SIGNS OF AUTISM THAT ARE OFTEN MISSED OR OVERLOOKED
#TalkNerdyToMe® Staff Writer
Many people have already covered this, but I'd like to highlight some common behaviors often dismissed as "quirks," when in reality, they can be clear signs of autism. While each of these behaviors alone may not necessarily point to autism, when combined with other symptoms, they can offer valuable insight.
Harsh reactions to sudden changes in anything: Autism often involves difficulty with transitions. Unexpected changes, like new plans or environments, can cause significant anxiety and frustration. Whether it's weather, new people, or being late, anything that disrupts a routine may trigger distress. Advance notice, often days in advance, can help mitigate these reactions.
Pain tolerance: Many autistic individuals have a high pain tolerance due to differences in how their brains process physical sensations (interoception). This can go unnoticed since it’s challenging for them to express their pain accurately. Some individuals might even experience heightened pain, leading them to be misjudged as hypochondriacs.
Echolalia: This is the repetition of words, phrases, or even sounds, often from media, conversations, or things heard. It can manifest as an involuntary echo or as something the person consciously repeats. This repetition can range from song lyrics to common phrases.
Systems for organization: People with autism often develop systems to manage daily tasks, and breaking from these routines can cause significant distress. Some examples include:
Washing dishes in a particular order (cups, bowls, plates, etc.).
Showering in a set order (e.g., always washing hair before body wash).
Gaming "quirks," such as organizing inventory, filling resources, or creating elaborate maps.
Keeping items consistently "level" (e.g., ensuring hand soap, cereal containers, or other items are always filled to the same level).
Lining up toys, objects, or even organizing things in specific patterns (e.g., icons on a desktop).
Obsession or hyperfixation: While obsession is also seen in OCD and ADHD, when combined with other signs, it can be indicative of autism. These obsessions can involve hobbies, interests, people, or even specific ideas. For example, someone who listens to the same song on repeat for weeks, spends excessive time on a particular hobby, or fixates on a single goal to the exclusion of all else might be showing signs of autism. Hyperfixation can also cause someone to neglect basic needs, like eating or sleeping, in favor of the object of their focus.
Neglecting needs: Due to difficulties with interoception, autistic individuals may struggle to recognize their bodily needs, such as hunger, thirst, or the urge to use the bathroom. Some may become "bottomless pits" of hunger, never feeling satisfied, while others may have trouble maintaining weight or even wet the bed later than neurotypical children. As adults, they may also fail to feel the need to go to the restroom until it's an emergency.
Picky eating: While many kids go through picky eating phases, autistic children often display a more intense need for consistency in food textures and tastes. For example, they may only tolerate foods that have a uniform crunch or refuse to eat foods with varying textures (like berries that differ in sweetness or sourness). Spicy foods can also be a trigger, though some autistic individuals crave spice.
Feeling comfortable eating meals in a specific order: For some autistic individuals, there is a need to eat meals in a certain sequence—breakfast, lunch, and then dinner. Deviating from this pattern can cause discomfort or distress.
Stimulation Issues:
Autistic individuals can be easily overstimulated by things like bright lights, loud sounds, or crowded spaces, which can lead to distress or even public meltdowns. Multiple conversations happening at once can be especially overwhelming and cause agitation. At the same time, many people with autism can also experience understimulation, which leads them to engage in various behaviors, often referred to as "quirks" or "tics," to self-regulate. These behaviors can take many forms, and some are safer or more helpful than others, including:
Repetitive behaviors: Things like hitting, tapping, or kicking objects are common ways to create stimulation when needed.
Watching or participating in multiple activities at once: For example, studying while watching videos. Background noise or having a "body double"—someone present in the room without needing to engage—can help maintain focus when there's not enough stimulation.
Watching things on repeat: Repetition is often comforting, and some autistic individuals may watch the same show or video endlessly.
Biting or sucking on clothing seams: This is particularly common in young children and a clear sign they need stimulation.
Using stim toys: Fidget spinners, poppers, infinity cubes, and other toys are designed to provide sensory input and can be soothing.
Rubbing fabrics together: The tactile sensation can help regulate sensory needs.
Eating certain foods: For some, foods with strong textures or crunchiness (like crackers) provide the sensory input they crave.
Oral fixations: Using toothpicks, suckers, or even smoking can be a way to manage sensory needs or stress.
Self-injury: Unfortunately, some individuals may resort to hitting, biting, or harming themselves (known as self-injurious behavior or SIB), which can sometimes be triggered by overwhelming feelings.
Additionally, suicidal ideation can be a reality for many autistic people due to the constant challenges and trauma of navigating a world that often feels hostile or unwelcoming. Autistic individuals are frequently misunderstood, and societal rejection or frustration from others can deeply affect their mental health. The world often demands conformity without understanding, leading many to feel isolated.
PTSD: It's important to note that many autistic people, even children, experience symptoms of PTSD. Struggling to communicate effectively often leads to frustration from others, which can then be misdirected as a personal failure.
This is one reason why Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) focuses heavily on improving communication skills. Some individuals are fortunate to have supportive parents who provide love and patience, but others face more difficult situations where their autism is met with anger or rejection. The support system for autistic people can often be much smaller or nonexistent.
Clumsiness and Lack of Spatial Awareness: Many autistic individuals are already overstimulated by their environment, which can lead to struggles with spatial awareness and clumsiness. When you’re trying to mask or simply survive in a world that feels overwhelming, it can make navigating your surroundings harder than it might be for others.
Reaction Times: Some autistic individuals may have slower reaction times compared to others. However, there are also cases where people with autism can be hyper-alert, reacting more quickly to certain stimuli than most people.
Impulse Control: With the constant mental stimulation and emotional turmoil many autistic individuals experience, controlling impulses can be difficult. The added challenges of depression and anxiety, which often come hand-in-hand with autism, can make it even harder to manage urges and responses. For some, a lack of impulse control can serve as a coping mechanism, helping them manage stress or overwhelming feelings.
Living in a world that often isn’t designed to accommodate those with autism can be traumatic, and many autistic people face daily struggles that may not be visible to the outside world. If you are a neurotypical person who feels fear or discomfort around autism, know that, for many of us, the feeling of fear is mutual.
