Do You Know Your Flavor of Autistic Spectrum Disorders?

Have you ever been asked what flavor of autism are you? It’s an interesting question, and at first I wasn’t even sure what that meant. Simply put, asking about your flavor is a casual way of asking about your autistic spectrum disorders. Before the umbrella diagnosis being on the spectrum was coined, experts talked about different types of autism.

Did you know autistic spectrum disorders come in "flavors"? Learn more about your unique recipe.Everyone has their own flavor regardless of whether a person is neurodiverse or neurotypical, and this can mean personality traits, special interests, and challenges. All these things and more make up a person’s distinctive flavor and you should figure out yours. Regardless of whether you want to answer the question regarding your flavor of autism is one thing, but knowing about your autistic spectrum disorders (co-occurring conditions typically) can help you become more self-aware.

Knowing what makes you distinctively you can be transformative as you go throughout life, and having awareness of your individuality and uniqueness is freeing because it will help you find the right people and community who will appreciate your flavor. The question is also often asked in association with quizzes and activities when discussing autism spectrum disorder in teens.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Finding Your Flavor of Autism

Every person is unique, and with that said, everyone with autistic spectrum disorders has a distinctive blend of personality traits, interests, strengths, challenges, and support needs that make up who they are. I think of this as a person’s unique “flavor” profile.

There is infinite neurodiversity among those wired differently. Each individual has their own ingredients, similar to the endless flavor combinations possible from ice cream to coffee and beyond.

When you think of being on the spectrum as comparing flavors, you’ll see the question isn’t really meant to be offensive in any way (although it can be if asked for nosy or self-serving reasons). Rather, if it’s approached properly, it’s meant as a way to help with making connections.

By tuning into your innate talents as well as areas you need support, you can better understand, accept, and nurture your one-of-a-kind flavor in conjunction with the range of autistic spectrum disorders. This self-understanding allows you to embrace your autistic identity from a positive lens of self-acceptance and empowerment.

Types of Autism Before There Was Umbrella Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnosis

Until fairly recently, experts used to talk about different types of autism. Some still do, as do individuals who received a specific diagnosis prior to 2013 (or somewhere around that time).  The four types that were previously separate typically included:

Asperger’s Syndrome

This was considered “high functioning autism” or individuals who were on the low support need and milder end of the autism spectrum. A person with Asperger’s syndrome is often very intelligent and independent as an adult, but may still exhibit behaviors that can cause a harder time socially and with work.

Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (known as PDD-NOS)

This label included most children whose autism was more severe than Asperger’s syndrome but not as severe as what was then referred to as autistic disorder.

Autistic Disorder

This term (note it does not include the term “spectrum”) was considered a more severe of the types, as individuals with it often exhibited very intense behaviors and were typically not able to be independent as adults.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

This was the most severe diagnosis associated with autism prior to all falling under the common ASD. It typically referred to individuals who seemed to be developing typically but then quickly lost many language, social, and mental skills, often at a very young age.

As experts discovered more about autism, it became clear that there were extreme differences and ways individual manifested symptoms and behaviors to label the types in such a way. Since then, research is also showing that more females have autism than previously thought and a growing number of individuals are not becoming diagnosed until later in life. Autism spectrum disorder in teens and adults is something that has warranted additional studies.

Common Strengths of Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Learning about what flavor of autism are you can be an important discovery.Though autistic differences span an incredibly wide and diverse range, many share similar gifts such as:

Hyperfocus: The ability to delve deeply into subjects of intense interest with laser concentration, tuning out all distractions for hours on end. From animation to zoology or space, you feel immersed in a state of energized flow.

Pattern Recognition: You innately detect patterns in data, numbers, words, images and systems that others miss. This allows you to excel in fields relying on analysis, prediction, organization, sorting, and creativity grounded in rules.

Memory: Some autistic people have staggeringly accurate factual and episodic memory, even from early childhood. You can recall immense detail most would forget, memorizing anything from license plates to sports stats.

Honesty: Nuance and subtlety often bewilders, so you stick to transparent truth. Tact may be a challenge, but your candid nature also makes you more trustworthy.  It can also make you appear too blunt at times, as more frequently depicted  when considering autism spectrum disorder in teens and adults.

Visual Thinking: Rather than a verbal inner monologue, you process the world through vivid mental pictures, videos and sensory impressions allowing you to problem solve, imagine and express yourself creatively in images.

Empathy: Despite stereotypes, many on the spectrum have intense empathy attuned to suffering, especially for animals and marginalized people. Your sense of justice and care runs deep, even if expressing emotions is difficult.

Common Challenges of Those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

However, even the most gifted autistics often face difficulties in various areas that require accommodation and compassion to manage. These could include: 

Sensory Overload: Everyday stimuli like fluorescent lights, background noise, fragrances can feel painfully intense, causing meltdowns. You may cover ears and eyes frequently to cope with overstimulation.

Motor Skills: Activities like writing, tying shoes or catching a ball may be clumsy and difficult. You excel at mental tasks even if physical coordination lags.

Concrete Thinking: Interpreting nuance, metaphors and double meanings baffles. When people don’t say exactly what they mean, confusion mounts. You take words literally.

Routines: Knowing what to expect reduces anxiety. Changes spark panic. Sticking to familiar patterns, places and foods keeps life feeling safe and stable.

Social Cues: Reading subtle facial expressions and body language does not come easily. Irony and sarcasm confuse. Starting or joining conversations may be overwhelmingly difficult.

Eye Contact: Staring directly into someone’s eyes can feel invasive and uncomfortable. You focus best speaking to others by looking away, despite social custom.

Empathy Overload: While deeply caring, the flood of emotional data from those around you becomes exhausting, even physically painful. You may have to retreat or shut down to prevent burnout.

What Flavor of Autism Are You? Embracing Your Unique Ingredients

Define your flavor based on self-understanding, not what others expect. When it comes to your neurotype, no one can tell you who you are. Evaluating your strengths and challenges through your own lived experience allows you to nurture what you need while sharing your talents.

Exploring flavor analogies shows how wonderfully diverse autistic wiring can be across the spectrum. For example, cinnamon lovingly enhances many foods with its warmth, yet too much may overwhelm some taste buds. Coconut adds smooth sweetness, yet its texture disagrees with some digestive systems. No ingredient is better or worse – but understanding your elements creates the perfect recipe.

Likewise, viewing social skills, empathy and communication as mere “ingredients” normalizes that people integrate them differently without higher value judgements. You don’t need to mask your beautiful brain and force-fit societal standards at cost of health, identity and self-esteem. Prioritize understanding and valuing your distinctive spice blend.

Joining Communities of Peers with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Finding community with others whose flavor profiles share similarities allows mutual understanding free from judgement. Talking to those who face sensory, focus or communication challenges similar to your own brings relief realizing you are not alone or “broken.”

Local autistic meetups, online forums, groups led by autistic self-advocates and other safe spaces to share provide comforting recharging connection. Just being in a room full of people who intuitively understand patterns others miss – who take words literally rather than reading into veiled implications – who share your impulse to flap your hands when excited or overwhelmed – bonds through beautiful resonance.

Though each individual’s flavor remains one-of-a-kind, clustering by seasonings in community lessens feelings of isolation or ostracism. Give and gain wisdom on managing sensitivities, matching careers to special interests, coping with criticism about social skills, even simple daily living tips provide solidarity.

While communities aren’t for everyone, often you can gain strength resting in the shelter of people whose neurodivergence forms a comfortable commonality. They can be particularly bonding with autism spectrum disorder in teens and adults.

Embracing Interests With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Autistic spectrum disorders may manifest uniquely and are sometimes referred to as "flavors."Passionate zeal for specific subjects brings great joy while forming foundations for fulfilling careers. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson chronicles countless achievers like Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie and Stephen Hawking whose laser field focus underpinned legendary innovation. Diverse thinkers unite in crediting their differently wired minds to breakthrough discoveries benefiting humanity.

So dive enthusiastically into your interests, no matter how obscure! Stockpile Legos, memorize the dictionary, collect weather charts, catalog train models. Absorption into expertise areas prepares for purpose. Recognize and reduce any shame projected on harmless passions. Just do you!

Of course most hobbies begin solo, but connecting with online or in person communities who share interests allows for growth. Attend astronomy nights at the local planetarium to exchange star stories with fellow space fans. Visit gaming conferences to cheer on eSports matches shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers who soon feel like old friends through common ground connection.

Just ensure special interests feel enriching not compulsive. Balance narrowly focused activities with a diversity of experiences to keep your days well rounded. Consider mapping out a balanced schedule mixing computer coding with camping trips for example.

Leveraging Strengths With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Once accepting your ingredient list of strengths and support needs framed through a positive lens, how can individuals with autistic spectrum disorders live their most fulfilling lives?

First, identify environments best suited to help you shine whether sensory friendly physical workspaces or online collaboration. Understand technology as an empowering equalizer unlocking barriers. Purposefully build skills to bolster talents like succeeding at specialized training programs tailored to different learning needs.

But also compassionately acknowledge unique challenges by requesting formal accommodations from schools or employers entitled by law. Simple supports like noise cancelling headphones, extended time on tests, access to fidget toys or permission to telecommute can make all the difference in excelling.

Know requesting reasonable assistance for disability or medical needs is always a right, despite some individuals’ ignorance claiming otherwise.

When supported properly, retaining control over your own path forward often liberates self-actualization. This proves especially true for the neurodivergent who thrives when granted autonomy accommodating their wiring. Career roles celebrating, rather than suppressing, can play a key role in someone’s natural strengths blossoming beautifully.

Ongoing Exploration of Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Discovering your flavor is not a one-time event, but an ongoing journey of self-discovery. I invite you to keep exploring what makes you beautifully unique throughout all of life’s seasons. As I’ve discovered from creating this blog My Autism Mind, I’ve discovered my unique recipe and can answer the question of, “what flavor of autism are you” with a stronger self-awareness and even pride. I am me, and I’m planning on a great life.

Just as an ingredient that overpowers in youth – perhaps extreme sensory sensitivities or obsessive interests – may mellow in midlife, while other latent talents arise, know that your neurodivergence will express itself differently across milestones.

For ones with autism spectrum disorder in teens or adults, knowing that ingredients may need to be tweaked throughout life can be a positive part of autism affirmation.

Give yourself spacious patience through emotional growing pains without judgement. Learn self-care tools like stim toys for anxiety, noise cancelling headphones to avoid sensory overload and scheduling quiet recharge time to prevent fatigue turning to shutdowns. As you better understand your needs, clearly communicate them to your support network.

While autism itself remains lifelong and incurable, developing self-insight and community aid allows coping and sometimes even thriving despite struggle. You are never alone on this adventure of evolving into your happiest, healthiest self.

To help track how flavor profiles shift over time, keeping a journal can help identify emotional triggers, patterns in behaviors or effectiveness of lifestyle changes attempted. Writing freely explores inner wisdom often missed in daily activities. Creative expression through painting, poetry, photography or song also opens self-awareness.

Finding Your People: Celebrating Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Everyone is unique when it comes to autism. Consider it a personalized flavor.Diversity within the neurodivergent community means seeing beyond single snapshots or stereotypes is crucial. Intersecting identities of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability, class and experience further expand the richness of collective flavor.

Again trust finding “your people” with similar seasoning provides the deepest sense of belonging. While no two flavors may perfectly align, gather with those who intimately understand the essence at the core of you.

With autism, all flavor combinations merit celebrating regardless of perception by the mainstream. Condemning anyone’s unique blend makes the one spewing judgement lose their own humanity.

Remember that you write your own unique recipe and determine which ingredients harmonize best for you given sensitivities and supports needed, not popularity votes of the majority.

As you continue self-discovery about autism, I cheer you on embracing all that makes you undeniably you! Keep investing in your wellbeing and understand you are worthy beyond measure simply for being. I can’t wait to see your flavors unfold into their highest expression.

Discovering your distinctive flavor means embracing all of who you are – lovely strengths, curious passions and tender support needs alike. Define your ingredients based on your lived experience of being autistic in a neurotypical-centric world.

Find community among those who intimately understand through similar flavor profiles. Then leverage your strengths and talents to custom craft as sweet, satisfying and purpose-filled a life possible.

I hope reflecting on flavor profiles provides a playful frame welcoming the autistic spectrum disorder’s infinite variety. No two alike, autistics each bring unique spice. Understanding your personal recipe allows you to realize and savor how amazing you already are.

From one autistic to another, here’s to embracing your remarkable differences! Wherever you wander next on your journey of self-discovery, I wish you rich adventures!

If you liked this blog, here are others you might enjoy as well.

Autism in Adults:  Living, Learning, and Overcoming Challenges for a Fulfilled Life

Autism in adults requires additional support and coping skills to achieve independence in today’s world. Learn more about ways adults can live fulfilled lives and the challenges they face.

Picture of Connor McClure

Connor McClure

I'm a young adult navigating life with autism. By sharing my experiences and views, I hope to create a better awareness, understanding, and compassion for those on the spectrum. Let's connect!
All Posts »