A top psychologist has revealed the tell-tale signs of autism in adults that are often dismissed.
It follows a recent study from King’s College London that found nine in ten autistic adults could be living undiagnosed.
In light of their findings, Dr Lisa Williams, a clinical psychologist, has shared seven ways it can present in adulthood.
The first is having rigid routines that provide a feeling of security but if disrupted can result in heightened stress, reports The Independent.
Next, she revealed, is workplace difficulties like coping with frequent changes, navigating office politics, or participating in group meetings.
In the office, they also may struggle to pick up on subtle social cues like eye contact, small talk, body language, subtle humour, and respect for personal space, she said.
They ‘often think differently from neurotypical people and can interpret things more literally,’ she added.
‘This may result in feeling out of step in social settings or needing extra time to process interactions, even with years of life experience.’
Dr Lisa Williams, a clinical psychologist and founder of The Autism Service, a diagnostic assessment service, shared seven tell-tale signs of autism in adults
She explained the traits can often present in the workplace as well as other areas of their lives
But it can also affect their romantic relationships, particularly when it comes to expressing feelings or interpreting flirting.
Dr Williams has seen individuals feel uncomfortable with physical closeness who prefer to live alone instead of sharing a home.
She explained: ‘They often thrive in relationships with partners who are understanding of their needs, communicate openly, and are willing to adapt to their preferred ways of connecting.’
The classic traits like sensitivity to noise, light, textures and odours can also present in undiagnosed adults, she added.
This tends to be a problem in busy and noisy settings or when wearing clothing which can trigger sensory difficulties.
They may also find change considerably more challenging, like ‘moving house, starting a new job or adapting to new technology’, Dr Williams said.
And, she said autistic adults can develop ‘deep interests in particular subjects or hobbies’ that ‘can appear to be a lifelong passion’.
But explained: ‘If it dominates their free time and tends to be something they talk about obsessively, it could be a sign that the person falls somewhere on the autistic spectrum.’
However, she added, in the workplace they can succeed with managers who provide reasonable adjustments.
These can include ‘clear communication or flexibility in work routines’, she suggested.
It comes just days after a study that revealed 90 per cent of autistic adults could be undiagnosed.
According to the authors—British scientists who analysed UK health record data—of all autistic adults aged between 40 and 59, 89.3 per cent are undiagnosed.
Meanwhile, among 60 to 70 year olds, 96.5 per cent are undiagnosed.
By comparison, this stands at just 23.3 per cent in under 19s, according to the researchers.
Experts labelled the findings important, arguing many autistic adults had likely missed out on vital support.
Figures show a record number of Britons are seeking medical help for autism on the NHS, with over 200,000 awaiting an assessment.
A different study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found autism diagnoses had risen by an ‘exponential’ 787 per cent in 20 years in England
Dr Gavin Stewart, an autism expert at King’s College London and study lead author, said: ‘These very high underdiagnoses estimates suggest that many autistic adults will have never been recognised as being autistic, and will have not been offered the right support.
‘This could make them more susceptible to age-related problems, for example being socially isolated and having poorer health.
‘The high rates of underdiagnoses also mean that much of our research has systematically overlooked a large proportion of the autistic population, potentially skewing our understanding of how autistic people age, and leaving critical gaps in policy and services.’
Autism is not a disease and people have it from the moment they are born, although it may not be spotted until childhood and sometimes much later.
It exists on a spectrum. Some people will be able to lead fully functioning lives with no additional help. Others may need full-time assistance.
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