{"id":11826,"date":"2021-09-14T07:10:12","date_gmt":"2021-09-14T12:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/last-drum.flywheelsites.com\/?p=11826"},"modified":"2025-01-21T16:47:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T21:47:04","slug":"autism-symptoms-and-diagnosis-in-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.org\/autism-symptoms-and-diagnosis-in-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Autism Symptoms and Diagnosis in Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The mean age of autism diagnosis in the US and UK is <\/span>4 to 5<\/span><\/a>, though later diagnoses do occur (Zwiagenbaum et al., 2019). Age at diagnosis depends upon variables such as symptom severity, socioeconomic status, and initial parental concerns or misidentification of symptoms as behavioral issues (<\/span>Fountain et al., 2011<\/span><\/a>; <\/span>Shattuck et al., 2009<\/span><\/a>). Typically individuals with more severe symptom challenges receive an autism diagnosis early in life compared to those with subtle symptomatic differences (Zwiagenbaum et al., 2019; <\/span>Edelson et al., 2020<\/span><\/a>). Those diagnosed later in life are thought to have less severe symptoms and a higher likelihood of reaching self-sufficiency and functionality (<\/span>Jones et al., 2014<\/span><\/a>). However, this successful adaptation to symptoms often masks an autism diagnosis and leaves many of these individuals to experience autism-related health issues without understanding the root cause (<\/span>Griffith et al., 2012<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Autism<\/span><\/div>
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Autism was first recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders<\/em> in 1980 and until recently was understood only as a pediatric condition (<\/span>Verhoeff, 2013<\/span><\/a>); this left potentially significant numbers of teenagers and adults (now adults and seniors) under- or misdiagnosed for decades. As our understanding of autism and its prevalence has evolved, mid-to-late life diagnosis has become a more important topic in autism research (<\/span>Au-Yeng et al., 2018<\/span><\/a>). Presently, reliable assessments and diagnostic measures specific to older age groups have yet to be developed and widely accepted (<\/span>Wingham et al., 2019<\/span><\/a>). Edelson et al. (<\/span>2020<\/span><\/a>) presuppose that the current lack of a diagnosis may be due to insufficient healthcare training surrounding the medical and social\/emotional needs and the communication, sensory and behavioral challenges faced by adults on the spectrum. They call for a greater focus on validated diagnostic assessments for adults and seniors with autism in order to provide sufficient medical and social support for these individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Autism Symptoms in Adults<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cClassic\u201d symptoms of autism in children are not always present in adults on the spectrum, especially in those underdiagnosed as children (<\/span>Lewis, 2018<\/span><\/a>). Adults on the spectrum commonly exhibit symptoms related to social and communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors, sensory processing difficulties, and issues with executive function and theory of mind. Short descriptions and lists of common symptoms in adults are listed below (<\/span>Autism Speaks, 2015<\/span><\/a>; Lewis, 2018).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Social Symptoms<\/b><\/h3>\n

Social difficulties include issues with communication and understanding, which sometimes makes the ordinary exchange process of social conversation difficult. It is often difficult for adults with autism to see things from another point of view and interpret nonverbal communications such as eye-rolling, shoulder shrugging, or other facial expressions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n