Therefore, it appears that while some individuals may be aware they are autistic, others may not fully understand why they have difficulties connecting with people socially or engaging in conversation - yet still realize they are 'different.
Signs of autism present themselves in each person in a different way. In many cases, a person does not recognize these signs as autism until adulthood.
An assessment is done by autism specialists. It's the only way to find out if you or your child are autistic.
Absolutely. Many people with high functioning autism do not even realize they are on the spectrum until later in life, indicating that it is not only possible but quite common to live a “normal” life with high functioning autism.
Late Diagnosis of Autism
It's not uncommon for people to go through life without an autism diagnosis only to realize they may have autism later in life. It usually comes from feeling like they never quite “fit in” and recognizing some of the symptoms above in their own life.
Therefore, it appears that while some individuals may be aware they are autistic, others may not fully understand why they have difficulties connecting with people socially or engaging in conversation - yet still realize they are 'different.
Untreated autism causes changes in brain function that make it more difficult for the person to control impulsive behavior or think rationally about their actions before they act on them.
Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
Individuals on the autism spectrum often have difficulty recognising and understanding social cues and therefore do not instinctively learn to adjust their behaviour to suit different social contexts.
While cognitive empathy can be lower in people with autism, affective empathy—which is based on instincts and involuntary responses to the emotions of others—can be strong and overwhelming. In fact, newer research suggests that some people with autism may actually feel other people's emotions more intensely.
Although 2019 research suggests some symptoms of ADHD and ASD overlap, there are distinct differences. A person with ADHD may have attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity challenges. But an autistic individual may have difficulties with communication, social interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors.
Symptoms of High-Functioning Autism
They don't make much eye contact or small talk. People on the spectrum who are high-functioning can also be very devoted to routine and order. They might have repetitive and restrictive habits that seem odd to others. There's a wide range of how they do with school and work.
Many people affected by autism like to review conversations to themselves. This can include repeating lines from their favorite movies, TV shows or YouTube channels. We call this “scripting.” It's a common repetitive behavior that can be a source of comfort when the person is anxious or excited.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference that affects the way people think and communicate with others. A preference for logical thinking is a characteristic of autism in many people. Not all autistic people lean on logic to guide their thinking, though.
It is possible to be mildly autistic, but many of the behaviors and preferences found in autistic people are also common to people who do not have autism. The difference is that autistic people engage in these behaviors in different ways and for different reasons.
There are other brain disorders that mimic autism symptoms, like ADHD and anxiety disorders, including selective mutism. Autism can be misdiagnosed as another disorder with some shared symptoms.
The difference between social awkwardness and autism tend to overlap because both have similar characteristics. Some people with autism might avoid eye contact, have difficulty with inflation of their voice, and even have trouble understanding sarcasm and jokes.
Although the exact cause of autism is still unknown, there is evidence to suggest that genetics play a significant role. Since autism is less prevalent in females, autism was always thought to be passed down from the mother. However, research suggests that autism genes are usually inherited from the father.
Autism vs. autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — what's the difference? The American Psychiatric Association changed the term autism to autism spectrum disorder in 2013. ASD is now an umbrella term that covers the different levels of autism.
Common life experiences such as facing the death of a loved one, failed romantic relationships, employment problems, etc., can exacerbate autism symptoms in adults. In these cases, autism symptoms can get worse with age, but not necessarily due to the disorder neurologically worsening.
In conclusion, autism does not necessarily get worse with age, but the symptoms can change over time.
We respond by avoiding the distressing stimuli—avoidance being another core feature of PTSD. All of this hints at a complex and poorly understood relationship between autism and PTSD. While autism is never caused by trauma, there may be something about living with autism that is inherently traumatic.