Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and Loss Counseling
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Pornography Addiction
      • Personal Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Sexual Addiction
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Sexual Addiction Recovery
        Group
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Sexual Addiction
    • Marriage Counseling
  • LocationsWe have offices at various locations
    • Bellevue Office FrontBellevue
    • Bothell Office Front EntranceBothell
    • Edmonds Christian CounselingEdmonds
    • Everett Office Front EntranceEverett
    • Federal Way 2Federal Way
    • HansvilleHansville
    •  1Kent
    • Kirkland Christian CounselingKirkland
    • Lacey 2Lacey
    • Mill Creek Office Waiting RoomMill Creek
    •  1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    • Puyallup Christian CounselingPuyallup
    • Redmond OfficeRedmond
    • Seattle Downtown Christian CounselingSeattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake 1Seattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    • Tacoma Office FrontTacoma
    •  1Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind out more about our counselors
  • CareersJoin our team of Christian Counselors
  • (253) 777-1997Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

Key Signs of Autism in Adults

Tacoma Christian Counseling
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/key-signs-of-autism-in-adults-2.jpg 800 1066
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Mount-Rainier.jpg
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tacoma-Christian-Counseling-Logo-Fill-Stacked.jpg
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
Photo of Joshua Adams

Joshua Adams

Jun
2024
20

Key Signs of Autism in Adults

Joshua Adams

Autism Spectrum DisorderIndividual Counseling

Navigating the world can be complicated, between being too busy to make deep connections with others, negotiating different cultures and ways of expressing oneself, and people not saying what they mean. Having a condition like autism can make navigating the world and building meaningful relationships that much harder. Let’s take a look at what autism is and the signs of autism.

What is autism?

Key Signs of Autism in Adults 3Autism is the colloquial term for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD affects a person’s ability to communicate effectively with others and build relationships with them. As a developmental disorder, symptoms of ASD can begin appearing within eighteen months of age or even younger, and by age two a reliable diagnosis can be made by an experienced professional.

A person with ASD struggles particularly with understanding the emotions of others, which can hamper communication and social interaction significantly. Since it is a spectrum, that means ASD affects people in different ways, meaning the levels of support they need will vary.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

Key signs of autism

ASD presents a bit differently in adults than it does in children, with one reason being that adults learn coping mechanisms that can mask some of the symptoms of ASD. Additionally, while the symptoms of ASD vary from person to person, ASD can sometimes present differently in women and men.

Women often appear to cope better with social situations, showing fewer signs of repetitive behaviors, and being more adept at fitting in by copying people without ASD. What this means is that it can be more difficult to diagnose ASD if your symptoms are more subtle or masked.

Some of the more common signs of autism in adults include:

  • Experiencing discomfort while making eye contact, and thus often avoiding it
  • Having inflexible thought patterns and behavior, which may mean having the same daily routine and getting angry or anxious if it changes
  • Struggling to interpret body language, facial expressions, and social cues, leading to having difficulty understanding what others are thinking or feeling
  • Having difficulty regulating emotions and struggling to express how you feel
  • Experiencing deep anxiety about social situations
  • Key Signs of Autism in Adults
  • Having difficulty making conversation
  • Having difficulty forming and maintaining close relationships such as friendships
  • Preferring to be on your own and engage in solitary activities
  • Not understanding social etiquette and rules such as not talking over people, which may make you seem blunt, rude, or uninterested in others without intending to
  • Not understanding figures of speech, idioms, or metaphors, which can result in taking things literally. For example, one may not understand a phrase like “break a leg” or sarcasm
  • Delivering frequent monologues on the same subject or subjects
  • Not having a good understanding of personal space, which can lead to getting too close to other people
  • Having sensitivities to touch, sound, and smell, which may make it difficult to experience physical touch like hugs, or to be out in loud spaces like a bar or movie theatre
  • A lack of inflection when you speak, making your speech sound wooden or robotic
  • Being hypersensitive and noticing small details, patterns, smells, or sounds that others around you do not notice or that don’t seem to bother them
  • Having a keen interest in certain subjects or activities

A person with ASD may not necessarily have every symptom, and sometimes the symptoms that are present can be confused with other conditions such as ADHD. This is one of several good reasons why it is important to get a proper diagnosis from a professional.

Getting treatment for autism

Key Signs of Autism in Adults 2It can be difficult having challenges without knowing why. Getting a proper diagnosis for ASD can help immensely by explaining the difficulties that an autistic person has been experiencing.

A diagnosis may also provide family members with an opportunity to understand better what ASD is and how it affects a person, which can empower them to be a more effective support team. Having a diagnosis may also provide access to benefits and services that are available in many workplaces or educational environments such as college.

If you suspect that you or a loved one might have ASD, go to your primary care doctor, who will observe you, enquire about your medical history, and check if there may be any other mental health or physical conditions that may be causing symptoms. ASD begins in childhood, so if symptoms only began in adolescence or adulthood, this may suggest a cognitive or mental health condition other than ASD.

If your primary care doctor doesn’t find any underlying physical condition that can explain the symptoms you or your loved one are experiencing, they may refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychologist for an in-depth assessment to make an ASD diagnosis.

Treatment for ASD is primarily about reducing the symptoms of ASD. However, in combination with therapies such as family therapy, anger management therapy, and behavior therapy, this can significantly improve quality of life. Being part of a support group is also a huge help.

If you suspect you may have ASD, seek help. If you are diagnosed with ASD, finding support and resources can help you improve your quality of life. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional in our office for help or to answer your questions about ASD.

Photos:
“Aerial View”, Courtesy of Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Wilderness Road”, Courtesy of Tobias Reich, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Alpine Lake”, Courtesy of Tobias Reich, Unsplash.com, CC0 License

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top
Photo of Joshua Adams
Schedule with Joshua
  • Appointment Info

  • Your Info

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Joshua Adams

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
(306) 986-0711 joshuaa@seattlechristiancounseling.com

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA), I have experience working with children, teens, adult individuals, couples, families, and groups. In my practice I focus on the whole person – not just mental health, but also physical, emotional, and spiritual health. My desire is for you to experience growth in every area of your life and come to know the true and lasting joy that can be found in Jesus Christ. With compassion and grace, I offer counseling for a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family conflict, grief, abandonment, and much more. Read more articles by Joshua »

Other articles that might interest you...

10 Signs of High-Functioning Autism
Photo of Joshua Adams

Joshua Adams

10 Signs of High-Functioning Autism

The term high-functioning autism isn’t technically a clinical term. It is a term we use to refer to those diagnosed...

continue reading »
Understanding Attachment Disorder in Adults
Photo of Shayla Haller

Shayla Haller

Understanding Attachment Disorder in ...

The ability to form attachments with other human beings is an essential skill that typically begins early in life. The...

continue reading »
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Signs of OCD 1
Tacoma Christian Counseling

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Signs of ...

Although Hollywood portray signs of OCD as sometimes comical (such as in the television show, Monk), individuals suffering from the...

continue reading »

About Joshua

Photo of Joshua Adams

Joshua Adams, MS, LMFTA

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA), I have experience working with children, teens, adult individuals, couples, families, and groups. In my practice I focus on the whole person – not just mental health, but also physical, emotional, and spiritual health. My desire is for you to experience growth in every area of your life and come to know the true and lasting joy that can be found in Jesus Christ. With compassion and grace, I offer counseling for a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family conflict, grief, abandonment, and much more. View Joshua's Profile

Recent articles by Joshua

  • Jul 24 · Mindset Tips for Anger Management: Developing Healthy Coping Skills
  • Jul 16 · 5 Ways to Know You are in Danger of Having a Panic Attack
  • Jun 20 · Key Signs of Autism in Adults
See all articles by Joshua »

Related Services

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Individual Counseling

Joshua's Office Locations

  • Photo of the Online (WA only) office

    Online (WA only)

    General Office Number

    (206) 388-3929
    ,  

    View Office Details
Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo
Tacoma Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors experienced in helping people of all ages find healing for a wide variety of issues.
© 2025 Tacoma Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
621 Pacific Ave,, Tacoma, WA 98402. Tel (253) 777-1997.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
We are open for business. In person and online counseling are available now.