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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often known simply as autism, is a developmental disability in children and adults. Autism can present with a variety of symptoms, typically affecting social skills as well as both verbal and nonverbal communication. Signs of autism in adults are similar to those in children.
Typically, symptoms of autism spectrum disorder appear before the age of three. Infants and young children are often screened for autism during pediatric medical care visits. It can be more challenging to be diagnosed with autism as an adult.
While many of the clinical signs of autism in adults are consistent with those in children, some adults may mask their symptoms socially. Examples of common signs of autism in adults include challenges with reading and responding to social cues, difficulty communicating in ways that others understand, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests.3 Learn more about the signs of autism in adults, how the condition is diagnosed, and when to see a healthcare provider.
Autism Is a Spectrum
As the name autism spectrum disorder implies, autism is a spectrum. This means that it is experienced differently by each person and there are a range of possible symptoms, so symptoms can be difficult to quantify. This article will discuss some of the clinically identified symptoms and how they may present in people with autism.
Social Symptoms
Many adults with autism find it challenging to relate to and communicate with others in a way that is considered “typical” in society. Symptoms of autism related to social interactions, relationships, and communication may include:
Difficulty making and keeping friends
Finding it difficult to read social cues in others, such as facial expressions or tone of voice
Finding it hard to express emotions, whether through words, body language, or facial expressions
Having a “flat” tone when speaking
Having trouble listening while others speak
Low presentation of empathy
Not adapting or difficulty adapting to different social situations
Not making eye contact
Not understanding social norms, such as unspoken “rules of etiquette”
Social anxiety
Taking words and phrases literally (for example, someone with autism may struggle to understand sarcasm)5
Trouble understanding nonverbal communication
Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors
Adults with autism often engage in repetitive and/or restricted behaviors. These may affect their physical movements, speech, interests, and daily habits.
Symptoms of autism related to repetition and restriction may include:
Being more interested in objects than people
Difficulty shifting focus from one topic or activity to another
Echolalia (repeating words or phrases)
Following a strict routine and feeling stressed when it changes
Limited, narrow, or obsessive interests
Repetitive movements (sometimes called “stimming”), such as flapping hands and rocking back and forth
Sensory Symptoms
Some adults with autism experience and respond to sensory input (i.e., touch, tastes, smells, sounds, and sights) in atypical ways. Sensory symptoms associated with ASD include:2
Avoiding physical touch
Being hypo- or hypersensitive to sensory stimuli such as lights or sounds
Being more sensitive to the tastes, smells, and textures of particular foods
Being overstimulated by lights, crowds, and noise
Eating only certain foods
Feeling less or more startled than usual by noises
Food aversions (intense dislike of specific foods)
A low or high pain tolerance
Sensitivity to heat and/or cold