Unusual symptoms of autism in adults

It turns out that many people only find out about their neuroatypicality in adulthood, but there are also those who are unaware of it throughout their lives.

It is difficult to describe an adult with autism and even more difficult to diagnose. We present seven unusual symptoms that may indicate ASD in adults.

Specialists agree that determining autism spectrum disorder in adults is not an easy task. Usually, when functioning in society, they develop the ability to mask all symptoms and “somehow” cope – with better or worse results. Autism can manifest itself in many ways, but some behaviours may indicate ASD:

The fundamental problem in autism spectrum disorders is not a deficit in social skills, but rather hypersensitivity to experiences, which includes a strong fear response. For many years, it was wrongly believed that people with autism lacked empathy and were unable to respond emotionally to the harm of another person.

The latest research refutes this thesis, proving that it is quite the opposite. These people feel emotions too intensely and often cannot cope with them. A cold attitude towards the environment in social relationships is therefore not a sign of a lack of empathy and compassion, but a response to its overwhelming excess.

Even very young children have the ability to laugh, which they develop through interactions with their surroundings. If this interaction is disturbed in some way, it is difficult to have a healthy laughter reflex.

In people with ASD, nervous giggling at the wrong time can often be a symptom of their brain not coping with stress. The body makes them laugh because it tries to release the tension, regardless of their will. In addition, there is the inability to cope with extreme emotions.

Autistic children often show no fear of danger because they do not understand, like their peers, what consequences their behaviour may have. It turns out that a similar pattern may appear in adults on the spectrum.

Fear is an instinctive reaction to a threat. It warns us of danger and motivates us to take action to protect ourselves or others. Adults with ASD function differently, have their own needs and experience the world and other people in their way.

Fear is also an emotion that appears in them at completely unexpected moments.

Adults on the autism spectrum may have problems communicating with others in everyday life. In social interactions, they usually cannot conduct small talk, they do not understand metaphors and non-verbal messages – facial expressions, and gestures, and it may be difficult for them to modulate the tone of voice.

They also have difficulty maintaining eye contact during a conversation. This causes frustration and fear. According to scientists, such feelings decrease in the presence of animals that provide unconditional acceptance. People with ASD feel safer in their company than among people, mainly because animals do not judge them and accept them as they are.

Sensory processing disorder is a common symptom in people with ASD. Unfortunately, this causes discomfort and even pain and causes a lot of difficulty in everyday functioning. It is very difficult to constantly regulate your senses and at the same time remain focused on orienting yourself in the world.

Sometimes the touch of another person can mean physical pain, and sometimes only very strong pressure will allow you to “feel your body”. Assuming unnatural body positions, bending limbs, and hand contractures result from abnormalities in receiving and integrating stimuli from the environment.

Adults with sensory integration disorders may behave strangely and incomprehensibly to those around them because their nervous system cannot properly activate the processes of inhibiting and stimulating information so that the motor response or behaviour is appropriate to the type and intensity of the stimulus.

Everyone has their passions in which they are more or less involved. People on the autism spectrum may develop a phenomenon called hyperfocus, which involves deep hyperconcentration on one specific topic, task or thought. And although it seems harmless, it can become problematic.

It happens that the intense interests of a person with autism lead to socially unacceptable behaviour or dangerous situations. Such excessive focus is primarily associated with ADHD and is listed as one of the main features of this disorder, but it may also occur in people on the autism spectrum.

People with autism are often perceived as cold, incapable of feeling, withdrawn, uninterested and asexual. This is a wrong and harmful belief, because people living on the spectrum also love and want to be loved, just in their own way.

Partners with autism cannot therefore be expected to read between the lines and be fluent in understanding love codes. Being a non-neurotypical person involves a different way of working the mind, a different sensory experience, but also a different way of showing emotions. This naturally translates into romantic relationships.

Autistic people’s romantic experiences are as diverse as themselves. Some of them cope very well in everyday life, work and get education. Others need more support. However, regardless of how a person functions, everyone has a need to love and be loved.

This article was originally published by Onet.