Differences In The Signs Of Autism Between Children And Adults

Autism spectrum disorder can be diagnosed at any age. Autism is a form of neurodivergence disorder that people are born with, it cannot be developed later in life. Autism affects how people behave and interact with the world around them. Autism is more common in males; however, females can have autism too. Some people with autism can get diagnosed as early as 1, while other people may not get diagnosed until adulthood. The signs of autism in children and adults are different. In this blog post, we share the differences in autism between children and adults. 

Autism in Children

It is easier to obtain a diagnosis of autism in children as they have not learnt how to live with their signs and symptoms of autism yet, therefore their symptoms are more visible. One of the most common signs of autism in children is a lack of behaviour and communication development. For example, children may have difficulty displaying their emotions, they may display an extreme reaction if they are not in a routine and having trouble with certain sounds. They also may engage in repetitive behaviours and may have trouble interacting with others. In addition, they may avoid or have trouble maintaining eye contact with others, being unresponsive to their name being called, being overly fixated on specific objects, while ignoring other things, displaying a lack of attachment to their parents, and preferring to spend time alone.  

Autism in Adults

Sometimes the signs of autism are not that noticeable as a child, therefore you might not get a diagnosis until adulthood. However, as an adult, getting a diagnosis for autism is difficult because people have become used to their habits and behaviours. Furthermore, some adults may not be aware of their autism. The most common sign of autism in adults is problems with communication and social interaction. This may result in them finding it difficult to communicate how they are feeling, causing them to act out and have trouble regulating their emotions. In addition, they may have difficultly relating to people and understanding their emotions, along with having trouble understanding sarcasm. This may result in them having difficulty making friends or maintaining friendships. They also may have specific interests and routines and find it harder to try new things and change their routine.  

Overall, there are significant differences between signs of autism in children and adults. However, this blog post is just a guide, therefore it is important to get a formal diagnosis of autism from a health professional.