What is the life of an autistic adult? Autism in adults has many facets. It’s as difficult to describe an autistic adult as it is to classify the disease itself. Ana from the diagnosis: “autism” actually pleased. She was always different. She didn’t understand why, and it bothered her. Now that she knows, her life is easier.
Autism in adults is most often diagnosed in childhood, although there are cases of confirmation at a later age. Autism in adult men, as in children, is diagnosed four times more often than autism in women. Autism spectrum disorders generate a number of problems, not only health but also social, and are associated with the exclusion of autistic people from the community, difficulties in finding a job or even with meeting their basic needs.
Autism in adults – research
The diagnosis of autism is usually about 2. one year old. It is rare that the disorder is not recognised until adulthood (atypical adult autism). However, this may be the case with high functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome. People suffering from this type of autistic disorder can function in society, but are considered by the environment as unsympathetic people.
Diagnosis of autism in both childhood and adulthood usually does not require imaging or laboratory tests (they can be useful in differential diagnosis or in case of suspected autism in the background of genetic disorders). It is mainly based on careful observation by a specialist. Sometimes a psychiatrist or neurologist will use specialized tools, such as ados-2, to help you make a diagnosis.
The test for autism for adults, also called the AQ test, is a simple diagnostic tool that allows you to determine the presence of autistic traits. This test consists of 50 questions relating to the performance of certain activities and ways of spending free time. Each question must be answered by choosing one of four answers.
Autism – symptoms in adults
Autistic characteristics in adults can be of varying degrees of severity. It should be understood that the name “autism spectrum disorders” refers to the variety of symptoms presented and the degree of their severity. Autism spectrum disorders in adults appear similar to those in children. A distinction is made between high-functioning (mild) and low-functioning autism based on the severity of the symptoms.
Autistic features in adults:
- difficulties or total inability to build relationships-adults with autism are very often lonely because they cannot and do not feel the need to share their lives with another person.
- Big problems with adaptation to changes-adult autistic, as is the case with children, can not accept the changes occurring in his life. Changing your job or place of residence almost always involves a lot of stress and many difficulties. Their lives usually follow a single, well-established pattern.
- Total or partial lack of ability to read the emotions and intentions of another person is a key feature for all disorders on the autism spectrum and often represents the fact that such people are perceived by the environment as people who are hostile, sensitive and arrogant. Adults with autism also have difficulty expressing their emotions.
- Inability to read metaphors, sarcasm, allusions-people with autism do not understand the true meaning of proverbs or metaphors. Saying that someone was as big as an oak means to them that someone, literally, was the height of a tree. Not making eye contact.
- Hypersensitivity to certain stimuli: auditory, auditory or tactile-sometimes a touch or an attempt to hug by another person can lead to an outburst of anger or withdrawal.
Autism in adolescents and its associated symptoms may resemble those seen in both adults and children.
Very interesting is the fact that autism is four times more often diagnosed in men. This may be due to the fact that the male sex is actually more susceptible to this type of disorder, or to the fact that female autism and the symptoms that accompany it are usually less severe and often not detected.