this post was submitted on 14 May 2026
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me_irl
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God damnit.
I remember toting around a Linux textbook in 7th grade, because I had just started messing with it.
Same year I got my General and Advanced ham radio licenses.
Does this make me autistic?
7th grade in the US is about 12 years old.
Hmmm... do you struggle with understanding sarcasm and figures of speech? Do you often feel like you are manually learning social norms like a robot, rather than understanding things intuitively? Does eye contact feel awkward? Do you often communicate in a literal manner and get misinterpreted as rude or blunt?
Do you feel upset or angry when plans or routines are changed/interrupted? Do you feel like you are overly hyperfixated on any specific topics or interests that you could ramble about for hours on end? Do you have problems with reading people's intentions or emotions? Do you feel like you are overly sensitive to touch, noise, sounds, taste, or textures?
These are actual questions to think about. I say this as someone who's been legitimately diagnosed since 2008. If you answered yes to all or most of these questions, it might be time to visit a doctor.
How has getting the diagnosis helped things for you?
I was a 4-year-old still only learning how to properly communicate on an age-appropriate level, so I needed specialised therapy. I had ABA therapy to teach me facial expressions, communication, and other things. I'm also legally disabled.