Yes, you can absolutely have autism and not know it, especially if traits are mild, masked by learned coping strategies (masking), or present differently than traditionally recognized (often in females), leading to later-life diagnosis or self-identification as an adult after realizing social difficulties or sensory issues stem from being on the spectrum. Many adults discover their autism later, explaining lifelong challenges with anxiety, isolation, or feeling "different," often after learning more about it or seeing it in others.
Other signs of autism
not understanding social "rules", such as not talking over people. avoiding eye contact. getting too close to other people, or getting very upset if someone touches or gets too close to you. noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others do not.
Mild autism symptoms in adults
Here are some common signs of “mild autism” in adults to look out for: finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling. getting very anxious about social situations. finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own.
If you have low support needs (high-functioning autism), you may have symptoms such as:
It's possible to mask your autism without even realizing it. For some people, masking looks like adopting more “subtle” stimming behaviors, like using a fidget spinner instead of flapping their hands.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Physical Symptoms:
New research from King's College London sheds light on how some autistic people can disguise their social difficulties and show good social skills when interacting with others.
Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Autism
Top 10 Calming Strategies for Autism
changing speech or tone of voice, for example by using less direct phrasing, or being more or less animated. suppressing, reducing or hiding stimming (such as hand flapping or echolalia), or switching to less noticeable stims such as playing with a pen.
There is not just one cause of ASD. Many different factors have been identified that may make a child more likely to have ASD, including environmental, biologic, and genetic factors.
Untreated autism can lead to limitations in an individual's ability to become independent in various aspects of life. Difficulties with social interactions and communication can hinder the development of essential life skills, such as forming relationships, managing personal care, and navigating daily tasks.
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms.
Autism red flags involve challenges with social communication (like avoiding eye contact, not responding to name by 12 months, lack of shared smiles/pointing) and restricted, repetitive behaviors (like hand-flapping, strong routines, lining up toys, intense fixations, sensory sensitivities, or loss of skills). Early signs in infants include no warm smiles by 6 months or no back-and-forth gestures by 12 months; regression (losing skills) is a major flag. If you notice these, seek immediate evaluation from your pediatrician.
Someone with ADHD is more likely to seek out novelty and make more impulsive decisions, whereas an autistic person is more likely to crave routine and structure.
What Is Asperger's Syndrome? Asperger's Syndrome is a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is a developmental disorder. Young people with Asperger's Syndrome may have a hard time relating to others socially, repetitive behavior patterns, and a narrow range of interests.
In the United States, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is usually diagnosed in children between 3 and 7 years of age. However, studies have shown that parents usually have concerns about their child's development, especially social development, at or before 18 months of age.
Symptoms of High-Functioning Autism
Difficulty with Social Interaction: Individuals with high-functioning autism may struggle to understand social norms, make eye contact, initiate or maintain conversations, and interpret nonverbal cues such as facial expressions or body language.
Schizophrenia and ASD are not only historically linked by the notion of autism but also overlap in clinical, epidemiological and genetic terms.
Chinning is a form of repetitive self-stimulatory behavior (stimming) that you may notice in children or adults with autism. It involves pressing, rubbing, or holding the chin against objects, surfaces, or even hands to gain sensory input or comfort.
In general, people who have an active lifestyle are much more emotionally resilient and focused. There also seems to be some evidence that physical exercise helps people with depression and ADHD, which are commonly co-occurring conditions with autism.
When someone is in a state of high anxiety or flooded with sensory input the brain can become overwhelmed and demand a fight, flight, or freeze response from the body. In autistic people this can result in a meltdown (the equivalent of the 'fight' response) which is often mistaken for a temper tantrum.