The Communication and Behavioral Signs of Autism in Adults

What is autism and what are the the communication and behavioral signs of autism in adults? DSM 5 autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complicated, lifelong condition that includes problems with communication and behavior.

Consequently, people with autism have trouble with communication. They have trouble understanding what other people think and feel. Above all, this makes it hard for them to express themselves, either with words or through gestures, facial expressions, and touch.

People with autism may have problems with learning. Therefore, their skills might develop unevenly. For example, they could have trouble communicating but be unusually good at art, music, math, or things that involve memory. Because of this, they might do especially well on tests of analysis or problem-solving.

The Communication and Behavioral Signs of Autism in Adults

 Early Signs of Autism

Basically, early signs of this disorder can be noticed by parents/caregivers or pediatricians before a child reaches one year of age.

However, symptoms typically become more consistently visible by the time a child is 2 or 3 years old.

In some cases, the problems related to autism may be mild and not apparent until the child starts school, after which their deficits may be pronounced when amongst their peers.

Social communication deficits may include:

Firstly, decreased sharing of interests with others.
Difficulty appreciating their own & others’ emotions.
Aversion to maintaining eye contact.
Fourthly, lack of proficiency with use of non-verbal gestures.
Stilted or scripted speech.
Interpreting abstract ideas literally.
Lastly, difficulty making friends or keeping them.

Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors may include:

Firstly, inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change.
Being overly focused on niche subjects to the exclusion of others.
Expecting others to be equally interested in those subjects.
Fourthly, difficulty tolerating changes in routine and new experiences.
Sensory hypersensitivity, e.g., aversion to loud noises.
Stereotypical movements such as hand flapping, rocking, spinning.
Lastly, arranging things, often toys, in a very particular manner.

 Signs of Autism in Adults

Common signs of autism in adults include:

lastly, finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling
getting very anxious about social situations
finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own
fourthly, seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to
finding it hard to say how you feel
taking things very literally – for example, you may not understand sarcasm or phrases like “break a leg”
lastly, having the same routine every day and getting very anxious if it changes

Other signs of autism

You may also have other signs, like:

firstly, not understanding social “rules”, such as not talking over people
avoiding eye contact
in addition, getting too close to other people, or getting very upset if someone touches or gets too close to you
noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others do not
having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
lastly, liking to plan things carefully before doing them

 Signs of High Functioning Autism

Not to mention, the communication and behavioral signs of autism in adults is specifically characterized in general. Every person with autism will be affected differently. Some people have a more challenging time with social, learning, or communication abilities.

Subsequently, they may need help with everyday tasks and in some cases aren’t able to live alone. Many people call this autism with “low support needs.”

Equally, the common signs of autism with high support needs in adults are very similar to those in children but will change situationally as children grow up.

Comparatively, it is a good idea to review the childhood list in addition to the one below, as many of the signs may overlap. Some of the most common traits in adults include:

Firstly, inability to maintain eye contact without discomfort
Trouble assessing social cues
Anxiety in social settings
Fourthly, has a hard time with the nuances of verbal communication and trouble understanding jokes and sarcasm
Rituals and restrictive habits
Easily overloaded by sensory input or overwhelmed
Additionally, trouble making decisions
Adherence to strict routines
Noticing sensory input (sounds, smells, etc.) that others don’t
Difficulty speaking in a two-way conversation
In addition, ability to “hyper-focus” on work or a specific interest
Experiencing emotions more intensely than others
Frustration with even small changes or disruptions
Sensitivity to light, noise, or smell
Also, difficulty with transitions; frequently late
Would prefer to listen and observe than speak and interact
Often accused of being rude or blunt.
May have perfectionism in certain areas.
Additionally, prefers to work at home or away from others
Avoids stressful social situations such as parties
May be seen as “selfish” due to being overly concerned with oneself.
Has a hard time tracking when more than one conversation is occurring at once
Finally, tends to take things literally.

Another common sign of ASD in both children and adults is the presence of common co-occurring disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, OCD, and bipolar disorder.

Unmasking Autism

At any rate, roughly 2% of adults in the United States have Autism Spectrum Disorder – that’s about 5.4 million people over the age of 18. And a lot of them go through their lives “masking.”

Even more, social psychologist Devon Price explains that masking is any attempt or strategy “to hide your disability.” Price’s new book, Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity, explores masking, and how to “unmask” and live more freely.

In addition to hiding from others, Price says masking is also a coping mechanism. “You know that if you show your discomfort with eye contact, people will find you untrustworthy and treat you very differently,” he says.

Adult Autism Diagnosis

The communication and behavioral signs of autism in adults is different for eveyone. However, seeking an ASD diagnosis as an adult can be challenging for several reasons:

Firstly, people who did not receive a diagnosis in their younger years may have milder symptoms, which can be more difficult to recognize. Therefore, at times, such people may never get a diagnosis.
If people have been living with ASD for some time, they may be better at masking the signs and symptoms.
Lastly, research shows that one of the common diagnostic tests for autism in adulthood, the ADOS-2, may be fairly reliable. However, a doctor needs to recognize a person’s symptoms to refer them to testing.

 Is there a test for ASD in adults?

By the same token, clinicians have developed different tests that can help diagnose ASD in adults. A 2023 paper states that the gold standard diagnostic assessment tool for autism is ADOS-2.

However, the authors also state that diagnostic procedures do not always align with the preferences of the autistic community or the neurodiversity paradigm.

Even so, it is also not clear how reliable diagnostic tests for autism are. The reasons for this include:

Researchers who look at the reliability of ASD tests often use a small number of study participants.
In any event, not many research studies on testing for adult ASD include enough participants from historically underserved groups, such as people of color or people who are LGBTQIA+. This means the results of studies looking at ASD testing methods may not represent a true population of autistic adults.
Given that, many clinicians may not be familiar with the signs of ASD in adulthood. This is especially true if the patient’s symptoms are not severe or if the patient also has other conditions, for example, anxiety.

 How to begin a diagnosis process

Notwithstanding, adults who suspect they or a loved one might be autistic can do a self-assessment test for adults. A person can find these tests online. While they cannot give a diagnosis, the tests are a good starting point.

Nonetheless, a person seeking a diagnosis can take the results of such a test to a primary care doctor who will try to determine whether ASD may be present by:

firstly, enquiring about the symptoms, both current and during childhood
observing and interacting with the person
speaking to a loved one (with permission)
lastly, checking for other physical or mental health conditions that may be causing symptoms

Hence, if no underlying physical condition can explain the symptoms, the doctor may refer the person to a psychiatrist or a psychologist to make an ASD diagnosis.

Important to realize, if symptoms are not present in childhood but begin in adolescence or adulthood, this may indicate a cognitive or mental health condition other than ASD.

It may be difficult to find a specialist who can diagnose ASD in adults. Therefore, individuals who would like a diagnosis for themselves or a loved one may need to research to find a provider with experience diagnosing autistic adults.

Another option is to speak to a developmental pediatrician or child psychiatrist willing to see adult clients.

 Benefits of diagnosis

The communication and behavioral signs of autism in adults is sometimes hard to diagnose. Not every undiagnosed autistic adult may want or need a diagnosis.

Particularly, it is important to respect the needs and preferences of the individual. For those who prefer it, a diagnosis may offer several advantages.

Firstly, it may provide an explanation for the challenges an autistic individual may be experiencing.
It may give family members, friends, and colleagues a better understanding of ASD.
It may open up access to services and benefits, including in the workplace or education environments.
Lastly, it may replace an incorrect diagnosis, such as ADHD.

Autism Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Autism Initiatives
In a word, the AAP Autism Initiatives includes policy statements and clinical reports, information on autism prevalence, tools and resources for pediatricians, and resources for families.

The Arc
Overall, this agency promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They do this through policy and advocacy, initiatives on various aspects of life, and resources.

Asperger/Autism Network (AANE)
In short, AANE works with individuals, families, and professionals to help people with autism spectrum build meaningful, connected lives. They provide resources on a wide variety of topics as well as community, support, and advocacy.

AUCD Network Centers
In essence, AUCD supports and promotes a national network of federally funded university-based interdisciplinary programs. These centers include the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education. Also, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs).

Autism Science Foundation
In general, ASF strives to support autism research by providing research funding and by providing information to the general public. They do this through their Weekly Science Podcast, Day of Learning, and more.

Autism Society
In sum, Autism Society provides advocacy, education, referrals, support, and more at the national, state, and local level through their nationwide network of affiliates.

Autism Speaks
In this case, Autism Speaks addresses the needs of people on the autism spectrum and their families through advocacy, support, resources, and research.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
ASAN seeks to advance the rights of people with autism. Therefore, they are run by and for autistic people.

Conclusion

The communication and behavioral signs of autism in adults can result in a meltdown.

An Autistic meltdown, also sometimes referred to as an autonomic storm, is a reaction to feelings of intense overwhelm, distress, or dysregulation.

Although some may see an Autistic meltdown as a tantrum, or worse – as someone being manipulative to get their way – that is not the case.

Autism spectrum disorder, commonly known as ASD, affects how people communicate and interact with others. In truth, it affects how they make sense of the world.

Autism is a developmental condition that is typically life-long. On the whole, people with autism experience difficulties with communication, social interaction and restricted/repetitive interests and behaviors.

Of course, these are often accompanied by sensory issues, such an oversensitivity or under sensitivity to sounds, smells or touch. On the negative side, all of these difficulties may lead to behavioral challenges in some individuals.

The term “spectrum” is used to emphasize that autism presents differently in every single person. People with autism have a wide range of challenges as well as abilities. Until next time…

Articles About Autism

-What Are the Three Levels of Autism?

https://theplaceforchildrenwithautism.com/diagnosing-autism/the-three-levels-of-autism#:~:text=Level%201%20is%20the%20mildest,form%20and%20maintain%20personal%20relationships.

-All About Autistic Meltdowns: A Guide For Allies

https://reframingautism.org.au/all-about-autistic-meltdowns-a-guide-for-allies/#:~:text=An%20Autistic%20meltdown%2C%20also%20sometimes,that%20is%20not%20the%20case.

-Everything you need to know about autism in adults

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326841

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy, One Voice In The Vastness Of Emotions

“I might hit developmental and societal milestones in a different order than my peers, but I am able to accomplish these small victories on my own time.”-Haley Moss – Attorney, Autism Spectrum Award Winner 2019, Advisory Board Member

Social Anxiety vs Autism: Similarities and Differences(Opens in a new browser tab)

What Is Social Anxiety Disorder And Treatment For This Dibilitating Disorder(Opens in a new browser tab)

ADHD in Adult Women(Opens in a new browser tab)

Depression Due To Isolation(Opens in a new browser tab)

Mixed Anxiety Depressive Disorder (MADD)(Opens in a new browser tab)