Key Signs of Autism in Adults

Navigating the world can be complicated, between being too busy to make deep connections with others, negotiating different cultures and ways of expressing oneself, and people not saying what they mean. Having a condition like autism can make navigating the world and building meaningful relationships that much harder. Let’s take a look at what autism is and the signs of autism.

What is autism?

Autism is the colloquial term for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD affects a person’s ability to communicate effectively with others and build relationships with them. As a developmental disorder, symptoms of ASD can begin appearing within eighteen months of age or even younger, and by age two a reliable diagnosis can be made by an experienced professional.

A person with ASD struggles particularly with understanding the emotions of others, which can hamper communication and social interaction significantly. Since it is a spectrum, that means ASD affects people in different ways, meaning the levels of support they need will vary.

Key signs of autism

ASD presents a bit differently in adults than it does in children, with one reason being that adults learn coping mechanisms that can mask some of the symptoms of ASD. Additionally, while the symptoms of ASD vary from person to person, ASD can sometimes present differently in women and men.

Women often appear to cope better with social situations, showing fewer signs of repetitive behaviors, and being more adept at fitting in by copying people without ASD. What this means is that it can be more difficult to diagnose ASD if your symptoms are more subtle or masked.

Some of the more common signs of autism in adults include:

• Experiencing discomfort while making eye contact, and thus often avoiding it
• Having inflexible thought patterns and behavior, which may mean having the same daily routine and getting angry or anxious if it changes
• Struggling to interpret body language, facial expressions, and social cues, leading to having difficulty understanding what others are thinking or feeling
• Having difficulty regulating emotions and struggling to express how you feel
• Experiencing deep anxiety about social situations
• 
• Having difficulty making conversation
• Having difficulty forming and maintaining close relationships such as friendships
• Preferring to be on your own and engage in solitary activities
• Not understanding social etiquette and rules such as not talking over people, which may make you seem blunt, rude, or uninterested in others without intending to
• Not understanding figures of speech, idioms, or metaphors, which can result in taking things literally. For example, one may not understand a phrase like “break a leg” or sarcasm
• Delivering frequent monologues on the same subject or subjects
• Not having a good understanding of personal space, which can lead to getting too close to other people
• Having sensitivities to touch, sound, and smell, which may make it difficult to experience physical touch like hugs, or to be out in loud spaces like a bar or movie theatre
• A lack of inflection when you speak, making your speech sound wooden or robotic
• Being hypersensitive and noticing small details, patterns, smells, or sounds that others around you do not notice or that don’t seem to bother them
• Having a keen interest in certain subjects or activities

A person with ASD may not necessarily have every symptom, and sometimes the symptoms that are present can be confused with other conditions such as ADHD. This is one of several good reasons why it is important to get a proper diagnosis from a professional.

Getting treatment for autism

It can be difficult having challenges without knowing why. Getting a proper diagnosis for ASD can help immensely by explaining the difficulties that an autistic person has been experiencing.

A diagnosis may also provide family members with an opportunity to understand better what ASD is and how it affects a person, which can empower them to be a more effective support team. Having a diagnosis may also provide access to benefits and services that are available in many workplaces or educational environments such as college.

If you suspect that you or a loved one might have ASD, go to your primary care doctor, who will observe you, enquire about your medical history, and check if there may be any other mental health or physical conditions that may be causing symptoms. ASD begins in childhood, so if symptoms only began in adolescence or adulthood, this may suggest a cognitive or mental health condition other than ASD.

If your primary care doctor doesn’t find any underlying physical condition that can explain the symptoms you or your loved one are experiencing, they may refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychologist for an in-depth assessment to make an ASD diagnosis.

Treatment for ASD is primarily about reducing the symptoms of ASD. However, in combination with therapies such as family therapy, anger management therapy, and behavior therapy, this can significantly improve quality of life. Being part of a support group is also a huge help.

If you suspect you may have ASD, seek help. If you are diagnosed with ASD, finding support and resources can help you improve your quality of life. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional in our office for help or to answer your questions about ASD.