Can you be diagnosed with autism in adulthood?

Answer 1

Yes adults can have symptoms of autism. In more severe types of autism, such as low functioning autism, the symptoms and characteristics are usually lifelong and can not be mitigated.

In more severe cases of those with low functioning autism, the symptoms can include the following:

1.lack of proper communication skills (not being able to talk or repeats certain words)

2.maladaptive behavior

3.constant preoccupation with an object or an interest

4.tics

5.poor hygiene and not being able to care for oneself.

In less severe cases of autism, such as high functioning autism (or Asperger's Syndrome) the symptoms can be less severe and more mild, and throughout the adult's life, symptoms can be mitigated or improved as time continues.

Usually in the cases of high functioning autism, the symptoms will include the following:

1.pedantic, verbose, tangential, or unusually abrupt speech.

2.heavy narrowly focused interests in a specific topic (but this can mitigated as the adult matures, and the adult may be able to become more well rounded in many other topics)

3.unusual or poor social skills or shyness (again, this symptom can also be improved when the adult matures)

4.Engagement in long winded deep discussions that can bore the listener.

5.Average or high IQ.

6. pedantic "nerdy" behavior.

Answer 2

Absolutely! Asperger's Syndrome was not a recognized condition until the mid-1990s. Those who were born before it was recognized might not have had any reason to be diagnosed as adults. Also, those who do not seem to have significant problems or do not cause trouble are often overlooked, so they can reach adulthood without being diagnosed.

Answer 3

Yes, of course you can have Asperger Syndrome as an adult.

Asperger Syndrome is no longer a diagnosis, it has been merged with Autism - people who may have previously been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome would now be diagnosed as Autistic. Autism is a neurological difference, we are born Autistic and continue to be Autistic throughout our lives.

Answer 4

Yes, a lot of people are not diagnosed until adulthood.
Take me as an example:
I was severely effected by autism as a child - non-verbal, unable to eat or bathe, constant meltdowns - I was clearly Autistic but at the time Autism wasn't well-known and those who did know about it considered it something that only effected boys so I'd not have been diagnosed anyway. My behaviour and problems were blamed upon childhood abuse. In my teens my school made me go to therapy because I struggled in school, they knew I was Autistic but at the time there was no pathway to diagnosis so they didn't inform me of their suspicions. As an adult I had no idea I was Autistic, I knew I was different but not why that was, it wasn't until I started working with disabled students and learned about autism that I realized - by this time it was law in the UK to have access to diagnosis, so after about a year I had an assessment and was diagnosed as Autistic in my late twenties.

Answer 5

Yes. This is most likely if you have a mild case of autism or were misdiagnosed with a different condition as a child.

Answer 6

Yes, Asperger's Syndrome is a condition you have for life. You will not outgrow it, so you will still have it as an adult.

Answer 7

Adults cannot get autism, because it starts at a young age (usually when children are 2-3) but children diagnosed with autism can still have it in adulthood.