Signs and Symptoms

Knowing the signs and symptoms of autism allows for early identification and intervention, which can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with autism. Early detection enables access to appropriate support services, therapies, and educational resources tailored to the individual's needs.

Early Signs

Early signs of autism usually starts to occur from 9 to 12 months of age and persist onwards. Here are some common indications that one might have this condition:

Lack of communication and social skills. This includes but not limited to delayed language, cognitive, and learning skills, shows few to no gestures such as waving goodbye, having no eye contact, not responding to their names, and not showing interests with others during playtime.
Showing restricted or repetitive behavior. This includes lining up of toys or other objects and getting upset when order is changed, flapping of hands or spinning in circles, and playing with toys the same way every time, such as focusing only on wheels of toy cars. These behaviors differentiate ASD from conditions characterized solely by difficulties in social communication and interaction.
Health-related issues and habits such as hyperactivity, impulsive, or inattentive behavior, unusual eating and sleeping habits, gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, lack or having excessive fear than expected, and unusual moods and tantrums.

While some of these signs are accurate, most of these are not distinct for autism only and might occur from other health conditions as well. It is important to seek professional help and get a proper diagnosis.

Adult Signs

Signs of autism in adults can start to become apparent during adolescence or early adulthood, although they may not always be recognized or diagnosed until later in life. Some common starting signs of autism in adults include:

Difficulty with Social Interactions: Adults with autism may struggle with understanding social cues, making eye contact, maintaining conversations, or interpreting others' emotions and intentions.
Repetitive Behaviors: Engaging in repetitive behaviors or routines, such as hand-flapping, rocking, or rigid adherence to specific schedules or rituals, is common in adults with autism.
Communication Challenges: Adults with autism may have difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings verbally, understanding non-literal language like sarcasm or idioms, or initiating and sustaining conversations.
Adapting Difficulty: Some adults with autism find it challenging to cope with changes in routine or unexpected transitions, leading to anxiety or distress.
Narrow Interests: Having intense interests in specific topics or hobbies, often to the exclusion of other activities, is common among adults with autism.
Perspective-taking Difficulty Difficulty understanding others' perspectives, emotions, or intentions, known as theory of mind deficits, may be present in some adults with autism.
Executive Functioning Challenges: Difficulties with organization, planning, time management, and problem-solving, collectively known as executive functioning skills, are common in adults with autism.

It is important to seek professional help and get a proper diagnosis. It's important to note that not all adults with autism will exhibit all of these signs, and the severity of symptoms can vary widely. Additionally, some individuals may have developed coping mechanisms or learned to mask their symptoms, making it more challenging to recognize autism in adulthood.