Do you ever wonder how complex it is to understand the human mind? Sometimes, you ask why some people interact differently, think differently, or have different perceptions about the world. While we’re aware that different people are unique in various ways, there are still certain behaviors that indicate a person is on the autism spectrum. Some may show signs of autism in adults but are totally not aware that they’re on the spectrum. Adults with autism also face complex challenges in their day-to-day life.
Often, an individual on the spectrum may not appear different, and it’s challenging to recognize it. That’s why others need to know these signs so they can better understand them. This way, we can all foster a more inclusive and compassionate society. Here are nine signs of autism in adults;
1. Social Communication Challenges
Do you encounter someone who is having difficulty initiating a conversation? Sometimes, even after trying, maintaining that conversation is extra difficult. They might also have limited eye contact, as if they are extremely shy. When it comes to social cues, they always misinterpret and have difficulty understanding humor, sarcasm, and metaphors. People who know nothing might perceive these behaviors as rudeness, disinterest, and lack of social skills. As uncomfortable as it is to be understood, it’s also challenging and sometimes embarrassing for that person to have that behavior because they also don’t know why they are like that.
2. Repetitive Behaviors and Interests
Repetitive behavior, known as “stimming,” may also indicate a sign of autism in adults. One of these repetitive behaviors involves motor movements like rocking on a chair or hand-flapping. When it comes to interest, it’s the intense focus on particular topics or activities. A person with this behavior refuses to be detached from routines and will not change unless they are satisfied. Oftentimes, such behaviors are perceived as obsessive. We can only imagine how annoying it is for people who lack understanding of these kinds of behaviors. They just interpret it as odd and unacceptable.
3. Sensory Sensitivities
A person expressing everyday situations as difficult and challenging indicates another sign of autism in adults. This behavior is known as sensory sensitivities. These sensitivities manifest in four primary sensories. An auditory sensitivity shows when an alarm clock can be painfully loud. Visual sensitivity shows when the fluorescent light is overwhelming. Tactile sensitivity is when a certain fabric feels too abrasive on the skin. Olfactory sensitivity is when smells like food odors, perfumes, soaps, and other cleaning items are too strong. These key sensory sensitivities can easily lead to frustration and meltdowns that can be perceived as poor behavior and lack of self-control.
4. Language Delays or Differences
Language delay and differences may be considered social communication challenges. This manifests when a person has difficulty with pragmatics and struggles to understand language in a social context. They take languages too literally and don’t understand sarcasm and metaphors. Adults with autism often use limited nonverbal communication, such as eye contact and facial expressions. They have unusual language patterns, like idiosyncratic language, that only they can usually understand. Sometimes, they speak in a monotonous tone, very formal or very polite, even if the situation is just casual. These behaviors are misinterpreted as delays in language development and may be seen as foolishness, denseness, and low intelligence.
5. Difficulty with Executive Functioning
A person who has difficulty with executive functioning struggles in planning and organization. It’s hard for them to make plans and prioritize tasks. Their time management is also bad because they can’t seem to meet deadlines and are always late at work. Likewise, initiating a task is too difficult for them to do since they can’t sustain the required effort for it. Their working memory is as bad as not following instructions and forgetting pertinent information. Impulse control is also an issue for them since they blurt out their thoughts or sometimes engage in dangerous behaviors. These signs of autism in adults lead to poor time management, which causes them to miss deadlines and other important schedules. Oftentimes, these behaviors are perceived as sloppiness, negligence, laziness, and irresponsibility.
6. Unusual Motor Behaviors
The unusual motor behavior manifests in everyday activities, such as many dropping objects like phones, pens, glasses, and bottles. There’s also the spilling of drinks or tripping and bumping into objects. And this happens because of the poor calculations of distances. Struggling with buttoning clothes, tying shoes, and writing neatly also fall into this unusual motor behavior. When it comes to social interactions, these behaviors manifest in awkward body language and difficulties in physical activities like sports. These motor challenges are seen as a lack of grace and poor coordination.
7. Limited Imagination and Creativity
A person with limited imagination and creativity has challenges with abstract thinking. They can’t understand concepts that aren’t solid or literal. Their rigid thinking strictly adheres to routines, and they refuse to change. They also don’t engage in pretend play because they have limited creativity. Generating innovative ideas is also very difficult for them to do since they are not very keen on solving problems. This behavior is misinterpreted as being conventional, dull, uninspired, predictable, or just plain mindless. Meanwhile, engagement in the arts may help people in the spectrum express their true feelings.
8. Social Isolation or Withdrawal
Social isolation and withdrawal is a common sign of autism in adults. It manifests in many ways, such as actively avoiding social gatherings and parties. Most of the time, they want to be alone and are comfortable with that. They do not seek attention from anyone since they don’t know how to maintain relationships. This social isolation can be perceived as timidity. Sometimes, it can be seen as arrogance because of the lack of interest in mingling with a certain group of people.
9. Masked Feelings For Women
Women are generally seen as more outgoing and expressive regarding their feelings and emotions. That’s why when it comes to signs of autism in adults, it’s autism in women that it’s normally challenging to identify. Many women with signs of the spectrum learn to keep their emotions unexpressed. They adapt strategies to mask their autistic traits by trying to fit in with societal expectations. More often than not, this masking leads to being extra quiet to suppress their feelings. This behavior is then misinterpreted as a delay in social skills, mysterious, intriguing, insecure, boring, and uninteresting.
Recognizing Signs of Autism in Adults
These signs of autism in adults are important to understand because such behaviors are often unintentional and a result of neurological differences. By understanding the challenges individuals face with autism, we can foster a more compassionate and inclusive society. Instead of criticizing or judging, let’s support instead and be more patient and kinder.