Re: Gagging when looking at photos

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/20/01 9:37:53 PM Pacific Standard Time,

valeri@... writes:

<<

The smell maybe? How " new " are the photos? If you develop your own

that could be it. Or, maybe something happened the first time he saw a

photo that made him sick and now its an automatic response.

Valeri

>>

Not the smell. They can be old or new it doesn't matter. I found one story

by a very articulate girl w/autism that said she couldn't look at photos

because it was like being forced to look someone directly in the eye. She

didn't say anything about gagging when she saw them. When Barret was 3 he

used to gag when we ate cotton candy and he thought it was hair - now he

knows the difference and he eats cotton candy. I just don't understand the

sensory association to photos.

Miriam

[Guest guest]

I found one story

by a very articulate girl w/autism that said she couldn't look at photos

because it was like being forced to look someone directly in the eye.

Interesting. There is a boy at my daughter's school who CANNOT make eye

contact. But if you look at him in the mirror he can look you right in

the eye. I guess the reflection takes off the edge. My daughter has a

more difficult time with eye contact the closer you are to her. From

across the room she's fine, right in her face she can't do it at all.

Valeri

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/21/01 7:06:28 AM Pacific Standard Time,

danaatty@... writes:

<<

I am AS and I cannot look at any photo where the people are looking

directly at the camera, precisely because of the eye contact issue.

If the gaze of a person is intense, it will make me gag and turn away

sharply. You can try offering your son a photo of people who are NOT

looking at the camera. He may still have the reaction because of his

automatic response, but given time I think he can learn to first look

at a photo at the chest level of the people in it [basically start at

the bottom of the photo and gradually move his eyes upward], then in

his peripheral vision check to see if the people are looking directly

at the camera. Another thing is to hold the photo at arm length to

take the initial glance, that can also help. When I first see a

photo, I always glance at it briefly to see the orientation of the

eyes of any people, before looking at it more directly. It works very

well for me.

Dana >>

Dana

Wow, I think if Barret could tell me what he was thinking or if he knew how

to describe his feeling that would be it in a nutshell. I could see him in

the details of your description. Thank you for the insight, it gives me a

new perspective to approach the issue w/him.

God Bless

Miriam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/21/01 7:06:28 AM Pacific Standard Time,

danaatty@... writes:

<<

I am AS and I cannot look at any photo where the people are looking

directly at the camera, precisely because of the eye contact issue.

If the gaze of a person is intense, it will make me gag and turn away

sharply. You can try offering your son a photo of people who are NOT

looking at the camera. He may still have the reaction because of his

automatic response, but given time I think he can learn to first look

at a photo at the chest level of the people in it [basically start at

the bottom of the photo and gradually move his eyes upward], then in

his peripheral vision check to see if the people are looking directly

at the camera. Another thing is to hold the photo at arm length to

take the initial glance, that can also help. When I first see a

photo, I always glance at it briefly to see the orientation of the

eyes of any people, before looking at it more directly. It works very

well for me.

Dana >>

Dana

One more question just occured to me if you could enlighten me I would

appreciate it.

How is it that TV is different? Barret loves commercials where kids are

looking right at him. It's like he is studying their behavior and getting

entertained at the same time.

I am considering a digital video cam for him because I think this way he

could record family and friends and watch them on the TV. Does this sound

like it would work to you?

Miriam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/21/01 7:21:49 AM Pacific Standard Time,

dmccreary@... writes:

<<

Hi Miriam,

I have a couple of suggestions. Our kids have a camere called the I-

Zone by Poleroid, it's an instant pocket camera that takes pictures

the size of a stamp. The picture comes out immediately and has a

backing on it that turns the picture into a sticker. If you could

help him take pictures of people and things this may help your little

guy turn photos into a game instead of some kind of fear. We take the

pictures and stick them around the computer screen. We got our camera

at WalMart for about $20. You could also take him to a photo

processing store and see the pictures develop, to give him a better

understanding of how a picture is made. Hope this helps.

>>

Maybe it would work if we started w/pictures of inanimate objects <like toys,

plants, etc.>?

He really does get physically ill from viewing people and I wonder if like

Dana suggested we make pictures where people do not look directly at the

camera if he could cope. Unfortunately most photos are of smiling faces

looking directly at the camera.

Miriam

[Guest guest]

> Does anyone else have a high functioning child that gags and is ill

when

> seeing photos of people including himself? Bear has done this since

being

> much lower functioning and even though he is doing well in most

areas this

> has not changed and he can't seem to articulate why. Does anyone

have a

> scientific reason for this?

> Miriam

I am AS and I cannot look at any photo where the people are looking

directly at the camera, precisely because of the eye contact issue.

If the gaze of a person is intense, it will make me gag and turn away

sharply. You can try offering your son a photo of people who are NOT

looking at the camera. He may still have the reaction because of his

automatic response, but given time I think he can learn to first look

at a photo at the chest level of the people in it [basically start at

the bottom of the photo and gradually move his eyes upward], then in

his peripheral vision check to see if the people are looking directly

at the camera. Another thing is to hold the photo at arm length to

take the initial glance, that can also help. When I first see a

photo, I always glance at it briefly to see the orientation of the

eyes of any people, before looking at it more directly. It works very

well for me.

Dana

[Guest guest]

Hi Miriam,

I have a couple of suggestions. Our kids have a camere called the I-

Zone by Poleroid, it's an instant pocket camera that takes pictures

the size of a stamp. The picture comes out immediately and has a

backing on it that turns the picture into a sticker. If you could

help him take pictures of people and things this may help your little

guy turn photos into a game instead of some kind of fear. We take the

pictures and stick them around the computer screen. We got our camera

at WalMart for about $20. You could also take him to a photo

processing store and see the pictures develop, to give him a better

understanding of how a picture is made. Hope this helps.

> Does anyone else have a high functioning child that gags and is ill

when

> seeing photos of people including himself? Bear has done this

since being

> much lower functioning and even though he is doing well in most

areas this

> has not changed and he can't seem to articulate why. Does anyone

have a

> scientific reason for this?

> Miriam

[Guest guest]

> How is it that TV is different? Barret loves commercials where kids

are

> looking right at him. It's like he is studying their behavior and

getting

> entertained at the same time.

> I am considering a digital video cam for him because I think this

way he

> could record family and friends and watch them on the TV. Does this

sound

> like it would work to you?

Television is different for me because the people are moving around.

A photo is static, the person appears to be STARING INTENSELY directly

into my eyes. On television the person is just looking " in my

direction " and the eyes do break contact occasionally [play a staring

game with someone, eventually you will break eye contact]. It is

still uncomfortable to look into the eyes, but I can look in the

general direction of the face without feeling like the person is

staring into my soul. Also, the gaze of the person on a television

camera is not as " direct " as the gaze of a person into a photograph,

if you want you can test this yourself, look at a television

commercial and see how the eyes are looking, they are not ABSOLUTELY

DIRECTLY looking into the camera, it is a subtle difference for most

people but it is a large difference to me.

Television is also good to learn behaviors and try to imitate them,

because there is no threat of retaliation if you " mess up " and don't

do what is appropriate, and there is no unexpected surprise by the

other person that would directly affect you.

If you think the video camera idea would help your son, then you

should try it.

Dana

[Guest guest]

Just curious - does he gag at magazine picture too? If not, maybe

you could have color photocopies made of pictures. I have seen some

color copies resemble magazine pages. After seeing some pictures on

regular paper over time, you can try the actual pictures and see if

it is any better.

> Does anyone else have a high functioning child that gags and is ill

when

> seeing photos of people including himself? Bear has done this

since being

> much lower functioning and even though he is doing well in most

areas this

> has not changed and he can't seem to articulate why. Does anyone

have a

> scientific reason for this?

> Miriam

[Guest guest]

My son has no problem with photos. He has always gotten excited

seeing himself in pictures. What he has a hard time with is seeing

himself on home videos. For my mom, this was the first indication

that something was not right with him. When he would see himself on

TV, he would cry, scream and throw himself on the ground. I realize

since the diet he no longer does it. He will actually watch with no

reaction. Getting a video camera would be a wise investment.

Someone at my church gave us one. I look back at my son 4 months ago

and can see how amazingly different he is now. It is so encouraging.

>

> Dana

> One more question just occured to me if you could enlighten me I

would

> appreciate it.

> How is it that TV is different? Barret loves commercials where

kids are

> looking right at him. It's like he is studying their behavior and

getting

> entertained at the same time.

> I am considering a digital video cam for him because I think this

way he

> could record family and friends and watch them on the TV. Does

this sound

> like it would work to you?

>

> Miriam

[Guest guest]

Hi Miriam,

I think that looking at things from Dana's perspective is fascinating

and may offer an amazing insight to what your son may be

experiencing. I think that possibly taking pictures of family members

looking away from the camera for a start may be a promising

beginning. It really is wonderful, and I am so grateful to have

people like Dana who can help provide clues to what our children may

be going through.

> In a message dated 11/21/01 7:21:49 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> dmccreary@s... writes:

>

> <<

> Hi Miriam,

> I have a couple of suggestions. Our kids have a camere called the

I-

> Zone by Poleroid, it's an instant pocket camera that takes

pictures

> the size of a stamp. The picture comes out immediately and has a

> backing on it that turns the picture into a sticker. If you could

> help him take pictures of people and things this may help your

little

> guy turn photos into a game instead of some kind of fear. We take

the

> pictures and stick them around the computer screen. We got our

camera

> at WalMart for about $20. You could also take him to a photo

> processing store and see the pictures develop, to give him a

better

> understanding of how a picture is made. Hope this helps.

> >>

>

> Maybe it would work if we started w/pictures of inanimate objects

<like toys,

> plants, etc.>?

> He really does get physically ill from viewing people and I wonder

if like

> Dana suggested we make pictures where people do not look directly

at the

> camera if he could cope. Unfortunately most photos are of smiling

faces

> looking directly at the camera.

> Miriam

[Guest guest]

Hi Miriam,

I think that looking at things from Dana's perspective is fascinating

and may offer an amazing insight to what your son may be

experiencing. I think that possibly taking pictures of family members

looking away from the camera for a start may be a promising

beginning. It really is wonderful, and I am so grateful to have

people like Dana who can help provide clues to what our children may

be going through.

> In a message dated 11/21/01 7:21:49 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> dmccreary@s... writes:

>

> <<

> Hi Miriam,

> I have a couple of suggestions. Our kids have a camere called the

I-

> Zone by Poleroid, it's an instant pocket camera that takes

pictures

> the size of a stamp. The picture comes out immediately and has a

> backing on it that turns the picture into a sticker. If you could

> help him take pictures of people and things this may help your

little

> guy turn photos into a game instead of some kind of fear. We take

the

> pictures and stick them around the computer screen. We got our

camera

> at WalMart for about $20. You could also take him to a photo

> processing store and see the pictures develop, to give him a

better

> understanding of how a picture is made. Hope this helps.

> >>

>

> Maybe it would work if we started w/pictures of inanimate objects

<like toys,

> plants, etc.>?

> He really does get physically ill from viewing people and I wonder

if like

> Dana suggested we make pictures where people do not look directly

at the

> camera if he could cope. Unfortunately most photos are of smiling

faces

> looking directly at the camera.

> Miriam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/21/01 6:12:58 PM Pacific Standard Time,

dmccreary@... writes:

<<

Hi Miriam,

I think that looking at things from Dana's perspective is fascinating

and may offer an amazing insight to what your son may be

experiencing. I think that possibly taking pictures of family members

looking away from the camera for a start may be a promising

beginning. It really is wonderful, and I am so grateful to have

people like Dana who can help provide clues to what our children may

be going through.

>>

I too am so very appreciative for the information. It can be like walking

in a fog when you are not in the spectrum but you want so badly to reach your

child who is..thank you again Dana the info is certainly changed my

perspective.

Miriam

[Guest guest]

Miriam,

Ever tried scanning a photo and bringing it up on your computer

screen to see if there is any difference?