Adult Autism One of the things that is often overlooked when it comes to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the diagnosis in adults. But the truth is that many people with milder manifestations of autistic characteristics often manage to blend in over time by camouflaging their difficulties. However, it may have warning signs that may have been overlooked, misidentified, or ignored. But if we take the time to look back, we realize that these signs were very present.
Symptoms of autism
It can be difficult to make a diagnosis of a disorder Adult autism However, there are some common features of autism that are recognizable in adults. Such as :
- Persistent difficulties in social relationships
- Lack of empathy and difficulty deciphering other people’s intentions
- Sensory overload (hypersensitivity and hypersensitivity)
- specific interests
- routine
- Exceptional skills
- sleep problems
- Anxiety problems
- special offers
Having just one sign does not mean you are autistic. A diagnosis can only be made when one or more disorders appear in each of these areas:
- Deficits in communication and social interaction
- The restricted and repetitive nature of behaviors and interests.
Several criteria also have an effect: age, frequency and severity of signs. This is why an assessment that is adapted to each case can only be performed by trained health professionals (psychiatrist, speech therapist, psychomotor therapist, etc.).
Symptoms of autism in infants
Autism can only be diagnosed from the age of three. However, before this age, they may appear Symptoms of autism in infants Indeed, this appears in:
Lack of interaction with parents or loved ones.
No babbling before 12 months, no speech before 18 months, no association with words before 24 months,
Lack of pointing or waving.
The first warning sign
The responsibility of the first warning signs rests with the parents. Do you think your child has a developmental disability? You have the right to be concerned. You know your child best. HAS is also a parental concern as a major warning sign that could legitimize a comprehensive examination of a child’s development by the attending physician or pediatrician.
Symptoms of autism in children
Autism in children Between 2 and 6 years, over the course of months, abnormal development of communication or interactions may appear, including:
- Absence or delay of language – or cessation after language has begun.
- Inappropriate verbal and non-verbal language.
- Repeating words or phrases.
- Refuse to play with other children.
While some behaviors are intensified, including:
- Great distress because of anything that gets out of the routine.
- repetitive and compulsive gestures (swinging, spinning, clapping hands, etc.),
- Refusal of certain foods.
Adult autism at school age
The first steps of an autistic child at school can be very upsetting. Because they misunderstand interactions with other children or adults, they may tend to isolate themselves, have difficulty communicating, and develop repetitive and compulsive behaviors. School staff can monitor these signals. Feel free to enter into a dialogue with them. In particular, they will be able to offer you an interview with the school doctor to improve the assessment and direct you towards a diagnostic course if necessary.
Symptoms of mild autism
In some cases of mild autism that are milder or without mental retardation, certain signs are detected more specifically in adolescence:
- isolation.
- Not understanding social norms.
- Difficulty expressing or controlling emotions.
- lack of empathy
- Difficulty understanding abstract or second-order language.
- Obsessive interest in certain topics.
Symptoms of autism in girls
Signs of autism spectrum disorder are usually more difficult and later to detect in girls. They have, in fact, a greater ability to adapt which allows them to compensate for the main manifestations of autism (difficulties in social interactions and repetitive behaviours).
What are the symptoms of autism in adulthood?
Some cases of autism may not be recognized during childhood. However, it can have very tangible consequences for adulthood. Where the symptoms of autism appear in adults and therefore, some people can succeed in communication, and enjoy a professional life, and do not show repetitive behaviors outside. However, they feel real discomfort because:
- Difficulties in their relationships at work or with those close to them.
- their isolation.
- Hypersensitivity to their environment (noise, light, etc.).
- Very limited interests that cannot be shared with others.
What are the symptoms of autism?
Here we will answer a frequently asked question, which is what are the symptoms of autism? , and how is autism diagnosed? We currently have many reference guides on defining autism and the diagnostic criteria that characterize it. One of them is the guide to the International Classification of Diseases ICD-11 (2018) released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The International Classification of Diseases is an essential tool for determining health trends and statistics around the world and provides a common language that allows health professionals to share health information around the world. The second is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 (2013), developed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). And finally, DC: 0-5 (2016) developed by “Zero to Three”. There is often great confusion about the different terms. It is a symptom of autism on the basis of which the diagnosis is made.
Persistent deficiencies in social communication and social interaction In multiple contexts, these deficiencies indicate:
- Deficiencies in social and emotional treatment, reduced interests, emotions or affection and failure to initiate or respond to social
- interactions.
- Lack or impairment in non-verbal communication for social interaction (difficulties with eye contact, body language, etc.).
- Deficiencies in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships.
There must also be a pattern of limited and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities, on at least two of the following:
- Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements.
- Inflexibility of routine, ritualistic patterns of verbal or nonverbal behaviour.
- Obsessive interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus.
- Sensory hypersensitivity, lack of response, or unusual interest in sensory aspects.
How to treat a child with autism and why?
On the question of how to deal with an autistic child, the first thing we will say is something quite obvious, we will treat them simply as other children basically, naturally, with respect and empathy. This means that we do not have to treat them differently, but it is true that we can act in a certain way to make things easier (or better) for them in many ways. That they don’t feel overwhelmed, or that they feel understood, appreciated, etc. We can also act in a certain way so that they feel more comfortable, and so that they can enhance all their potential. In other words, it is about providing an ‘advantage’ to their well-being, quality of life and resilience, and not treating them in a discriminatory way (neither in a positive nor in a negative sense). In addition, it should be noted that many of these children can lead practically normal (or standard) lives, especially those without additional intellectual disability. Therefore, the guidelines we suggest on how to treat an autistic child are as follows:
1. Empathize with them
The first clear guideline, a general guideline for all children, even affected adults of autism in adults It is common sense to treat people with empathy. So the first guideline comes from common sense. How would we treat them if not? Treating them with empathy, trying to understand how they feel at all times to adapt our behavior to each situation.
2. Anticipating situations or events
The second, more specific guideline consists of the following: Anticipate the events of the day, and the changes that may have arisen. This will help reduce the levels of anxiety experienced by children with autism.
3. Provide routines
Because of the characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder, routines are key so they don’t have to worry about what will happen (or won’t happen), and to organize their world in their minds.
4. Use alternate communication systems (if needed)
Remember that up to 75% of children with autism also have an intellectual disability, which can be mild, moderate or severe. In this sense, there is a group of children who also do not have a language (they do not speak), but they do have communication. That is why in these cases we must use alternative communication systems, such as pictograms, mobile communicators, virtual keyboards … Everything depends on the type and characteristics of the child.
5. Organize your activities
Whether you work with the child (as a therapist, psychologist, educator…) or if you are his or her parent, family member, it can be very helpful to organize the activities that you do together a lot. They, in addition to their need for routine and expectation, need guidelines, set guidelines, schedules, structure, planning… This helps them structure their sometimes somewhat chaotic mind, and their world as well.
6. Reinforce their positive behaviour
It is also important to reinforce appropriate behaviours, increasing their intensity, duration and frequency. For this, behavioral programs (or behavioral therapy, such as the ABA method, Applied Behavior Analysis) are very effective.
Children who have been diagnosed with autism already suffer from isolation and social distancing. Therefore, one of the first conditions for dealing with them is to consider them as normal children, with your attempt to understand and empathize with them and facilitate life matters for them, and this does not only involve children, but with autism in adults also.
