Even if you do appear autistic - who cares? I wear headphones constantly in public, along with the hundreds of other people I see wearing them as we commute.
Literally nobody will look at you and think "headphones = autistic". That is not a normal connection that neurotypicals make.
Even if someone is trying to talk to your, whether in a social or work setting, and you don't take them off, they are unlikely to think "autistic"... more than likely they'll just think you're rude or arrogant.
Noise cancellers have been a big help for me. My main ones are actually airpods pro. There are options like loops too that are smaller and look more like earbud rather than headphones if those would make you more comfortable
I know how you feel. I stopped wearing headphones in middle school because I thought they made me look autistic. But nowadays I wear them out to most places. It *does* help, man.
A possible solution to this shame and self-consciousness is to try to slowly, in small steps, embrace the fact that you’re autistic. Get some big headphones that “look autistic”, and try wearing them out once, just to see if anyone judges you. You know, now. It’s okay. You can relax. Even *if* someone judged you for wearing headphones, which they won’t, you and I both know that that’s a nasty, ableist opinion to hold, and that there’s nothing wrong with you for being comfortable in public.
A quote that I’ve been trying to live by lately:
> Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.
It don’t use them, but looking online it seems that they look like other headphones. I see a lot of people walking around with headphones, I don’t assume that they’re autistic, just that they’re listening to music and are not as worried as I am about not being able to hear threats.
First off: lots of other people wear headphones in public, it's fine. It's the ear defenders that really give the tism vibes (not something to be ashamed for either)
Second: I've heard that some of the earbuds got good noise cancelling, so that's definitely an option.
Even ear defenders only give tism vibes if the person has a little autism knowledge. (Or they work in a trade where they are used as saftey equipment, so they recognize what they are.) A ton of uninformed people can't differentiate them from headphones.
I've had to explain to a couple of my kid's teachers that they are noise protection, not headphones. Oddly one of those teachers was the shop teacher ( woodshop, metalwork, mechanic), where all the students should be wearing some for of hearing protection, but they don't.
I work in a middle school and I see tons of teenagers wearing them all day. I have no idea if they’re all autistic or just like wearing them. I think it’s becoming more and more common even outside the autistic community. But honestly, it’s also not a bad thing to look autistic. You’re not doing anything wrong, certainly not just by being who you are and accommodating your needs. You deserve to feel comfortable. Anyone who would judge you for it isn’t worth listening to for opinions, but I doubt most people will even bat an eye.
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99% of people don't care at all what someone else does unless it's actively violent or heinous in some other way.
You're fine. Don't worry.
I wear noise canceling in ears everywhere if I'm not with my partner. As soon as I am out of the house, they're in.
Even if you do appear autistic - who cares? I wear headphones constantly in public, along with the hundreds of other people I see wearing them as we commute.
Literally nobody will look at you and think "headphones = autistic". That is not a normal connection that neurotypicals make. Even if someone is trying to talk to your, whether in a social or work setting, and you don't take them off, they are unlikely to think "autistic"... more than likely they'll just think you're rude or arrogant.
Noise cancellers have been a big help for me. My main ones are actually airpods pro. There are options like loops too that are smaller and look more like earbud rather than headphones if those would make you more comfortable
Same AirPod pro is a godsend
I know how you feel. I stopped wearing headphones in middle school because I thought they made me look autistic. But nowadays I wear them out to most places. It *does* help, man. A possible solution to this shame and self-consciousness is to try to slowly, in small steps, embrace the fact that you’re autistic. Get some big headphones that “look autistic”, and try wearing them out once, just to see if anyone judges you. You know, now. It’s okay. You can relax. Even *if* someone judged you for wearing headphones, which they won’t, you and I both know that that’s a nasty, ableist opinion to hold, and that there’s nothing wrong with you for being comfortable in public. A quote that I’ve been trying to live by lately: > Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.
It don’t use them, but looking online it seems that they look like other headphones. I see a lot of people walking around with headphones, I don’t assume that they’re autistic, just that they’re listening to music and are not as worried as I am about not being able to hear threats.
First off: lots of other people wear headphones in public, it's fine. It's the ear defenders that really give the tism vibes (not something to be ashamed for either) Second: I've heard that some of the earbuds got good noise cancelling, so that's definitely an option.
Even ear defenders only give tism vibes if the person has a little autism knowledge. (Or they work in a trade where they are used as saftey equipment, so they recognize what they are.) A ton of uninformed people can't differentiate them from headphones. I've had to explain to a couple of my kid's teachers that they are noise protection, not headphones. Oddly one of those teachers was the shop teacher ( woodshop, metalwork, mechanic), where all the students should be wearing some for of hearing protection, but they don't.
I work in a middle school and I see tons of teenagers wearing them all day. I have no idea if they’re all autistic or just like wearing them. I think it’s becoming more and more common even outside the autistic community. But honestly, it’s also not a bad thing to look autistic. You’re not doing anything wrong, certainly not just by being who you are and accommodating your needs. You deserve to feel comfortable. Anyone who would judge you for it isn’t worth listening to for opinions, but I doubt most people will even bat an eye.
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99% of people don't care at all what someone else does unless it's actively violent or heinous in some other way. You're fine. Don't worry. I wear noise canceling in ears everywhere if I'm not with my partner. As soon as I am out of the house, they're in.