5 Signs of Undiagnosed Autism in Adults

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common neurological disorders, with 1 in 45 adults in the United States currently living with an autism diagnosis. Over the last few decades, societal education on and awareness of autism has grown thanks to public health efforts and increased advocacy. 

Autism is typically diagnosed in early childhood, around the age of four, and often requires support and therapies in daily life. However, many adults with autism may have never received a diagnosis due to having low support needs, also known as “high-functioning” autism. 

If you’re an adult who doesn’t have an autism diagnosis but you’ve always felt that you were a little different or quirky, know you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon for adults with high-functioning autism to never realize that their way of thinking or processing was different from others or to have been misdiagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can present very similarly to autism. 

For some, getting an autism diagnosis as an adult can be emotionally distressing. However, for others, it can provide much-needed clarity for both past and future life experiences.

At RapidRecovery TMS in Wilmington, North Carolina, our team understands the power an autism diagnosis can have for providing meaning and opening doors for support. 

In this month’s blog, we discuss five categories of autism symptoms that may indicate you’re living with undiagnosed autism. 

1. Social interactions

When you have autism, social interactions can be very challenging or confusing for a variety of reasons. So, if you are on the spectrum, you may notice that you:

• Feel very awkward in social settings 
• Have social anxiety
• Prefer to be alone
• Can’t interpret what others are thinking or feeling 
• Have difficulties understanding social rules and norms
• Can’t maintain friendships

2. Communication

Verbal and nonverbal communication struggles look vastly different from one autistic person to another. However, these are some of the more common manifestations of communication symptoms:

• Extreme discomfort giving eye contact
• Taking things too literally, not being able to interpret sarcasm or figures of speech
• Not being able to continue conversations
• Responding too bluntly during conversations
• Using a monotone or robotic voice during conversations
• Not being able to interpret the facial expressions or body language of others

3. Repetitive or restrictive behaviors

Another common autistic trait is having rigid thought patterns and behaviors, typically because it provides a sense of control. While most of us like to have some type of routine and may like things set up a certain way, when you have autism, unexpected changes in those routines or item arrangement can give you high levels of anxiety. You may even have powerful outbursts of emotion, such as anger or sadness.  

4. Interests or hobbies

You may have autism if you have very limited interests, finding yourself fixated on those interests and not being able to talk about anything else. You may be the expert on these particular things since you find them so fascinating. This part of autism can also look like:

• Excelling in certain subject areas, such as math or the arts
• Being a strong auditory or visual learner
• Having strong attention to detail in your areas of interest
• Being able to remember information for a long time

5. Sensory sensitivities 

It’s common for adults with autism to have a high sensitivity to sensory stimulation. You may get easily overwhelmed and bothered by loud noises, bright lights, clothing textures, or strong smells. 

Expert autism diagnosis and care

If you suspect you’re an adult with autism, help is available. Our expert and compassionate team can walk you through the diagnostic process and let you know about your management strategy options. 

To get started with our RapidRecovery TMS team, simply call our office or use our online booking feature to schedule an appointment today.