People with autism often struggle with social communication, understanding nonverbal cues, managing sensory input (lights, sounds, textures), adhering strictly to routines, and handling unexpected changes, leading to anxiety, difficulty making friends, and repetitive behaviors, though challenges vary widely among individuals.
Autistic people may act in a different way to other people
find it hard to understand how other people think or feel. find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable. get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events. take longer to understand information.
Signs and Symptoms of High Functioning Autism in Adults
OTHER CHALLENGING ISSUES COMMON TO AUTISM
Social anxiety – or extreme fear of new people, crowds and social situations – is especially common among people with autism. In addition, many people with autism have difficulty controlling anxiety once something triggers it.
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.
Understanding autistic meltdowns and shutdowns
The researchers found that of 890 individuals who met the inclusive definition of autism and had IQ scores available, 59 percent had an average or higher IQ score. Of the 453 individuals who met the narrow criteria, 51 percent had an average or higher IQ score.
Examples of literal thinking in autism
Common colloquial phrases are sometimes taken literally by autistic individuals, who may misunderstand the meaning. For example, if someone says, “Break a leg” or “Hit the books,” a literal thinker might take it as actually breaking a leg or physically striking their books.
Seven key signs of autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD) often involve difficulties with social communication (like avoiding eye contact or not responding to their name), restricted/repetitive behaviors (like hand-flapping or lining up toys), strong reactions to sensory input (lights, sounds), intense focus on specific interests, distress over changes in routine, challenges with social cues (like sarcasm), and sometimes, delays in speech or pretend play. These signs vary greatly and appear in different combinations, often becoming noticeable in early childhood.
Top 10 Calming Strategies for Autism
How Autism Shapes Social Cue Recognition
The different types of autism include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), autistic disorder (classic autism), Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), and Rett syndrome.
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.
Sensory experiences are some of the easiest ways to worsen autism symptoms. Sensory overload and hypersensitivity can make autism worse due to sensory sensitivities. Lights can be too bright, and noises can be too loud. Taste, smell, and touch can also lead to a sensory experience that makes autism symptoms worse.
Special skills typically fall into a narrow range of areas. A recent study2 suggested that more than 70% of autistic children and adults had a special isolated skill in memory (52% of the sample), visuo‐spatial abilities (32%), calculation, drawing or music (about 17% for each area).
Autistic people may get easily attached to people, leading them to become over-friendly.
Slow Down. Another thing that's important to do when you experience conflict is slow down and take deep breaths. Fights happen so fast and can easily trigger intense emotional responses that make conflict worse. It actually can be helpful to even ask for some time to process how you are feeling.
Signs of autism in adults
Some autistic people have interests in things that other people may find unusual (or unusual for their age) or very specific. For example, a specific type of engine, an animated TV series or a niche academic interest. Having very intense, uncommon interests is a well-known sign that a child or adult may be autistic.
Children with autism may exhibit rigidity, inflexibility and certain types of repetitive behavior such as: Insistence on following a specific routine. Having difficulty accepting changes in the schedule. A strong preoccupation with a particular interest.
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.
Autistic people may prefer following set routines or rituals (including having or using favourite items), knowing what is going to happen in advance and for rules to be the same for everyone. These characteristics may help you plan and organise and keep calm and happy.