In 2021, at the age of 47, Hollywood film composer, record producer, YouTuber, and influencer Stephen Hilton discovered he had
autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While he lived his life using his extraordinary musical talent professionally, enjoying great success, he also suffered painfully with the challenges his condition presented. In an
interview with Dr. Daniel Amen, Stephen revealed how he “masked” his intense discomfort with social interactions in his work, had trouble regulating emotions, experienced difficulty in personal relationships, and carried an inner feeling of “being a problem.” He also struggled with
alcohol and drug addiction off and on for many years.
It was only when his son was diagnosed with autism that he began to recognize his own undiagnosed
autistic traits and finally sought help from Amen Clinics, where he received an ASD diagnosis. Every day is now an opportunity for him to learn new ways to manage the challenges of being an adult with moderate ASD.
Stephen is not alone. Nearly 5.5 million adults live with autism in the U.S. today, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
data. There are likely millions more adults who operate in the world with undiagnosed ASD. There’s a lot of information available about the
challenges autistic children face, and too little about autistic adults. Here’s what it is like for adults with ASD.
CHALLENGES OF ADULT AUTISM
For those who are diagnosed with autism in childhood, there can often be improvements in communication skills, and sometimes in other areas affected by the disorder in adulthood, according to
research. That said, it’s extremely rare that an individual improves to a degree that they are no longer considered autistic.
Adults with autism must contend with the core characteristics of ASD while navigating life, which may include any of the following: deficits in speech and nonverbal communication, executive functioning, and social interaction; and hyper- or hyposensitivity to sound, light, smells, tastes, and touch.
Research from the CDC shows that young adults with autism lag behind their neurotypical peers. They have higher rates of unemployment and under-employment, lower participation in college-level education, less likelihood of living independently, and limited social interaction (about 40% spend barely any or no time at all with friends).
Adults with severe ASD struggle even more. Roughly 25-30% of ASD adults who were either non-verbal or minimally verbal starting in childhood, often remain so in adulthood. Individuals with severe autism also tend to be more
aggressive toward others, especially their caretakers. These impairments make it nearly impossible for them to successfully manage typical living situations or jobs.
Although higher-functioning ASD adults fare better, they struggle with appearing neurotypical when they still must grapple with severe
anxiety, sensory issues, and difficulties with social interactions and communication. The cacophony of sounds, onslaught of digital information, social interactions, and visual stimulation that make up modern living, can easily overwhelm an adult with ASD.
Autistic adults often struggle to find and maintain friendships and romantic relationships, as well as jobs—especially ones that require organization/planning skills and social interactions.
In terms of mental health, rates of co-occurring conditions are higher in autistic adults than in the general population,
research has found. In fact, an estimated 54% of adults with ASD have at least one co-occurring psychiatric condition such as
ADD/ADHD,
OCD, anxiety,
mood disorders,
psychotic disorders, and others.
Behavioral issues are common too. About 46% of autistic adults struggle with being disruptive, engaging in
self-harm, or being destructive. The incidence of mental health issues in autistic adults increases with age.
While these stats are sobering, there are reasons for hope. For as much as ASD makes life challenging, there are beautiful and unique strengths that come with having a neurodiverse brain (a brain that works differently).
ADULT AUTISM STRENGTHS
Adults on the spectrum may have a number of cognitive strengths. For example, they can have an intense interest and aptitude for math, music, art, science, and computer science. ASD individuals can also have exceptional long-term memory skills, be good visual learners, and exhibit strong, rule-based thinking. All of these traits can lend well to specific jobs and careers. In fact,
Harvard Business Review reports that a growing number of highly competitive corporations have updated their HR processes to access neurodiverse (which includes ASD) talent. These are prominent companies such as Microsoft, Hewlett-Packer Enterprise, Ford, SAP, and others.
Autistic adults were interviewed in a
2019 study about what ASD traits helped them in different areas of their lives. They noted that their creativity, strong memory, ability to hyperfocus, attention to detail, honesty, loyalty, and empathy were among the most helpful traits. But like so many of the traits that go with autism, these very same traits could be problematic at times, depending on the circumstances.
ADULTS WITH UNDIAGNOSED AUTISM
Some
research has led experts to believe that for every three adults diagnosed with autism, approximately two go undiagnosed. It is only in recent decades that autism started to become widely recognized and understood with protocols for early screening in childhood. Previously, children with less obvious symptoms—or misdiagnosis, found their way into adulthood without proper diagnosis or treatment. Unfortunately, when
ASD goes untreated or is misdiagnosed, negative symptoms tend to worsen.
In adults with milder forms of undiagnosed autism, quirky personality traits or unique behavior may be written off by family, friends, and colleagues as being “eccentric.” It’s not uncommon for ASD adults to mask discomfort around social interactions. Of course, troublesome behavior, like aggression and emotional outbursts, can make adults with undiagnosed ASD feel bad and misunderstood. And too often, these shameful and bad feelings can lead to the noted self-destructive and self-injurious behavior.
Indeed, in recent years,
research has found that autistic adults with a high IQ are more than two times as likely to become addicted to alcohol or other drugs as their peers are. The risk is even higher for individuals who have co-occurring conditions, such as ADD/ADHD.
GET SCREENED FOR ADULT AUTISM
There is a silver lining here. With proper diagnosis and treatment, adults with autism can vastly improve their quality of life. They can learn to strengthen mood regulation, boost their speech and learning, practice ways to self-soothe, and use the special gifts and talents that come with being neurodivergent. If you recognize symptoms of ASD in yourself or a loved one, consult a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating autism as soon as possible.
Autism spectrum disorder in adults and co-occurring mental issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
