a commonly seen way because of our disadvantages in the poor education system often we end up leaving school with 0 results and then end up entirely disadvantaged in all aspects of educational career paths its so cruel essentially at this point an exam chooses a persons worth it needs to he changed very drastically

You are a true insperation for the ND community

I really appreciated the comment you made about the struggle to communicate when in a shutdown as I had my first long shutdown in public as I was recovering from an operation not that long ago. I relay struggled as the nurses expected me to be able to express verbally what I needed and pain levels (that is a whole other problem describing pain levels and could do with a video too). I was expected to communicate normally when I was in shutdown and needed to sleep, there was also no provision of alternative communication methods, despite my notes saying I was Autistic. There was also a level of panic around my vitals doing interesting things which just say overload event but none of the nursing staff recognised it as that (fortunately the duty doctor did!). A video on shutdowns and the communication issues related to it would be really good (not least to send to people who educate those in the caring industry).

I was inspired by you to buy a flower crown. It has yellow flowers on it. I can't wait for it to arrive!!! :)

Very informative and insightful - thanks Chloe! I liked your definition of a "high functioning" autistic person as someone society thinks has capitalistic value. I hope that somehow amidst the confusion of our time, people will be able to listen to one another better, be open to each other and propel the world in a more loving direction.

Good one. Can do a video exploring being/going non-verbal in more detail. In certain circumstances I go non-verbal but how you described it does not match my experience.

My brother and I both have autism and we grew up as best friends with barely any rivalry, we’re still best friends as adults and both feel that having another autistic person around was beneficial

Hi, I love your videos :) First :) I’m Autistic too!! Thanks for making being the ‘weird kid’ fun!!

There are researchers who are committed to helping autistic individuals and who undergo the co-design process. Not to mention neurodiverse researchers who want nothing more than to help autistic individuals. I, myself, am neurodiverse (and mother of an autistic child) and am undergoing a codesign process to make sure my research aligns with what autistic people think is relevant and important to them. I love your channel and hearing your views and hope my work as an ally to the autistic community is beneficial ❤️

In my university I was taught about person first language and I pointed out that not all groups prefer person first language and that there is exceptions to that rule, my professor shared my info and proof with the class.

Talking from experice. I use the term Aspergers because it is what I was diagnosed with. It's a form of autism that mainly focuses around the social/relationships making side of autism. Some people refer themselves as part of ASD without learning/speech impediments. I have no issue using the term high or low functioning. It's the idea behind it that causes the issue. Because with autism since it's a spectrum there will be people who have less severe symptoms that are more manageable and people with more severe symptoms. If we were to compare it to other issues let's say a broken bone vs. someone with an achy back because they bent too fast as low functioning and high functioning two things will happen inevitably. First you'd instantly want to help the person with the more severe symptoms. Often times ignoring the other person. Maybe brushing them off saying they simply need to rest and that's all. People would immediately go above and beyond for the "sicker" person. Which unwantedly affirms an already existing stereotype. That is: people with less severe symptoms don't need accomodations or care at all. People with less severe autistic traits need less aid, help and such in a social setting. Completely ignoring/pushing to the side the fact less severe autistic people still share the same traits as the more severe autistic people. Autism should be viewed as any other medical issue that has its own degree of severity. People with an infectious desease all get the same care. Whether they have it easy or hard. You're asked to quarantine even if you feel amazing for your own sake and other's sake. You get the same treatment as others because of that very thing that commons you with others. Same should be with autism.

Words not enough to thank you for being here I am coming out of the biggest crisis of my life full burnout PTSD cascading reactivity depressive ep and sensory over load emotional over load my whole body shut down my mind left adrift off work for weeks head butting hair pulling mutism unable to speak pointing grunting to communicate....yes I now know with zero doubt IAM autistic 👍 moving through mollases I can't even tell you howany times through my 45 years I have used that phrase to describe I I felt inside trying to function. This time though I was encased in forensic bullet gel solid took near to impossible energy toeven move my finger to click on my phone screen. you are real I am real we are alike thank you to infinity for just being you and sharing that on YT 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🦄🥰😥🥺. oh yeah also have ADHD 🙃👍☺️

You're amazing Chloe 🥰 Being an Autistic human too I also experience Shutdowns/ selective mutism, only difference is I'm an Autistic individual who's also got an Learning- disability interwined with it

I love it how you dont come up for air !! I talk the same I just jump from one subject to the other. I think your amazing xx

I honestly love you so much /plat You make me feel so happy and honestly describe everything perfectly. I don’t know how you do it. You are just amazing, don’t let anyone tell you different. I honestly can’t tell you how much you help me through my everyday life and the sheer rush of serotonin you give me. Like even now I really can’t describe how happy you make me like it’s stupid how happy you make me and how exited I get when I see a notification from you. Anyway, thanks Chloe ❤️

Met a guy recently and after befriending him and getting to know him I was certain he too was autistic. It was an assumption I guess but I wasn’t wrong given that his response to my inquiry was incredibly logical. He said he didn’t know and had never thought about it but figured I was coming from the position of relating to him and given he noticed these similarities asked for me to expand further on my theory of possible ASD. He took in all the information like a scientist discovering a new mystery that explains the universe in a way he finally understood and long story short he asked his doctor, got a referral and bingo, I was right. I remember someone I was with when I casually asked him gave me a “omg you can’t ask him that” kinda face. But both he and I were like it’s a question not an insult, what are you on about, get off your high horse it’s going the wrong way, lol.

I second your view that NT’s are weird. I am one!

Hey Chloe I just discovered your channel. I found your answers very interesting. Anyways great job I would love to see another video like this one. Thanks for making videos on autism and PTSD. I know there are a lot of stigmas around those conditions and even though I don’t have either of those I love learning about them.

Your absolutely stunning Chloe always excited to watch your new your always amazing person love you so much chloe awesome and educational video

Great video as always Chloé!! 🥰 love learning from you

I can't stop watching the water tank behind... Why is it half full? What is it in there?

I love your energy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on autism. I am almost 50 and was diagnosed in 2020

As an actually autistic mom of an autistic daughter, I agree with your first point. Im afraid for her future because of what I went through. Not because of autism but because the world is not a friendly place for ND people.

Looking back, I think I may have been non-verbal at times (the longest, perhaps, for 2 years....with people in my father's parish). As a older middle aged woman? I'm scared to say that, the few times it's happened? I've been scared that I am having a stroke. So....hearing what you said? It was a relief, to say the least. Thank you, again, for your videos! Blessed Be!

Thank you for this video. It gladdened my day..

Good video. Continue on your road on getting the silver play button along with interviewing with Chris ULMER of SBSK

Thank you so much!

Cheers for another great videos😊

Love this

please do a video like this for ADHD questions

I feel like I'm late to the party on how great your channel is.

Good video 💕your content is amazing

She’s so cute Omg ❤❤❤

Ya know I wished I'd has my diagnoses as a child I'm 38 as Autism has caused serious problems all my life. Its amazing to watch your vids. People think because I'm intelligent I can't have autism wow. My son is Autistic and ADHD and my you hit the nail on the head it breaks me watching my son trying to interact when playing with other children or when he has meltdowns. I totally get my son because I can see myself. In so sad when you said how growing up was so traumatic I to felt absolutely different I was diagnosed with BPD. emotional detachment disorder and others. I was re diagnosed 5 year ago with ADHD and Autism. Your vids are amazing. Love to u.

Ur a star.

This is really interesting because I thought my neurodiversity might have been due to a concussion I received while playing football when I was 14. 30 years later I learned I was on the autism spectrum. and it probably runs in my family on my maternal side.

I call when I go non verbal 'a mental traffic jam' :D I have adhd too so all the horns going off makes sense too hehe

can you make a video on good accommodations in school and how to ask for them? some teachers are rigid and not willing to give some accommodations and i never seem to ask in a way that makes them consider it

"Do stims hurt?" Depends how old you are. Twisting back and forth when standing started to hurt my knees in my 20s. I've picked up hand flapping since discovering my autism, and, at least in my late 30s, back and forth, as opposed to side-to-side, flapping can give my wrists a bit of whiplash. I was never a big jumper, but if that is a stim for you, you'll probably start feeling it with age and weight.

Autistic and adhd and honestly i think if i had a child like me it would be ideal. Like all kids mess up and can be “dramatic” but like my NT sisters are clingy and like big on hugs and stuff and i was never the cuddly type and preffered to be left alone rather than “stressing” my mom all the time. I always said “the ideal kid isn’t too keen on hugs”. Like i don’t personally hate them myself i love me a hug every now and then but i do hate too many hugs

great video

GIRL WHERE CAN I GET FLOWER CROWNS LIKE YOURS LIKE- THEY ARE SO PRETTY AHHHHHHHH

Could you do a video on special interests ending? Because my special interest of 3 years is coming to a close and it’s honestly really upsetting me because it’s been a large part of my life and free time and idk what to do because I’m really going to miss it. Love your videos! Xxxx

"I wasn't viciously kicked in the head by a horse; I'm just autistic" is a whole mood. XD Like, seriously, can we get t-shirts with that, please? ^^

Dad knew there was something odd about me but kept quiet about it so I would not get segregated. For a while they called me dyslexic.

Reading comments I feel like I've found my place the things you all say. I get called rude j cant make eye contact I cant function in certain situations the list goes on as we all know 😍love and hugs😍

So the other day I was thinking in the shower and I came up with a phrase that I think is pretty awesome “it is a gift and a struggle” this is cool to me because having the gift of autism or adhd is awesome and it can be heard because this world is not made for we ND people but it’s still a gift

Ive been trying to come to terms with being autistic over the past year. The way i go completely nonverbal when im upset is SO telling. Neurotypical people do not go completely catatonic and lose the ability to move or speak when theyre upset!

Before i knew about myself, i used to work in before and after school care and i loved working with autistic and adhd kids and id think "i hope my kids is autistic im better with these kids" .. im a special education teacher now, my oldest is autistic, and so am i. Its almost like i knew before i knew.

I am a teacher, if i sense autism symptoms in my students behaviour is it really rude to ask their parents to check it? Because i'd only ask it because after i get the confirmation i'd try to make the class more autism friendly and my activities more attainable so they wouldn't feel outcast or ignored.

Have you read The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin? If not you should look into it, its quite sciency but explains abit about the neuroscience of autism and... Temple Grandin is an autistic woman herself I would love to hear your opinion on books about autism or with autistic characters e.g. The Reason I Jump

I do think I am autistic or have autism, and with LGBTQ+. If it is true, I actually glad I know because it explains so much how come I just cannot relate to the outer, normal world, no matter how much I want to or how hard I try. I just want to know where is my community and the correct system that I can fit in. I wish one day in this “normal, General society”, would truly consider autism, or LGBTG+ or any other mental, emotional related condition as just a normal thing like when they hear a person a boy or a girl, have a cold or a flu or a heart condition. A person doesn’t call weird if he is a boy or a girl or having a cold or a flu or a heart condition, then why Autism and LGBTG+. Just because we are different to the “general” society doesn’t mean we are weird. And if we do, I like how you said, they “normal, General society” is considered also very weird to us. Can we just see the different, accept the strength, help each other with weaknesses, and be equality no matter what? Like you consider you are a male doesn’t mean you are “normal” and gay people “abnormal”. The society is getting better with acceptance but it shouldn’t take that long.

I love how all of us NDs consider NTs to be the weird ones :D And they are!

Hi Chloe, I have a very close friend of mine that opened up to me about being autistic and ADHD. He is very very self-conscious about it and it took years of very close friendship in order for him to tell me. He views autism is a very negative way and doesn't want any children due to this fact. How can I help him be more self-confident with the way he is? He's my best friend and I love him and want the absolute best for him.

I find the sentence "Everyone is a bit autistic" difficult to judge in the following sense: I agree that not everyone is a bit autistic because in most people autistic traits are only barely pronounced if at all. However, I wonder: how severe do the autistic traits have to be in a person in order to qualify for the autism diagnosis? What if you "sort of" check most autism checkboxes but do not have too much trouble because of them compared to other autistic people? For example, you love to dive deep into topics but do not have the need to talk about them to other people all the time. And you were overwhelmed by having to communicate with your peers as a child but managed to do so with huge efforts and even learned to enjoy it when getting older and learning about psychology while becoming more and more authentic. And if you are quite sensitive to lights and sounds, certainly more than most other people, but you are only slightly disturbed in some instances and barely have trouble with meltdowns if at all. And if you are very detail-oriented but typically still get the complete picture most of the time? Is this already autistic or not?

If a person asks you if you have autism then you can ask them where. Or maybe say: "No, I left it home".

Hey x

Idk about serious questions but what have been your major hyperfixations, i remember mine were dinosaurs/palentology and game development and the art of it

me and my friend used to say everyone is a little autistic, turns out we were just autistic

Hey Chloe, I was sad the other day because someone repeatedly called me the R word online in a game, i hate having to say it but to clarify a retard. I asked them to stop they kept going, I told them it was offensive and that they should be much nicer to those who are autistics like me. That person called me a cheat aswell, which I wasn't doing anything wrong in that game. Anyway I know there are trolls on the internet etc but how does one remain calm enough to deal with people like that who aren't kind online? I personally tried to be the better person and thought the games community would stick up for me but none did, I was actually shocked to see them flock to the other persons side. It shook me and that night I barely slept thinking about how mean that troll had been to me.

I have a question please🙏 The term 'glass child' is used to refer to a child who is 'in violence and neglected because their parents only take care of the disabled child but I want to know if this term can be flipped and a child can be a 'glass child' because there disabled needs are not cared for? An example I need fidget toys to stim but my parents never got me any and only focused on my siblings because they didn't the extra help such as the stim toys and therefore were 'easier' to look after (I said anything that was offensive to anyone in this comment ignore and go be a Karen someone else I'm after advice not anger)

I’m NT with anxiety/depression, and I have gone non-verbal a few times when overwhelmed. Like in a therapy session I sat there so frustrated and started crying because I sat there for like 30 min not being able to speak but knowing how to and wanting to. I understand what that’s like (at least to the best of my ability bc I’m not autistic). So I was wondering if that’s what you mean? And if that’s the same for autism? Also I’m still learning about autism and trying to be better about my perceptions of it, so if I sound stupid or anything lemme know. Or if I need to change how I think.

I would NEVER want to be cured of my autism. In fact, next month, I have the 30 year school reunion, and, with the organiser's permission, I would like to give a seech something like this. "Six years ago, I had to get a new car, because my old one had come to the end of its life. A few weeks after I got it, a man I was friendly with said to me, "I like that car. It's more you. That other car; it wasn't you." I wondered what he meant, and went through a few possibilities in my head. My old car was a distinct yellow (I didn't choose the colour, mind you) while the other car is white, so it's more bland. It's bigger, too. Thinking back to my schooldays, I had a bully tell me that if I wanted to be more popular, I should let my hair grow long at the back (well, hello, I did have slightly longer hair at the back for a little while, but that was because my mother used to cut my hair and when we went for a holiday to the beach, she said, "I'll leave your hair a bit longer, so that your neck has some protection from the sun." And hello, again, I have wavy, curly hair and it splits easily, so it doesn't look right, and my hair grows out, not down, and my mother used to tell me I looked like I was about to take off), some other inconsequential thing, and graffiti my schoolbag. Well, many people used to write the names of bands that they liked on their bags, and having someone else tell me that I was weird because I liked Rick Astley and not Poison was ridiculous and said more about them than me. And I wanted a bland schoolbag not one with graffiti all over it. So, just like a certain car wouldn't have been me, neither would a schoolbag. I remember one day, this same bully telling a teacher that I was quote, "A weirdo." Now, had I been that teacher, I would have said to the kid, "Is he trying to hang around you or are you trying to hang around him? Because generally, if people view others as weirdos, they prefer to avoid them." Four years later, that teacher was my Multi-Strand Science Teacher, and guess what, three years after that, he was my brother's teacher and I remember my brother telling me that that teacher was pleased that I was studying at university and that I deserved to be as I had worked hard at school. So, obviously, I made a greater impression on the teacher than the bully did. 19 years after I left school, after seeing my GP for depression and anxiety, I saw a psychologist who said, "Has anyone ever suggested you might be autistic?" "Well, no." I was tested, and found to be autistic. Receiving that diagnosis helped me to have a greater sense of self and a realisation that I could be proud of who I am and that the bullies had the problem, not me. This same bully had said to me, "Imagine if you had a bump on the head and you changed." Well, no, I don't want to change, and what I say to the bully is, "Imagine if you sat down and thought to yourself, "Not everyone's like me, and that's okay. They don't have to be. Maybe I should find my people and let him find his."" So, if I had followed these bullies' advice, as the antithesis of the car, I wouldn't have been me. I am who I am and can be proud of it."

I’m autistic, I identify with both person first and identity first language

Also stimming does look different in a neroutypical then it does in neroudiverent I’m autistic and have adhd I can’t sit still very long and we stim more frequently then a neourtypical but my autistic dad doesn’t stim much mainly with his feet or hands but not as often as I do but my adhd mom is always bouncing her legs all day she can’t sit still at all

I remember reading an article about an autistic couple and their autistic kids used to call dealing with neurotypical people as "going ape" because neurotypical people were so strange it was like they had to deal with animals. Even though I am a neurotypical person I thought it was hilarious. I totally understand how neurotypical people can seem that way.

people think im nt and calls me normal but im autistic what should i say without telling them, also is it normal to be bullied as a autistic

Us autistics/neuro divergents need to take of other, in this crazy neuro typical world!!

I have a question if anyone in the comments has an answer. I’m neurotypical, and I watched this show called “Dead End” with an autistic character named Norma. I get super obsessed with things (for example, the show She Ra) and I really related to the way Norma talked about her special interest and how she knew every detail about it and loved everything to do with it. I know that my obsessions aren’t special interests, but is it okay for me to say I relate to her and see myself in her even though I’m neurotypical? Idk, it’s probably a stupid question but it’s been bothering me, since I love that character and really love and relate to that part of her.

I had a friend who I thought was autistic, when I told them they thought I was joking 🙄

I'm Autistic. And like acting and horses. me and Chlo`e also stim with our hands.

💛

Good morning cloe I love you I have autism

I have a question you may not be able to answer but what do i do when my psychiatrist says my autism diagnosis should be removed because I´m not a child anymore??

I am your biggest biggest fan ever Chloe and I love you and I adore you so much and your so beautiful and sweet please reply it’s Gidget by the way hope you had a good birthday I am autistic too

Anybody with NF type 1 ?

im not autistic (probably. i think. uhh i may need to go to the doctor bout that but thats besides the point) and gggahhhdhkfgjdh stimming. i love doing it because it makes me feel happy and calm but sometimes its just,, very overwhelming. i can get SO happy and energetic, that my stims are extremely exhausting. not to mention that lots of my stims involve hitting myself which yknow. is not great!! other than that though,, _flaps hands_ yea

Does she have an axolotle in the tank behind her? I love axolotle

hello!im in the midst of a screening for autism decided id rather learn from people with autism then some randomer

yes, you're right, asperger's is a little bit icky, isn't it? I don't like the term autism either, it's acceptable at best. I wonder if we can get the term takiwatanga to take off? No?

*My friend, please add a translation to Arabic. My name is Ali, I admire you from Iraq.*

"How do you get autism?" - bite from a radioactive cat

7:43