Mild autism, or a high-functioning type, can be difficult to identify because of the subtle symptoms experienced by both loved ones and professionals. They can easily be mistaken for other conditions, and there are many adults exhibiting symptoms of ASD that have never been diagnosed. The reason is related to the late public and clinical recognition of ASD, and they grew up before this happened.
Individuals on the autism spectrum may indeed experience additional disorders, and in their late search for mental healthcare and care, they eventually get the diagnosis of ASD. Receiving the diagnosis is the first step in getting the right support and benefits that the community offers.
Autism is believed to be genetic or hereditary, and it affects one in 68 children in North America at this point. This is a longtime condition, which makes it probably an equal rate in older adults. However, there are a significant number of individuals who never receive a diagnosis.
Are you suspecting that you or someone close to you might be on the autism spectrum? There are some typical signs and symptoms that you can notice. This checklist is not the key to a diagnosis, but it can help you understand the importance of checking with a specialist.
1. Social difficulty
One of the main criteria for diagnosing autism, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, is difficult social communication and interaction.
It may be difficult for me to understand the rules of social interactions and what is appropriate to share during a conversation. Either talk too much or too little, or it can look like the moment chosen for sharing information is not in sync. They may often feel inadequate in social interactions, which leads them to avoid being out in society. This is even more intense in situations where they need to meet and engage with new people. This may be a cause of isolation in the later years, and it can get dangerous, especially after losing a spouse.
2. Intense or restricted interest
People on the autism spectrum have a tendency to develop a strong interest in specific topics or activities. They may become upset when they are restricted, or they may find themselves in the impossibility of developing these specific activities. For example, they can spend hours looking for information about train schedules or computer hardware and get lost in this place, ignoring the world and the closest people in the process.
3. Alexithymia
This condition affects less than 10% of the population, and 85% of these people are diagnosed with ASD. Alexithymia is a huge difficulty in recognizing and understanding the emotions of others. That doesn’t mean they don’t feel emotions; they just can’t identify and communicate their feelings or others’ emotional states. It’s also hard for them to interpret nonverbal cues that may show feelings or thoughts.
They may pass as lacking emotional empathy or having difficulties empathizing with other perspectives. Moreover, axithymia can manifest as a strong focus on external stimuli and an ignorance of inner experiences.
4. Depression and anxiety
The most common comorbid disorders are depression and anxiety, which can co-occur when it comes to ASD.
People with ASD are more prone to depression and anxiety due to a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors. There are neurological differences, such as brain structure and function, and genetic factors that can be linked to mood disorders and lead to a higher predisposition for both conditions. They can also face difficulties with flexible thinking and emotional regulation, which can contribute to developing these unfortunate conditions.
Moreover, the overwhelming sensory experience that is common in ASD can become a cause of chronic stress and anxiety. Understanding and participating in social interactions may not be as easy for them as it is for the rest of the world, leading to feelings of isolation, rejection, or loneliness that are the foundation of depression.
5. Inappropriate eye contact and repetitive behavior
People with ASD either go with no eye contact while conversing with other people, or the opposite of it, they may inappropriately stare.
They find it difficult to accept a change in their schedule, and they can manifest extreme frustration and anger when they get into unexpected disruptions.
6. What does being lactose intolerant have to do with the autism spectrum?
Studies show that a majority of individuals from the autism spectrum deal with lactose intolerance caused by lactase deficiency or additional enzyme deficiencies and gastrointestinal tract problems.
Autism is a heterogeneous disorder, which means no two cases of ASD look the same. The way of diagnosing it is based on some key characteristics that should be noticed in order to receive it. However, there are endless variations of how ASD can be present in adults’ lives.
There are some examples of signs that you can notice in the most common environments:
They are easily noticed in social interactions, communication, verbal or nonverbal, and repetitive or ritualistic behaviors. Some of the individuals with ASD may experience symptoms that resemble attention deficits, such as hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or impaired spoken language. Adults with ASD will most probably look different, and the symptoms can pose challenges every day.
The criteria for diagnosis include these:
It’s difficult for them to interpret what other people are feeling or thinking. They cannot interpret facial expressions, body language, or social cues. They encounter difficulty regulating their emotions. It doesn’t come easy for them to hold a conversation.
Their inflection doesn’t reflect feelings, they have difficulty maintaining the natural course of a conversation, and they can go without realizing it to monologues on a favorite subject. They have the tendency to engage in repetitive behavior and choose to participate in a restricted range of activities.
At home
The signs you can notice at home are related to some eccentricity. Your family may refer to you as the eccentric professor even though you don’t even work in academia. You may have always wanted to have a best friend, but you never got one.
You may have the tendency to invent words and expressions to describe or narrate something. You find yourself making involuntary noises, such as clearing your throat, even when you are in quiet places like the library.
Following the same schedule every day of the week and a manifested fear of unexpected events may be another sign of ASD. If you don’t seem to get expressions such as Curiosity killed the cat or Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, and they leave you in a confused state, this may be another sign of ASD, as well as bumping into things and tripping over your own feet. You may prefer to play individual games more than work in a team.
At work
You can notice yourself in behaviors such as watching the wall or the shoes of someone when you have a conversation. Moreover, you can hear your colleagues saying you speak like a robot. On your desk, every item has its own special place, and you don’t like to have them rearranged.
Even if you are very good at technical stuff, such as software coding, you may struggle to succeed in other areas. Another sign would be if you talk with your coworkers the same way you talk with your family and friends. You may find yourself making involuntary noises in meetings (again, the throat clearing, for example).
Another one would be if you don’t know if your boss is happy with your performance or mad at you when you two are talking. This is because of your lack of ability to interpret communications signals.
People with ASD may have extraordinary talents when it comes to visuals, music, art, and math, and 40% of autistic individuals have average or above-average intelligence. If some of these symptoms are familiar to you, consult a doctor or a mental health professional for an evaluation.
If you found yourself in this situation or you have someone close to you who managed to be diagnosed, this is a book that you can find on Amazon and maybe it can make your life a little easier: Life Coaching for Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Discovering Your True Potential
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