Autism resource for eye contact

Eye Gaze animation, from face-cards: emotion expression flash cards and CD-ROM pack. See www.face-cards.com

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  Education

[Rob Clyde]

Again, thanks to everyone who has watched the video, and for leaving such thoughtful and informative comments. It's clear from the responses, especially those from people on the autism spectrum, that eye contact can't be forced, or demanded by others. For more on this topic see our iPad app, iGaze.

[Rob Clyde]

Hello and thanks again for your interest. We have come back to this topic, and posted a new, improved animation

[Rob Clyde]

Many thanks for all your comments. The clip is from the Face-cards CD-ROM, where the faces appear (almost) life sized on the screen. Eye gaze is getting a lot of attention now from academics and other professionals, who are trying to assess what eye gaze is, whether people on the spectrum be encouraged or "trained" to do it, and so on. It's a hugely complex and controversial area, and science is a long way from explaining the phenomenon of eye gaze in both humans and animals. -Robert Clyde

[purplemutantas]

People on the autism spectrum should NOT be trained to make eye contract. Our neurology is not designed for eye contact. Making eye contact will raise anxiety levels and can cause headaches in some people. I understand that our society highly values eye contact. But, our society also highly values walking. But you wouldn't take my friend Dave's wheelchair away just because is capable of walking. We need to understand that some people have difficulties with some things and be ok with it.

[milofire]

People are too quik to label EVERYTHING as a disease nowadays. It is completely fine for humans to think, feel, and communicate in their own way. What may be uncomfortable for me, is not going to be the same for Jane or John, and likewise. Maybe 10 seconds of eye contact is awkward to John, and if you look at him for 10 seconds he will feel as though you are staring at him. It is a real personal, subjective matter. It breaks my heart to know children all around the world, mostly in the usa

[Aspie Otaku]

I think whats worse is those idiots who think of autism as being fake and say its some conspiracy made by psychiatrists to diagnose everyone with a disorder to make money and perscribe drugs good god.

[alumbo]

Your cowardice is just simply stunning. When not spamming music sites, (Fabulous book on why and how men cheat... called "MINDSET OF A PLAYA.."), you are purporting conspiracy theories about the causes of autism. I have autism and there is nothing worse than other people using my issue as a means to blame parents and drugs. It's so much worse to have that person turn tail when confronted with facts. Check your own ethics before impuning others, please.

[alumbo]

You can stand behind the statement if you want, but if you care if the statement is true, you might want to look at the studies regarding MMR vac, and thimerosol. Children that have been vaccinated do have autism, at the SAME RATE that children that have NOT been vaccinated.

You can be cowardly, or take responsibility for the accuracy of your statements. It's a moral issue, not just a scientific one.

[alumbo]

It has been poven that there is no correllation between MMR vaccines and autism. A META analysis study fom 2009 (Gerber and Offit), with hundreds of thousands of samples, found that there was no way that vaccines could cause autism. A META analysis is a giant study consisting of data from many other studies and is consiered the stongest evidence in the scientific community. The only study that EVER showed a positive correllation between mmr and autism, Wakefield's; with 12 hand-picked samples.

[RUSSKAYAG]

i stand strongly behind my statement. you got a stupid reply to your stupid comment. i do know that it has not been proven that vaccines do not cause autism. children who have been vaccinated have autism, and almost none who hasnt been..you are proving absolutely nothing to me or anyone. you may sound educated as you claim, but you have absolutely no proof one way or the other. so yes this is a waste of my time. sorry. no more replies.

[alumbo]

Since you don't seem to care if the things you believe are true, that would be best. Why should I spend time pointing out your mistakes? If you gave a shit about the nature of autism, you would have corrected them yourself.

[RUSSKAYAG]

ok then. now that i m not causing harm, the world is a much better place lol

who would have ever thought it was all because of my comments hmm..

seroiusly, we ve wasted enough of each other's time.. i think i ll move on now and cause harm in a different column..

[alumbo]

Vaccines don't cause autism. I'ts not a belief of mine. It's just a fact. Neurology does affect mental state, but you are conflating mental illness and emotional problems with the process of autism. They occur at different levels.

When people trot out wild speculation regarding vaccines, it CAUSES HARM. Peoples' inability to tell the difference between mental illnesses, emotional trauma, etc., and neurological disorders CAUSES HARM. Misinformation and blame CAUSE HARM. Please stop causing harm.

[RUSSKAYAG]

i am glad you are educated, and i am glad you dont believe vaccines cause autism. i am not trying to fight with you. not selling anything here, just putting a comment which i am entitled to, just like yourself..oh and neurology is directly connected to one's mental state, for it is a study having to do with disorders of the nervous system. but of course you know that one.. because you are educated.. hmm

[alumbo]

It has been proven conclusively that vaccines have absolutely no corellation to autism. After Wakefield's paper, the most exhaustive research was done in an effort to reproduce his results. Every single study contradicted Wakefield's results.

Genetic factors are the only ones that fit the pattern of instances of Autism. If you care wheather the things you believe are true, the evidence is there. Don't try to sell crazy to educated people.

Autism is NEUROLOGICAL, not emotional/mental.