Plus, undiagnosed autism in adults is often due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. Many adults do not obtain an official diagnosis, partly because during their early years their caretakers and teachers did not recognize or understand the signs of autism. Regarding ASD, Healthgrades informs that while the symptoms of autism almost always appear in childhood, often before age 2, they are not always recognized. Healthgrades, a resource for finding area physicians and hospitals based on individual need, provides information on diagnosing autism in adults. “Some may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.” “The ways in which autistic people learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged,” shares ASNC Director of Communications David Laxton. And, because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges, notes ASNC. Instead, there are various subtypes, determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. An estimated 5,437,988 (2.21%) adults in the United States have ASD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Īdult autism is not a clear-cut condition. Raleigh, N.C.-based Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) offers that adult autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is characterized by a range of social skill challenges, including repetitive behaviors and nonverbal communication.

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