The topic of neurodiversity is so diverse these days that we invariably know someone who’s going through their own rite of passage in this realm, whether it’s getting a diagnosis of ADHD or people empathizing with certain autistic traits.
Many people are getting an autism diagnosis far later in life because it wasn’t noticed during school or college, and naturally, some people may wonder if it’s even worth doing. With something like ADHD, evidence is being shown that throughout people’s childhoods, 20s, and 30s don’t present the same traits, but it’s the middle years where a lot of these repressed behaviors start to come to the surface.
If you have found yourself wondering if you’re actually on the autism spectrum, there’s a few things to remember:
Diagnosis is Possible at Any Age
While ASD (autism spectrum disorder) is typically diagnosed in childhood, it is entirely possible to receive a diagnosis as an adult. Organizations like Prosper Health work with people on diagnosis, but also therapy. The latter point is particularly important because coming to terms with something that affirms a lot of your lifelong suspicions about yourself can be overwhelming.
Those of a certain age may also feel that they’re not on the spectrum, but they are, and it’s a very vast playing field at the moment because numerous high-functioning individuals may not be diagnosed until adulthood because of mild symptoms or the ability to mask their traits.
- There are several factors that contribute to late autism diagnosis, such as:
Those who are high-functioning may have above-average intelligence. - Gender differences in autism presentation, with women often being better at masking traits.
- Misdiagnosis with other conditions such as OCD, anxiety, and ADHD.
The Impact of a Later Diagnosis
There can be two distinct schools of thought here. Firstly, someone who is diagnosed later in life may now find the answers as to why they have always felt they were wired differently. Those who never felt they were nurtured properly because they were just too different and have gradually, over time, learned to fall in with everyone else can experience a massive sense of validation.
When that clarity and context come, this can help people to understand themselves, resulting in improved self-awareness but also the ability to manage difficult situations. However, it may also bring mixed emotions, possibly because they were almost used to a certain way of thinking and also the stigma that may come with a condition like ASD.
Additionally, there may be people in their lives who don’t believe that they are on the spectrum, which is more common than you may think.
This is why a diagnosis later in life can certainly bring about mixed results, but this is where the appropriate support is necessary. Those who have been diagnosed later in life may benefit from more structured support, such as community resources like peer support groups, as well as better accommodations in the workplace. There’s a variety of accessible resources, not just in community settings but in clinical ones, and this is critical for promoting the self-acceptance of traits as well as a person’s well-being.
There is a growing need for more research on autism in adults and improving diagnostic tools. What’s more, depending on where you are, there may not be great awareness among healthcare professionals about recognizing autism symptoms.
Navigating the “Autistic Traits” Piece of the Puzzle
For those who are wondering if they are on the spectrum or may have another neurodiverse condition, it can feel isolating to navigate this world. There is that concern that while you may be on your journey towards getting some form of autism diagnosis, there is that thought at the back of people’s minds that you may have traits but aren’t actually autistic. What’s important to remember is that if you go down the correct route and consult a qualified neuropsychologist or psychologist experienced in adult autism assessments, you can get a comprehensive evaluation.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that there is something called the broad autism phenotype, which means you are someone who has some autistic traits but does not meet the full diagnostic criteria. But we need to have some perspective on this because you may very well have traits, but just because you’re not autistic or are typical of another neurodivergent condition doesn’t mean that you can’t work to address those things you believed were symptomatic of ASD. This is why we need to dig deep on managing the traits that cause difficulties in our daily lives.
It seems that now more than ever, we’re all having difficulties with focus and concentration, and there’s many different lifestyle factors that play here, such as increased smartphone usage, stress, and that ongoing sense of anxiety that living in the modern world is very typical of. That doesn’t mean that you have ADHD or have autism, but the most important thing to remember here is to focus on managing those symptoms. Things like:
- Addressing sensory sensitivities.
- Improving communication strategies.
- Learning social skills through practice and therapy.
- Stress management techniques.
The latter is particularly important, especially if you are someone who identifies with what’s known as rejection sensitive dysphoria, a relatively new phenomenon that results in rumination and anxiety from any type of rejection.
It’s Not a “Disease” or a “Bad Thing”
What we have to remember is that even if we had a diagnosis of autism, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll have a cure because there is ultimately no pill for it. Things that we have in our life which are symptomatic of the condition need to be addressed, and it’s vital to remember this, especially if you’re particularly looking for validation. There are so many things to consider, for example, you may be unconsciously masking or camouflaging your traits, which can impact your mental health and can mean you’re exhausted, but there are tools like CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) that can address mental health concerns.
A lot of people are looking at autism or other neurodiverse conditions because they’re seeing it through their children. The fact is that there are many teenagers on the neurodiverse spectrum, and rather than thinking about it purely as a label, the goal is about improving your quality of life and well-being.
We have to remember that those who have any lifelong condition, whether it’s ASD or a disability, these things do not make you a lesser person, but if your traits are causing you anxiety or are impairing your functions, professional guidance is absolutely there. Remember, just because you have a piece of paper that says you are autistic or ADHD doesn’t mean that it is a bad thing either. It’s absolutely your superpower, but also, most importantly, it is who you are.
