Joe Wells on getting an autism diagnosis

taken from BBCOuch Storytelling Live. I have albums available for download from joewells.bandcamp.com and a mailing list at www.joewells.org.uk

[@LeopardprintBet]

I’m an autistic health professional who works diagnosing autistic adults - this is going on my recommended watching list 😍

[@malpha6040]

Hi I'm looking for a private adult autism assessment for myself . Please Beck Lynch would you assess me please I'm based in the UK . Kind regards Miss M A

[@Paisley2981]

Same. How can I get in touch with you?

[@jasonclarke7422]

Why haven’t you left a message to these people that have reached out to you.

[@dhammaboy1203]

I have ASD and I found it helpful!

[@williamclose783]

I am autistic and I have adhd also this makes happy

[@Beatrice-sf6xr]

I'm also autistic and this made my day. Thank you for being so awesome! I'm definitely going to have to watch some more of you! 😍

[@magnetictheartist1210]

I’m autistic too

[@robertpetre9378]

I’m autistic but I like the Arctic Monkeys LOL

[@ewanguitar3666]

The sign language interpreter must’ve been struggling through this, imagine how difficult it is to do sign language whilst trying to hold the laughter in

[@HerbairyOracle]

The fact there was a sighn language interpreter makes me happy :)

[@TerraMagnus]

I'm also autistic and identified with so much of this.

[@joewellscomic]

Thanks, the story was part of an hour show I took to the edinburgh fringe, should be doing some more uk tour dates and filming the full show once the pandemic is over.

[@tanner1548]

@@joewellscomic I suspect I'm autistic and haven't gone for a diagnosis yet (at age 27) and was just texting a friend two days ago about the things in my life that could work out differently if I had known about this sooner. Will keep an eye out for if you're ever gonna come to the States!

[@fizzycolalizzie]

this is hilarious, extremely relatable as another autistic person, and at times even touching although i know that wasn't the intention. (the points you made about looking back and wondering what would've been different in your life if you'd been diagnosed earlier struck a chord with me is all.) keep it up mate this is brilliant and there should be more examples of autistic people's experiences being made visible like this. 🥰

[@patriciarobinson7751]

Try Dan Lamorte - he's even funnier

[@btj7ndr33]

I'm autistic, diagnosed at 36. I'm the weirdo who actually likes eye contact, but when people are speaking I watch their mouths to make sure I can understand what they're saying - especially if there's background noise. Still, that was hilarious to hear eye contact described as sucking each other's jelly balls. 🤣

[@wildthing72]

Jelly balls had me nearly choke on the granola in my yoghurt. Keep it up sir :-D

[@_jmeg_3436]

I wasn’t diagnosed until 24. I’m 29 now. Glad to see that we’re not alone. Hilarious bit, Joe. You did a good job! 👍🏻

[@TheFlenen]

I'm 32, didn't get diagnosed till I was 27. You are LITERALLY the same as me, I'm sooooooooo friggin HAPPY I've found you!

[@fizzycolalizzie]

@Sal DiMarchese every dictionary definition i can find has a 2nd definition that says informally it's commonly used in an exaggerated way, it's used so much it's just as valid as a part of the language. language evolves over time. calm down mate you knew exactly what they meant, what does anyone gain from this level of nitpicking?

[@Gavindorrigan]

I'm 26 now and was diagnosed autistic at 25. Eye contact never made sense to me. Still doesn't. I look at people's mouths when they talk. Which makes much more sense to me. Their mouth is talking not their eyes.

[@kreassiva9138]

Im also autistic yet eyes do say a lot, I just usually ignore them though

[@williamstarck6863]

I understand why people look into people's eyes, I just think it's really uncomfortable.

[@TheRealAuroraEmily]

Same

[@jacquelineschumacher8987]

Fellow late-diagnosis Autistic here; I love your description of the mind-shredding, exhausting effects of audio processing differences! You might be the only person who can explain why a motorcycle enthusiast's value and street cred is not in a positive relationship with how loudly and quickly the engine of their vehicle can "rev up". Here in Calgary, AB the easing of city lockdown restrictions allowed these a-holes their run of the downtown; they made enough noise to catch even the attention and ire of neurotypical people-only then did the police start to enforce noise bylaws. Until that point, however, my noise-cancelling headphones saw heavy use.

[@antimatter2376]

noise cancelling? over £20 ey

[@ML0694]

​@@antimatter2376 best investment I ever made! They were very expensive, but they prevented me from needing to move. If you can't afford them yourself, I highly recommend having people pitch in to get them for you as a birthday gift.

[@Greenback3012]

As a fellow Portsmouth chap I love seeing how well you're doing and how the crowds embrace your comedy. You've got a brilliant style that is refreshing and doesn't rely on shock or foul language. Plus you're dead on about the headphones. Invest in decent ones!

[@Jemini4228]

Being without headphones on a long journey on one's own...ghastly prospect really...

[@hdawg7016]

🤢 sickening

[@williamstarck6863]

My headphones charge ran out when I was in the supermarket. That was awful.

[@theaspieman6126]

I have Asperger's myself and found this really funny, I'm also an aspiring stand up comedian too, so inspiring really to see this, keep up the good work.

[@vladislavogir5477]

So funny, want to see this guy live!

[@GMYSTERYICTNF]

My voice always confused me I live in South Africa and for people who don't know South Africans have the best accent in the world and my family talks very posh so it's that sexy South African voices. And then you get me with a voice that doesn't sound like any of there's I later find out it's because I have an Austistic accent but for my whole life before that people thought I sounded American. So what I've gathered from this is People in my country think America's sound Austistic. But also they find it incredibly sexy.

[@js2010ish]

Yeah people think I'm dutch or canadian

[@btj7ndr33]

That's hilarious! At least they think it's sexy!

[@Sk8rscoutVlogs]

This is so funny!! There’s parts of the show the audience should have been cackling lol it was so good

[@dennisholt7684]

Definitely going to watch more of your stuff, as a autistic man of 2 years you make me feel alright 😂❤

[@UMBR.]

I wasn't sure about the jelly balls thing at first but as he built it up, my laughter built up and culiminated in uproarious belly laughter. Genius. I love it when comedians can frame mundane thinngs in ridiculous artistic ways. Bravo. "I don't mind my own voice because whenever I know my own voice is coming I just speak over it". Beautifully sureal and hilarious!!

[@bustedfender]

Nice on Joe 👍 Much love to my friends in The Tribe

[@ToddBradley404]

That is an amazingly funny set. Well done, and thank you.

[@OrlandoHarrison]

Great comedy timing! Awesome set.

[@BRobMorris]

Great stuff. Such a gem, needs more opportunities like this

[@StevenWilliams66]

Great set!!!

[@taylorwesterlind4793]

This was amazing!!

[@ThatCoalSoul]

You're ability to land a great callback is top notch ...good luck in Faversham.

[@tafua_a]

I think next time somebody tells me "look in my eyes", I will reply "only if you kiss me full on the mouth"

[@btj7ndr33]

That could backfire awkwardly...

[@robertpetre9378]

Using gangster rap to drown out toxic masculinity is like using a machine gun to stop your neighbours from making noise at night LOL

[@ThatCoalSoul]

Oh look ...an American.

[@js2010ish]

Id gladly fire a few rounds if it made the lawn maintenance stop

[@poopshitcrapwaste]

well, after some short increase in volume the noise would have stopped. so what's wrong with that?

[@Yourismouter]

this and the other atand up/storytelling were brilliant and funny i'm a man that has to agree with joe regarding a distaste for our fellow men lol

[@CyndiCraven]

Okay, eyes are now jelly balls from now on.

[@malpha6040]

Hi Joe so proud of you . You truly are an inspiration to the autistic community and you are creating awareness for autism also you have addressed a serious issue wherby instead of being diagnosed as children diagnosis for autism is made in adulthood. All the best please let me know if your ever doing standup in Oxfordshire would love to hear your standup comedy live please kind sir. 🙂🙃

[@joewellscomic]

ah sorry I've just seen this, I did a tour show in Banbury earlier this month. hopefully will be back in oxfordshire soon. Had a blast in Banbury so hopefully they'll have me back next year too.

[@thephoenixsystem6765]

I wish I'd heard of you 3 years ago. I could've saved 120 pounds by now.

[@LemonChieff]

9:25 "The thing that would've made a difference […] on." I laughed so fucking hard.

[@cookiecatification]

I was born in Portsmouth- struggled for 27 years female autistic. Still undiagnosed. Thank you Joe ❤

[@cookiecatification]

Mens voices for me too perfect description 😂

[@cookiecatification]

Literally explained all my trauma for me haha- my family is clearly all in denial about their autism and my dad was the typical shouty portsmouth bloke!!

[@minimew5681]

Im from portsmouth too and im a autistic girl 27

[@RealRealming]

fucking brilliant

[@Capzmystic]

Jelly balls😂😂😂haa haaa yessssssss😆😆😁

[@sammylpt9076]

Tough crowd at the start I felt, I think he’s great. Brilliant with story telling too. I also find it weird to maintain eye contact with people. I find looking at people’s eyes a bit weird, I tend to focus on the nose and mouth. I thought perhaps I was autistic but I’m rubbish with music, maths and art, so I guess unfortunately I’m not.

[@osocardenas]

❤

[@HelenShanahanFilms]

Love Joe Wells but caution, long gross graphic bit about vomit :(

[@emeliaelizabeth5745]

Thank you for this

[@RetiredRhetoricalWarhorse]

Now that's exactly how I would imagine your average sign language interpreter.

[@s-nooze]

Really funny

[@uncrownedoak7777]

What city/region is his accent from?

[@mattewalsh967]

This is the most uncomfortable I have ever been listening to this described 😂😂😂 but so accurate

[@LeahMouseVlog]

Interesting... I'm a female autistic, and female voices are on my top three things I hate. To me, (most) female voices are like nails on a chalkboard, so I can really only be acquainted with females with huskier voices (like myself). But for real... the eye contact thing. Yeah. I know I'm supposed to, so I can turn my head toward the person, but for some reason, no matter how hard I try, my jelly balls will not cooperate with following the motion of my head.

[@jasonclarke7422]

A fellow autistic here from Southampton, don’t hate me too much.

[@theWinterWalker]

auHD he's, the paradox life😂😂

[@analicesouza6655]

WHAT KIND PF BIOLOGY TEACHER ARE YOU?????

[@christianecarson4321]

😁😆😀 Such exclusively British humour...quietly dry, witty, understated and self-deprecating (In other words 'ironic'!!!) No wonder that most other countries just don't get us, especially a certain big pompous, raucous, potty-mouthed country to the west of us that shall remain nameless.... (USA)!!!!! Thank you Joe!!!😅😂🤣🤩xxx

[@btj7ndr33]

Hey, I'm American and I get British humor just fine! I will admit to occasionally being loudmouthed, though. 😅

[@bodiesands4654]

This just sounds like trauma to me. Abusive father, angry voice, triggered now by same.

[@alexj136]

Slaughterhouse five fan?

[@joewellscomic]

Yes! I've also got a Mother Night quote on the inside of my wedding ring too.

[@alexj136]

@@joewellscomic Love it :D

[@epicendergamer8535]

I just read that book. Where did he reference the book?

[@alexj136]

@@epicendergamer8535 he has a tatoo on his arm that says "So it goes."

[@CF-bg3jd]

As an autistic germaphobe I would lose my shit if someone puked on me.

[@Capzmystic]

Misophonia 🙉

[@RetiredRhetoricalWarhorse]

I am at a loss to understand this... you don't like men's voices because they're too raspy and scratchy... but gangsta rap is what you use to drown that out..? That just does not compute.

[@joewellscomic]

I think it's the build up of lots of voices in public. The sudden changes in volume, big groups laughing all of a sudden etc it's more that mens voices are generally louder than the raspy/scratchyness. music (even gangsta rap) I know whats coming and it tends to be only one voice at a time.

[@susanlivingston3075]

Auditory perception in autistics can be very different from neurotypical people.

[@fugglestick]

Couldnt get past 1.56.......oh dear...

[@benjaminlumsden]

So you didn't like it then?

[@rosaliebolling2546]

You missed out!

[@ThatAutisticBlackMan]

hilarious