Diagnosis For Autism Spectrum Disorder as an Adult

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by social and behavioral difficulties and repetitive behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), autism exists at any age, across different races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups. Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months, however, there are many people that receive a diagnosis later in life - even in adulthood.

According to Healthline, there are no specific diagnostic criteria for adults with autism. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning its effects vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. Severe symptoms of autism are typically recognized earlier in life, and an individual will be diagnosed as a toddler or in early school-age years.

If you are an adult that believes you may have autism, we recommend consulting a psychiatrist or psychologist for an evaluation. Adults with autism may experience the following in the areas of social, communication, and behavioral skills.

Social

  • Difficulty regulating emotions

  • Trouble keeping up a conversation

  • Difficulty maintaining a conversation

  • Social anxiety 

  • Difficulty making or maintaining close friendships

  • Discomfort maintaining eye contact

Communication

  • Lack of inflection when speaking 

  • Issues understanding sarcasm 

  • Non-verbal, use signs or gesture to communicate 

  • Difficulty understand other people’s feelings or thinking 

  • Trouble interpreting facial expressions, body language, and social cues 

Behavior

  • Clumsiness 

  • The need to arrange items in a certain order

  • Hypersensitive to sounds or smells that don’t bother others

  • Have repetitive or routine behaviors

  • Only participates in a restricted range of activities 

  • Strict consistency of daily routines; outbursts when changes occur

  • Deep knowledge of one particular topic, such as movies 

  • Involuntary outburst or noises such as repetitive throat clearing 

  • Prefers to do solitary activities

If you think someone has autism and is interested in speaking with a professional then please contact our Autism Help Hotline. 

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