Apparently There Are Physical Features To Autism. This Is What I Found

There aren’t a lot of studies into the physical features to autism, and whatever I’m writing about is based on stuff I found on the Internet plus discussions with other parents of autism. SO TAKE IT WITH A MOUNTAIN OF SALT.

We all know that social and language issues are the most prominent features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Any physical stuff, I feel, doesn’t really change the conversation. I just found it fascinating that thing I thought was unique to my autism kiddo, is actually a prevalent trait in other individuals on the spectrum.

This is based on the findings of a 2010 case-controlled study on physical features of children with autism. Here are the most common features:

1. Sandal gap toes (59%)

We have always laughed at Ayub’s big, wide feet. They are enormous. When he was 10 or 11 years old, his feet were already size 37 or 38. Basically I can wear his shoes. And it’s not like he’s super tall yet. Still regular kid height. But giant feet with a VERY PROMINENT gap between his big toe and second toe.

And apparently, this is a really common feature with individuals on the spectrum! I mean, neurotypicals also have this. But yeah. I think it’s so cute haha.

Sorry about the bad pics. Ayub and I were giggling too much about his sandal gap when we discovered it was a thing.

His feet are really flexible too. He can pick things up with his feet like you would with your hands. After learning about sandal gap, Ayub says he’s going to practise writing with his feet hahaha.

2. Hypermobile joints (33%)

Ok I’m too lazy to take a photo of Ayub being hypermobile. But he is super flexible for a 12 year old boy who doesn’t do sports. You know what I mean. Ever since he was tiny, his fingers do scary things that leave us like :O

I figured he was just double-jointed. But I think it’s more than that. Hypermobile joints fits him completely. Again, grain of salt. Aside from ASD, Ayub hasn’t been diagnosed formally with any of this. This is just us reading up and going oooh!

Ok, those are really the only two things that Ayub has on the list. But here’s everything else.

3. Facial asymmetry (46%)

Facial asymmetry is when your facial features do not perfectly mirror on both sides, which is pretty normal for most people. I suppose in this study the asymmetry was more prevalent in individuals with ASD? Not sure.

I think Ayub is the handsomest boy with the perfectest face haha. Love him.

4. Abnormal non-frontal hair whorl (39%)

Did you know, Sulaiman has a double hair whorl. I think Ayub has a regular one. The picture above is a “large abnormal whorl”.

5. High narrow palate (37%)

Hmmm… I’ll let you Google pics for this yourself. It ain’t so pretty. I’m not sure about Ayub’s palate because I’m not a doctor or expert or anything important like that.

Fun fact, he’s tongue tied. He got checked by numerous doctors for tongue tie from the time he was born, all the way until he was finally diagnosed as ASD at the age of 7. And they ALL said. No tongue tie.

But when I checked a couple years back. Nuh-uh. He is definitely tongue-tied. I’ll leave it to him whether or not he wants it cut. It poses no problems to him at the moment. Would have been helpful when I was struggling to breastfeed and when he was struggling to pick up speech. But it’s ok, we good now.

6. Attached ear lobes (35%)

I used to have a Chinese Face Reading book and it said that people with big earlobes will be rich. Random. But this earlobe thing made me think of it.

Yeah.

And that’s about it. You can read the full study here.

Personally I don’t think it matters. Physical attributes or not. I suppose it would help to get an earlier diagnosis? But these supposed differences in features are so small. AND a bunch of neurotypicals have them too so…

For me, the sandal gap one is the best. Because it’s SO SO prominent with Ayub. And no one else in the family has feet like that.

He’s very proud of his toes and their dexterity lol. I think it’s cool. Bye!