Autistic Adults
How are autistic characteristics in adults different?
Autistic characteristics in adulthood may look differently than in childhood. Characteristics that are more common in adulthood may include:
Difficulty in understanding other people's thoughts or emotions
Anxiousness in social situations
Difficulty in making friends or preferring to be alone
Sounding blunt, rude, or uninterested in others without intending to
Difficulty in explaining feelings
Taking words or phrases literally
Having the same routine and feeling distressed if the routine is not followed
Other characteristics may include:
Not understanding social rules
Avoiding eye contact
Getting too close or getting upset if others get too close
Noticing details, patterns, smells, or sounds if people get too close
Having a keen interest in certain subjects or activities
Planning things before doing them
autism and queerness
The largest study on sexual activity, orientation, and health of autistic individuals reaffirms previous research that autistic individuals are more likely to have a wider range of sexual orientations than non-autistic individuals. The results from this study reveal that autistic people are 7-8 times more likely to identify as asexual or non-heterosexual orientations. It is not very understood as to why this is.
Words of the Autistic community:
Neurotypical - an informal term used to describe a person whose brain functions are considered usual or expected by society. (Rudy,
Neurodiverse - refers to differences in brain function among people diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Neurodivergent - describes someone who isn't neurotypical
Meltdown - Having extreme reactions to specific situations. When someone is overstimulated, they may lose behavioral control. This can look like crying, shouting, laying on the floor, and sometimes engaging in dangerous behaviors such as self-injury or aggression.
Sensory Processing - sensory problems relating to sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch, balance, and general body awareness. There are two types of sensory processing: Hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) and hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness).
Stimming (self-stimulatory behavior)- specific, repetitive behaviors that can include hand-flapping, rocking, spinning or repetition of words and phrases
Preservation - repetitive or persistent action or thought, after the stimulus that prompted it has ceased. The person may have difficulty shifting gears.
Masking - camouflaging autistic characteristics
For more words, click here
Autistic Assessments:
If you think you might be autistic, talk to your doctor or therapist if you would like to receive an Autism Assessment. An assessment may help you to understand why you might find some things harder than other people, explain to others why you see and feel the world in a different way, and get support at college, university or get some financial benefits. Before your assessment, Here are some ways you can prepare:
Write a list of the signs of autism you think you have and bring it with you
Ask people who know you if they have noticed any possible signs
If helpful, bring someone with you who knows you well
Purple Ella
Purple Ella is Autistic, ADHD, nonbinary, content creator, and advocate. Check out their video about their experience with the Adult Autism Assessment:
