Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, mainly affecting communication, social interactions, language skills, and behavior. Because early traits may become more noticeable as a child grows, many wonder, “Can you develop autism?”
In adults, growing awareness of autism can lead to self-recognition of lifelong traits. Though autism is present from an early age, its traits can become more noticeable over time.
If you’d like to learn more about potential causes of autism, make sure you get your free guide here:
Can you develop autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is fundamentally rooted in variations in brain development that begin before birth. While a diagnosis might occur at any point in life, the core neurological differences are not acquired later.
The perception of autism “developing” stems from the reality that autistic traits can manifest differently across a person’s lifespan.
As individuals grow, the demands of social interaction, hormonal changes, and related conditions can make previously subtle traits more noticeable. These factors often bring autistic characteristics into sharper focus during adolescence and adulthood.
Some individuals also learn to mask or compensate for their autistic traits. Because of that, these strategies may become less effective over time, ultimately leading to a greater awareness of their inherent differences.
Late autism diagnoses, particularly in adults, illustrate how autistic traits can become more noticeable as time passes.
Adults who weren’t diagnosed as children may recognize autistic traits later in life as they face new challenges. Workplace social interactions, independent living, and other complexities of adulthood can make these traits more apparent.
Growing awareness of autism also helps people recognize and understand their own experiences in a new way. They may look back on their childhood and realize that lifelong challenges align with autism spectrum disorder characteristics.
So, while the diagnosis is new, the autistic traits have been there all along, simply becoming more apparent and impactful with age.
Can you develop autism as a teenager, or are signs just more evident?
Autism spectrum disorder isn’t something that appears out of nowhere during the teenage years.
The differences in brain development that cause autism are present from birth. What parents might observe as a sudden onset is more likely the increasing clarity of existing traits.
Puberty brings hormonal changes and a surge in social complexity, which can intensify autistic characteristics.
Social demands of adolescence, like navigating peer dynamics and understanding social interactions, can make previously unnoticed autistic traits much more apparent.
Teens may struggle with these expectations, leading to behaviors that seem new but are expressions of long-standing traits.
So, what appears to be the “development” of autism is actually the increasing visibility of pre-existing traits due to the unique challenges of teenage life.
Is there an age limit for autism diagnosis?
Autism isn’t limited to childhood diagnoses. Adults can also receive a diagnosis. The guidelines used to identify autism apply to people of all ages, though assessments are adapted to reflect adults’ different experiences.
For adults, diagnostic criteria focus on recognizing how core autistic traits manifest in the context of their life experiences. This includes evaluating social communication challenges in adult relationships, career settings, and daily interactions.
It also considers sensory sensitivities within adult environments and the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors. These may be related to hobbies, routines, or coping mechanisms.
Clinicians also consider the impact of any developed coping strategies, as these might mask underlying autistic traits. Many adults seeking a diagnosis have lived with undiagnosed autism, often developing ways to manage that hide some of their traits.
A greater understanding of autism spectrum disorder among the public and doctors has led to more adults being diagnosed. This growing awareness lets adults who have always felt different seek evaluations and finally understand their experiences.
Is a late autism diagnosis possible?
It’s surprisingly common for autism to be diagnosed in adulthood. This often happens because the signs were missed or misunderstood when the person was a child.
Many adults have learned ways to cope with social situations that hide their autism symptoms, making them less obvious. Also, because autism wasn’t always well understood, especially in its less obvious forms, many people grew up without a diagnosis.
Sometimes, adults were even diagnosed with other things instead, which delayed them finding out they were autistic. As our understanding of ASD has grown and the ways we diagnose it have changed, more and more adults are finally getting the right diagnosis.
What causes a late autism diagnosis?
Many adults find out they’re autistic later in life because several things can hide the signs when they’re younger. Some people, especially adults, learn to “mask” their autism symptoms, which means they try very hard to act like everyone else.
They might copy social behaviors, try to stop themselves from stimming, or stick to rigid routines to seem “normal.” Sometimes, people’s autistic traits are simply mistaken for personality quirks, or they’re diagnosed with something else entirely, like anxiety, mental disorders, or depression.
How autism shows up can also be different in girls and boys, which can lead to girls being missed for a diagnosis. Girls might have intense special interests in things like books or art and are often better at masking their symptoms.
Because of this, girls and women are often diagnosed much later in life than boys and men.
Are there other conditions that can be mistaken as autism?
Several conditions can look like autism, making it tricky to tell them apart. For example, ADHD can cause trouble with focus and acting impulsively, which can look like some autistic behaviors.
Social anxiety can lead to avoiding social situations or having poor eye contact, similar to the social communication challenges in ASD. Sensory processing disorder can cause strong reactions to sounds, textures, or lights, much like the sensory sensitivities seen in autism.
However, there are important differences. Social anxiety is driven by fear of being judged, while autism involves differences in how someone understands and interacts socially.
ADHD mainly affects attention, while autism affects social interaction, communication, and behavior more broadly. Sensory processing disorder is only about sensory issues, while autism involves many other neurological differences.
Because these conditions share some similarities but have key differences, getting a professional diagnosis is important. A thorough evaluation by a trained professional can accurately tell these conditions apart, ensuring that individuals receive the right support and help.
Why does it seem like some people develop autism?
The rising number of adult autism diagnoses reflects a complex interplay of factors. These often include:
- masking and misdiagnosis,
- medical conditions,
- increased public and professional awareness of autism, and
- the growing capacity for individuals to recognize autistic traits within themselves.
Societal shifts, such as greater inclusivity and understanding of neurodiversity, have also encouraged adults to seek evaluations. This led to a more accurate representation of autism across the lifespan.
Online resources and self-reflection can be valuable screening tools. However, it’s crucial to remember that a professional evaluation by a qualified clinician remains the widely recognized gold standard for accurate diagnosis.
If you suspect you or someone you know might be autistic, seeking professional guidance can provide clarity, access to appropriate support, and a deeper understanding of one’s own neurodiversity.
FAQs
Q: Can you develop autism from trauma
A: Trauma doesn’t cause autism. Although it can have lasting effects on mental health, it doesn’t alter neurological development. However, it’s important to remember that autistic individuals can also experience trauma, which may worsen autism traits.
Q: Can you develop autism as an adult?
A: You cannot develop autism as an adult. ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition present from birth, even if it’s a delayed diagnosis not detected until adulthood. What might seem like late onset autism is often the recognition of previously unnoticed traits.
Q: Can you develop autism over time?
A: You cannot develop autism over time. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that originates from differences in brain development present from birth. What changes over time is the visibility and recognition of autistic traits, not the underlying condition itself.
Q: How do I tell if I’m autistic?
A: If you think you might be autistic, a professional assessment is the best way to know. While online resources can help, a trained expert will evaluate your behavior, sensory experiences, and developmental history to provide an accurate diagnosis.
References
Joon, P., Kumar, A., & Parle, M. (2021). What is autism?. Pharmacological reports, 73(5), 1255-1264. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43440-021-00244-0
Chaidi, I., & Drigas, A. (2020). Autism, expression, and understanding of emotions: Literature review. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/218023/?nl=1
Parmeggiani, A., Corinaldesi, A., & Posar, A. (2019). Early features of autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study. Italian journal of pediatrics, 45, 1-8. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13052-019-0733-8
Leedham, A., Thompson, A. R., Smith, R., & Freeth, M. (2020). ‘I was exhausted trying to figure it out’: The experiences of females receiving an autism diagnosis in middle to late adulthood. Autism, 24(1), 135-146. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361319853442
Lupindo, B. M., Maw, A., & Shabalala, N. (2023). Late diagnosis of autism: Exploring experiences of males diagnosed with autism in adulthood. Current Psychology, 42(28), 24181-24197. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-022-03514-z
Carbone, P. S., Campbell, K., Wilkes, J., Stoddard, G. J., Huynh, K., Young, P. C., & Gabrielsen, T. P. (2020). Primary care autism screening and later autism diagnosis. Pediatrics, 146(2). https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/146/2/e20192314/77011?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=TrendMD&utm_campaign=Pediatrics_TrendMD_0
Stagg, S. D., & Belcher, H. (2019). Living with autism without knowing: receiving a diagnosis in later life. Health psychology and behavioral medicine, 7(1), 348-361. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21642850.2019.1684920
Mandy, W., Midouhas, E., Hosozawa, M., Cable, N., Sacker, A., & Flouri, E. (2022). Mental health and social difficulties of late‐diagnosed autistic children, across childhood and adolescence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63(11), 1405-1414. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jcpp.13587
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