 |
| Camera lens with breaks in it. Light and sound amplification |
I have autism and SPD (sensory processing disorder). That means my brain doesn't properly process some information, including certain auditory input. I was diagnosed with hyperacute hearing as a child and as having "autistic features" in 1998. In 2004, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, now part of autism spectrum disorder.
I read an interesting article on Wikipedia that explains sensory gating. My brain cannot perform this properly with sound.
The "Cocktail Effect", a term used to describe how the brain filters out information it doesn't need, is pretty much absent in my brain. If I am around more than 4 people with 2 or more conversations, I feel like I am listening to 2 or more radio stations simultaneously.
I use passive earmuffs and sometimes earplugs in public. This helps me enough to be able to tolerate a child's scream or dog bark enough to run away from it.
I've noticed very loud sounds associated with chaos make me feel like someone is stabbing my ears with knives or holding my ear to a hot stove.
I can better write and illustrate my autism than I can talk it out. My brain and mouth don't always work in tandem, especially under stress.
After being dragged into the 21st Century by a well-meaning mother, who got me a computer in 2005, I found out that any adults that were talking about their autism experience weren't bringing up the same auditory triggers as me. I was told by adults with Asperger's that they thought I seemed pretty severe for having Asperger's.
So I began a blog-to raise awareness for autism in part, to raise awareness for MY autism in part.
"The Forgotten Child of Autism" was born back in 2009 on Blogger, then moved to Wordpress in 2010. My blog was the only autism blog on Blogger back then. Now, I see, there is a bounty of them. I moved my blog back here under a new name last year, after knowing reading comments was too much for me. Wordpress does allow disabling comments on the blog's site, but not on the sidebar when viewing the reader.
So TFCofA became autisticaplanet blogs, then autisticaplanet's autism.
Finally, I chose the name "Through 1 Filter". I'm a photographer, so I used the metaphor of a camera lens covered by a filter. The filter will screen out what the photographer doesn't want seen, such as UV rays.
My "filter" or "filters" I should say, are damaged. They don't work properly to filter out what doesn't belong.
At the same time, I use my mental filter to compose before I take a shot, so my blog's name serves a dual purpose:
1. Autism awareness and acceptance
2. Photography
At times, it also explores Christianity, the faith and values it espouses.
My blog's name is now autisticaplanet's autism blog. Please click here to avoid further confusion.
Thank you for visiting.