Autistic Hedgehog

I think that’s one of those things that kind of depends how you look at it.

A lot of autistic people tend towards being introverted, but I’d question how much of that comes from the autism. I think a more serious study, divorced from the stereotypes of autism, is needed to really get a good perspective on that.

I was a very outgoing child and quite gregarious, in many ways, given the chance. I played by myself a fair bit when I was younger, but a lot of that was simply that I had yet to develop any concept of needing others to be happy. But I always tried to make friends, and liked being around other people, and I’m much more introverted now, as an adult, after everything I’ve been through.

So I guess what I’m saying is there’s some sort of connection, but whether it's related as such, I think that requires a much more complicated and nuanced answer. A lot of so-called researchers wouldn’t hesitate to consider them related, but that doesn’t mean it’s true.