Have you ever met someone who’s a bit different, maybe a little peculiar? Someone who’s super shy or perhaps too honest, to the point of seeming rude? Well, that friend might just be on the autism spectrum. In this article, Dr Andre Wambier sheds light on ten subtle signs of mild autism in adults and offer a quick, self-assessment test to see if you or someone you know might fit the description.
Autism in adults can look different from how it appears in children. For starters, adults who reach adulthood without a diagnosis often have milder forms of autism. Also, like everyone else, autistic individuals grow and learn, and they often develop ways to mask their traits. This article will help you understand these characteristics better, and you might even recognize them in a friend, family member, or even yourself.
The Rise of Autism Diagnoses
One of the most striking things to consider is the huge increase in autism diagnoses over the years. It’s not a small change; it’s massive. Back in the 1970s, only about 1 in 10,000 people were diagnosed with autism. By 1995, that number jumped to 1 in 1,000. In 2002, it was 1 in 150, and now, it’s about 1 in 54 births. This doesn’t mean everyone will be autistic soon. While factors like diet, pollution, and parents having children later in life might play a role, the biggest reason for this increase is that we’ve simply gotten much better at recognizing and diagnosing autism.
In the 1970s and 80s, only those with severe difficulties in daily life and a high need for support were diagnosed. Many with milder cases went undiagnosed, often labeled as quirky, naive, quiet, or just plain odd. They might have even received other psychiatric diagnoses without anyone realizing autism was at the root of it all. After reading this, you might start to suspect some people you know, or even yourself.
What is Autism?
Autism is a neurological condition. It’s mainly about differences in communication and social interaction. This means autistic people might think, communicate, perceive, and interact with the world and themselves in a different way. To make it clearer, let’s use an analogy.
Imagine our brains are like cell phones. Most phones use the Android operating system; it’s the most common, the typical one. So, people with this kind of brain function are called neurotypical. A much smaller number of people use iPhones, and their operating system is iOS. Let’s call them autistic. Some apps that work well on Android might not work the same way on iOS, and vice-versa. This doesn’t mean one phone is better than the other; they’re just different. Even phones using the same operating system have different features. Your phone from ten years ago isn’t like the one you have today. Similarly, neurotypical people aren’t all the same, and neither are autistic people. That’s why we talk about the autism spectrum—it’s a continuous range. Some people have many traits, while others have so few that even experts might disagree on a diagnosis.
Of course, there are some common traits that, when present, can suggest the possibility of autism. Remember, to be on the spectrum, a person doesn’t need to have all the traits listed here. Also, having two or three traits doesn’t automatically mean you’re autistic. A diagnosis depends not just on the number of traits but also on how intense they are and how much they affect a person’s life. A final diagnosis should come from a specialist, like a neurologist, psychiatrist, or neuropsychologist. But just thinking about the possibility can make a big difference. If you are autistic, you have certain rights protected by law. And if you know someone who is, understanding them better can help you support them for a better quality of life.
Ten Common Traits of Mild Autism in Adults
Here are ten common traits seen in people on the autism spectrum:
Key Takeaways
- Hypersensitivity to Sounds and Textures: Autistic people often notice small sounds others miss. It’s not better hearing or smell, but a different kind of perception. While neurotypical people might hear a faint hum from an air conditioner or a clock ticking and then ignore it, autistic people can find these sounds extremely bothersome. They might also be bothered by clothing tags, certain fabric textures, or even the feel of some foods.
- Focus on Details, Not the Whole Picture: This is like seeing the trees but missing the forest. Autistic individuals might describe every detail of a person’s nose but struggle to recognize that same person after seeing them only once.
- Attachment to Routines: People on the spectrum can get very upset when their routines are interrupted. They like to follow the same steps to get ready in the morning, take the same route to work, or eat the same breakfast. They are very attached to rules and routines and can get stressed if they have to break from them. Also, they might find it hard to split their attention between two tasks, like listening to a teacher and copying notes from the board.
- Difficulty Reading Between the Lines: Autistic people often struggle to pick up on subtle cues from tone of voice or body language. They tend to take things very literally, finding it hard to understand sarcasm or jokes with double meanings. This can make them feel left out because they don’t get the real intention behind what someone said.
- Difficulty With Eye Contact: You know that person who avoids your gaze when talking? Some autistic people might be able to make eye contact, but it feels uncomfortable or tiring for them. Some even say it causes physical pain.
- Struggling to Understand Others’ Intentions: Autistic people can sometimes be very naive. They might find it hard to put themselves in someone else’s shoes or understand what motivates others. There’s a story about an Italian volleyball player who spent 15 years thinking he was dating a famous model, spending millions of dollars and even skipping meals to send money to a scammer. He only communicated with his supposed girlfriend by phone or message and never suspected anything. Autistic people are often very honest and literal. It doesn’t occur to them that others might not act the same way.
- Difficulty Reading Emotions from Faces: If someone is angry or sad, an autistic person might not pick up on it just by looking at their face. In tests where people have to identify emotions from photos, autistic individuals often perform worse than neurotypical people of the same age, unless they’ve been taught how to recognize these patterns. If a partner is upset and has a frown, an autistic person might not realize they’re angry unless it’s clearly stated.
- Antisocial Tendencies: This doesn’t mean autistic people don’t want friends; they do, and they try. But a lack of social skills and acceptance from groups can lead to social anxiety, making interaction even harder. Plus, their hypersensitivity to sounds and visuals means loud, crowded, or brightly lit places can be extremely stressful, so they often avoid parties. When they do attend events, they feel exhausted.
- Intense Focus on Specific Interests: This often involves technology, science, instruments, or tools—activities that don’t involve people. It’s not just an interest; it’s an intense focus, almost an obsession. They only want to read or talk about that one subject. This intense focus often makes autistic people experts in their areas of interest, which can be a big advantage in the workplace. Many companies in Silicon Valley, for example, hire autistic individuals for certain roles because they are often exceptionally good at them.
- Extreme Honesty: Autistic people can be very honest, which might come across as rude or childish. They often struggle to understand what’s appropriate or inappropriate to say in different situations. Without guidance, they might say someone’s outfit is ugly or make personal comments at the dinner table.
The Quick Autism Test (AQ-10)
Now, do you want to take a quick test to see if you might be on the autism spectrum? Grab a pen and paper for the AQ-10, a shorter version of a well-known 50-question test. This version is also valid. You’ll number your paper from 1 to 10 and divide it into four columns:
- Strongly Agree (100% of the time)
- Partially Agree (most of the time or almost always)
- Partially Disagree (almost never)
- Strongly Disagree (never)
Let’s go!
- I often notice sounds that other people don’t. (Like the air conditioner hum that bothers you but no one else.) Mark your answer.
- I usually focus more on the whole picture of an image rather than the details. (Do you see the forest more than the trees?) Mark your answer.
- I find it easy to do more than one thing at a time. (Can you always do this, sometimes, almost never, or never?) Mark your answer.
- If I’m interrupted, I can easily go back to what I was doing. (For example, if you’re writing and the phone rings, can you quickly get back to where you were without losing your train of thought?) Mark your answer.
- I find it easy to read between the lines when someone is talking to me. (Can you tell if someone is interested in you, sad, or in a bad mood?) Mark your answer.
- I know when I’m boring someone with my conversation. (When you’re talking about something specific, do you notice when the other person isn’t enjoying it, or do you not notice at all and keep talking?) Mark your answer.
- When I read a story, I find it hard to predict the characters’ intentions. (In a movie, do you know who the bad guy is, or understand that one character is in love with another?) Mark your answer.
- I like to collect information about categories of things (cars, birds, trains, plants, etc.). (Do you have a very deep interest in something? When you go on Google, do you research the same thing over and over?) Mark your answer.
- I find it easy to figure out what other people are thinking or feeling just by looking at their face. (Do you just glance and know what someone is thinking or feeling?) Mark your answer.
- I find it hard to understand people’s intentions. (Do you struggle to understand why someone is doing something? Do you never see malice in things?) Mark your answer.
Scoring Your Test
Now, let’s add up your points. For questions 1, 7, 8, and 10, if you marked “Strongly Agree” or “Partially Agree,” give yourself one point. For the other six questions (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9), if you marked “Strongly Disagree” or “Partially Disagree,” give yourself one point. These are the answers that might suggest autism.
If you scored six or more points, it could be an indication of autism. However, having many points or signs of autism doesn’t mean you are definitely autistic. No single test is completely conclusive, and the AQ-10 you just took isn’t the most comprehensive one. High scores simply mean it might be worth looking into further. If you scored six or more, consider talking to a specialist for a more thorough evaluation.