Autism is a condition that affects the way a person communicates and interacts.
It is a spectrum condition which means that there are varying degrees to how it can affect someone's life. There is a range of issues that a person with autism can find difficult from social challenges to having an over (or under) sensitivity to light, sounds, taste or touch.
Roughly 1% of the UK population, or an estimated 700,000 people, are diagnosed as autistic. Although autism is predominantly diagnosed in childhood when the first signs are usually seen, growing numbers of people aren't diagnosed until adulthood.
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Celebrities such as Christine McGuiness and Melanie Sykes have spoken out about how they have been diagnosed with autism as adults. The former Miss Liverpool explained in her book, Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare, that it was a "relief" to receive her diagnosis.
She said: "I have been confirmed as autistic. It’s strange, but I’ve noticed there are little hints throughout my life that I’m autistic and more like my children than I ever could have imagined.
"My issues with food, my social struggles, how hard I find it to make friends and stay focused, and my indecisiveness. The way I float through life reminds me of how my eldest daughter Penelope is.
"It all makes sense now. And as much as I’m not totally surprised, it’s still been emotional for me to accept, but it’s a relief as well."
The National Autistic Society (NAS) explained it's "quite common" for people to go through life without an autism diagnosis, but feeling like they don’t quite fit in. NAS chief executive Caroline Stevens said: "Every autistic person is different, but the core characteristics of autism are always the same, whether you’re six or 60."
Diagnosing autism in adults can be tricky as a diagnostician or doctor will want to look back in time and explore how the person has developed and interacted with people throughout their life. However, getting a diagnosis later in life can answer many questions. Understanding what it's like to be autistic can reveal both the strengths and the difficulties without the right supports.
The NHS explain some of the symptoms of autism in adults. We have rounded up the list below.
Common signs of autism in adults
- 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
- seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to
- finding it hard to say how you feel
- taking things very literally – for example, you may not understand sarcasm or phrases like "break a leg"
- having the same routine every day and getting very anxious if it change
- 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
- having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
- liking to plan things carefully before doing them
The NHS also explain some other symptoms of autism, which include:
- 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
- having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
- liking to plan things carefully before doing them
The NHS advise people to se a GP if you think you may be autistic as getting diagnosed could help you receive any extra support you might need. It adds: "If you already see a health professional, such as another doctor or therapist, you could speak to them instead."
You can find the NHS' full advice on signs of autism in adults here
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