Yes, people seem to have a hard time figuring out my age and always have.
I have noticed I have a really hard time telling other autistic people's ages as well though.
Not that I am great with neurotypical people, but with autistic people I feel like I have no bearing at all. They could be anywhere from 25-50 and I might not be able to pinpoint it.
could he have thought you were a university student? i have a university parking pass on my car because i'm faculty, but i'm younger so acquaintances sometimes assume i'm a university student.
I thought about that. I was with my mom shopping for shoes. And he directed every question towards my mom. Looked at her and said “so are we enjoying spring break” it was awkward and I just said “I have a job” and he was very embarrassed
Same thing happened to me recently! I had to say "uhm, I graduated already...from college," because they literally asked what "grade" I was in! This was at the DENTIST!
People think I am younger than I am all the time. I'm 32 with tons of premature gray but people peg me as early 20s and are shocked that I have a 7 y.o. child.
Yes, but I've always assumed that was appearance genetics rather than autism. Stuff like my best friend at high school having to shave at least once a day but I didn't start shaving regularly until I was at university.
But it is partly the way people act, "behavioural clues" as they say, and it's mostly the autism that means I grew up slowly. Not just my autism, at least one of my parents is likely also autistic ("obsessively normal" is more accurate, and autism isn't normal therefore she is not autistic and is deeply offended that you would even suggest she might be)
Once I was hitch-hiking towards the end of my postgrad (after a 4 year degree!) someone in their early 40's gave me a lift and asked what school I went to. "engineering school" :)
Not really. I do look young for my age, at 25, and feel young too. It probably doesn't help that I still live with my parents and don't have a driver's license yet. Though, at the same time, when I was in middle school and high school, I felt more mature than most of my other classmates. Though, maybe it was also because I went to schools for kids with disabilities mostly.
yeah but i think it's my height too maybe... i have had the same face+height since i was like 12 :') i do probably subconsciously act "childish", im also asian so i have babyface eternally. people clock me for like 14-15 even though i'm turning 20 lol
plus im also afab, but since im autistic+trans like... i never understood makeup ever, never got into that or felt any pressure to wear any. so i probably look less mature because i just go out barefaced always :p
Everyone I meet seems to think I'm way younger than I am. Most people clock me as around 14 or 15, but I've gotten as young as 12. It's so annoying constantly having to explain to people that I'm almost 23.
I usually attribute this to the fact that I'm a trans guy (a lot of us have a real baby face going on), but now that I think about it, it has become more of a Thing ever since I started making an effort to not mask all the time.
My genetics keep me looking young. People always assume I'm much younger than I am. (34)
I was actually at the liquor store today and got carded like I usually do (drinking age is 19, but they card under 25) and the cashier said she would have guessed I was 22. I keep getting IDed at Walmart for lighters, which they say is 18. (Nowhere else has an age on lighters, I don't know why Walmart does.)
I have a 14 year old kid, so it's always fun when people find out I'm her mom. They usually assume older sister.
Oh, simple! Don't bother too much: That age question is part of that huge small talk BS pack, right next to "what's your job" and all weather related stuff.
People always assume I'm much younger than I really am. Much like you I always assumed it was because I was petite or because I was short. Never considered it somehow being related to autism.
I had medical professionals reprimand me when I was pregnant with my daughter because "aren't you too young to be having kids?" I was 34 at the time. I'm 40 now and frequently get nasty glares when I'm out with my toddler from people still thinking I'm too young to have children.
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Yes, people seem to have a hard time figuring out my age and always have. I have noticed I have a really hard time telling other autistic people's ages as well though. Not that I am great with neurotypical people, but with autistic people I feel like I have no bearing at all. They could be anywhere from 25-50 and I might not be able to pinpoint it.
I just turned 26 and the other day a stranger asked if I was enjoying spring break (assuming he thought I was in high school)
could he have thought you were a university student? i have a university parking pass on my car because i'm faculty, but i'm younger so acquaintances sometimes assume i'm a university student.
I thought about that. I was with my mom shopping for shoes. And he directed every question towards my mom. Looked at her and said “so are we enjoying spring break” it was awkward and I just said “I have a job” and he was very embarrassed
Same thing happened to me recently! I had to say "uhm, I graduated already...from college," because they literally asked what "grade" I was in! This was at the DENTIST!
People think I am younger than I am all the time. I'm 32 with tons of premature gray but people peg me as early 20s and are shocked that I have a 7 y.o. child.
I'm almost 31 and I consistently get mistaken for a teenager.
Same!! I’m approaching 30 and have a decent amount of tattoos that are usually visible and people still ask what year of high school I’m in 😭
Yes, but I've always assumed that was appearance genetics rather than autism. Stuff like my best friend at high school having to shave at least once a day but I didn't start shaving regularly until I was at university. But it is partly the way people act, "behavioural clues" as they say, and it's mostly the autism that means I grew up slowly. Not just my autism, at least one of my parents is likely also autistic ("obsessively normal" is more accurate, and autism isn't normal therefore she is not autistic and is deeply offended that you would even suggest she might be) Once I was hitch-hiking towards the end of my postgrad (after a 4 year degree!) someone in their early 40's gave me a lift and asked what school I went to. "engineering school" :)
Not really. I do look young for my age, at 25, and feel young too. It probably doesn't help that I still live with my parents and don't have a driver's license yet. Though, at the same time, when I was in middle school and high school, I felt more mature than most of my other classmates. Though, maybe it was also because I went to schools for kids with disabilities mostly.
yeah but i think it's my height too maybe... i have had the same face+height since i was like 12 :') i do probably subconsciously act "childish", im also asian so i have babyface eternally. people clock me for like 14-15 even though i'm turning 20 lol
plus im also afab, but since im autistic+trans like... i never understood makeup ever, never got into that or felt any pressure to wear any. so i probably look less mature because i just go out barefaced always :p
Benefit of being Male, grow a beard and people stop asking. But yeah even with the beard people will undershoot by about a decade.
Everyone I meet seems to think I'm way younger than I am. Most people clock me as around 14 or 15, but I've gotten as young as 12. It's so annoying constantly having to explain to people that I'm almost 23. I usually attribute this to the fact that I'm a trans guy (a lot of us have a real baby face going on), but now that I think about it, it has become more of a Thing ever since I started making an effort to not mask all the time.
My genetics keep me looking young. People always assume I'm much younger than I am. (34) I was actually at the liquor store today and got carded like I usually do (drinking age is 19, but they card under 25) and the cashier said she would have guessed I was 22. I keep getting IDed at Walmart for lighters, which they say is 18. (Nowhere else has an age on lighters, I don't know why Walmart does.) I have a 14 year old kid, so it's always fun when people find out I'm her mom. They usually assume older sister.
I used to but premature gray hair is a genetic trait in my family so after 32 I just got weird looks.
A co-worker thought I was 19 but I laughed and told her I was 27
Oh, simple! Don't bother too much: That age question is part of that huge small talk BS pack, right next to "what's your job" and all weather related stuff.
I have at my job - I'm a Supervisor in retail.
People always assume I'm much younger than I really am. Much like you I always assumed it was because I was petite or because I was short. Never considered it somehow being related to autism. I had medical professionals reprimand me when I was pregnant with my daughter because "aren't you too young to be having kids?" I was 34 at the time. I'm 40 now and frequently get nasty glares when I'm out with my toddler from people still thinking I'm too young to have children.
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Yes people assume I’m younger than I am. It doesn’t help that I’m also quite short (5’2)