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Prosper Health's Autism Resource Center
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Special Interests and Autism
Most autistic individuals have one or more special interests. A special interest is an intense fixation that far exceeds a typical hobby or passion. An autistic person will typically have the desire to devote large portions of their time, and sometimes large portions of their money, to their special interests. Neurotypical people can and do experience fixations or passions, but having a special interest is a trait strongly associated with autism.
Here’s what you need to know about special interests, how they manifest, the benefits of encouraging them, and more.
What Are Signs of Autism in Adults? A Guide to Autistic Traits and Self-Discovery
When you picture someone with autism, there’s a good chance that a child comes to mind. Maybe your nephew or a member of your child’s class is diagnosed, so you’re familiar with some of the behaviors associated with the condition...or at least how they show up in children. But millions of autistic adults exist too, since autism is a distinct neurotype, not something you grow out of.
However, if the condition wasn’t assessed already in childhood, it can be harder to spot as an adult. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in 45 adults is autistic, and even more are likely undiagnosed.
Though there are many shared traits between the age groups, autism can present differently in adults than in children, which is something we'll discuss in depth within this article. But fundamentally, the signs of autism in adults include a range of characteristics like:
- Social interaction and communication differences
- Self-soothing and self-regulatory behaviors
- Sensory and processing differences
- Special interests and activities
- Emotional regulation and cognitive traits
If you suspect you may be autistic, you likely know the journey toward diagnosis isn’t so straightforward. It can be confusing and frustrating! Especially since no two people with autism are the same, and everyone has their own unique combination of strengths and challenges.
On top of that, many adults tend to mask their autistic behaviors to fit in with their neurotypical peers, oftentimes without even realizing it. Plus, thanks to gender and cultural bias and other stereotypes, countless autistic adults are overlooked due to their more subtle presentation of the condition.
That’s why Prosper Health is here to provide you with a clear, inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming breakdown of adult autism signs: what they are, why they’re often missed, and what to do if they resonate.
Understanding Autism and Relationships: Navigating Love, Family and Friendship
Many autistic people experience relationship challenges—whether they’re romantic or platonic—in environments shaped around non-autistic social norms. Some unwritten rules and behaviors don’t necessarily come naturally to neurodivergent people.
Christal Castagnozzi, a clinical and school psychologist who received a late autism diagnosis, says that while she had friends growing up, there was an “underlying sense of being misunderstood.” She feels she “struggled to access deeper, more meaningful connections,” and ultimately believed she didn’t belong, even when her friends included her in their social activities.
Even in romantic relationships, Castagnozzi says she had difficulty “interpreting cues, flirting, [her partner’s] intentions, and emotional subtext.”
If any of these experiences sound familiar, you are not alone. But more importantly, the challenges of autism and relationships are not a personal failing. They are often due to differences in communication style, sensory processing, social expectations, and mutual misunderstanding between autistic and non-autistic people. Castagnozzi says what made a difference for her was forming relationships with neurodivergent individuals who provided “less pressure to mask and more space for directness and authenticity.”
In this article, we’ll examine how autism shapes all kinds of relationships, the roots of certain challenges, and practical strategies for effectively navigating relationships.
Autism Support Needs, Not Labels: A Guide to “Levels”
As an adult diagnosed first with autism as a child and again as an adult, I have witnessed firsthand the change in the way the DSM, or The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, has changed to affirm autistic people. In 2013, the DSM updated its resources with an eye to supportive care.
Rather than labeling autistic people with misleading descriptors like high-functioning, low-functioning, or others, experts now categorize autistic individuals based on levels (one, two, or three). These levels indicate varying degrees of support needs, which are often fluid and can change over time.
Mental health professionals and patients can now navigate autism support without labels, a notable step forward in recognizing the individuality of care.
This DSM change also did away with the term pervasive developmental disorder, which encompassed disorders such as Aspergers and child disintegrative disorder. Instead, they were replaced by autism spectrum levels.
Kaila Hattis, MA, LMFT, founder and therapist of Pacific Coast Therapy, explains, “The change focuses less on what someone has to more on what someone needs, and changes the way families access services and disperse information on what their loved one needs."
While these three levels of autism don’t capture the full picture of autism spectrum disorder, they’re a move in the right direction to fuller, more nuanced autism treatment.
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Exploring Autism and Intimacy: Navigating Emotional and Physical Connections
Emotional and physical intimacy present unique challenges and opportunities for autistic adults. Autistic people experience romantic relationships differently, navigating complexities related to communication, sensory sensitivities and emotional expression. These issues are compounded if an autistic person’s partner doesn’t fully understand what autism spectrum disorder is or how to support their autistic partner.
However, by fostering an environment of empathy and patience, autistic individuals and their partners can build fulfilling, intimate connections that honor their unique needs and experiences.
Understanding Autism and Sleep: Navigating Sleep Patterns in Autistic Adults
Restorative sleep is essential for maintaining overall good health, influencing both mental and physical well-being. However, for many autistic adults, quality sleep feels out of reach.
Sleep challenges, such as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, are some of the most common complaints among adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some autistic people may sleep too much or too little, have irregular sleep patterns or struggle with other diagnosable sleep disorders.
Read on to learn about sleep challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder, factors contributing to sleep struggles and how to get better sleep.
Unlocking the Power of Self-Care: A Guide for Autistic Adults
For autistic adults, self-care plays a crucial role in managing the unique challenges of life on the spectrum. By prioritizing self-care, autistic individuals can improve their mental health, enhance daily functioning and build resilience against stress and sensory overload.
However, self-care isn't always straightforward for autistic adults. Sensory sensitivities, executive functioning difficulties and social expectations can make implementing and maintaining self-care routines more challenging. Overwhelm from day-to-day demands or a lack of accessible resources may also hinder efforts to practice self-care effectively.
Despite these barriers, self-care can become an empowering tool for autistic adults with thoughtful planning and individualized approaches. By addressing these challenges head-on and finding strategies that work, self-care can support emotional well-being, strengthen independence and lead to a more positive and sustainable quality of life.
How to Develop a Daily Routine For Autistic Adults
According to the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-V, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit a preference for sameness and routines. Most people, both neurodiverse and neurotypical, have routines or schedules they like to stick to. The difference between neurotypical and neurodiverse routines is how someone reacts when their routine is disrupted.
Neurotypical individuals may experience frustration if their routine is thrown off, but they can usually go with the flow and adapt without too much stress. For an autistic individual, however, a disruption to their routine is often quite distressing and may even lead to a meltdown. To outsiders, an autistic individual’s stress when facing a change of plans may seem disproportionate, but routine is essential to an autistic person’s well-being.
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Understanding Autism in Adult Women: Why It’s Often Missed and What It Really Looks Like
When I was a little girl in the early 2000s, autism was seen as a disorder that only boys had. My evaluators misdiagnosed my autism as ADHD, and mistreated my symptoms (my stims, masking, and social anxiety). Luckily, awareness around the rainbow of autistic presentations is growing, and things are starting to change. As an AFAB person who now identifies as non-binary, I was able to seek re-diagnosis and affirmation that I'm autistic—something I suspected for the majority of my life.
According to a recent study published in JAMA, autism diagnosis is increasing fastest among women between the ages of 26 and 34. And among those, women sought diagnosis a whopping 3 times more than men. This comes as no surprise, as autism is actually underdiagnosed in women because of biases in testing. The research behind these tests predominantly focused on the experiences of men and boys, so clinicians have trouble catching the varied autistic traits in women and AFAB folks.
This article will focus mainly on the experience of autistic adult women because the medical research is only just starting to catch up with AFAB experience. However, it’s worth noting the ways autism presents in nonbinary people.
Transgender and nonbinary people are around five times more likely to be autistic compared to cisgender people. The Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network’s website is a good place to start if you’d like to find autistic nonbinary people writing about their experiences.
Autism manifests in very specific ways in adult women that have been ignored until now. If you’re a woman or AFAB person wondering if you might be autistic, support is available. Read on to learn more.
Navigating Love: A Guide to Dating Someone with Autism
Romantic relationships are complex and deeply rewarding, offering connection, intimacy and growth. When autism is part of the dynamic, relationships bring unique opportunities to explore love through the lens of neurodiversity.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) influences how people process the world, communicate, and connect with others. Understanding autism is essential for a healthy relationship. Awareness of neurodivergence can help partners move beyond stereotypes and build relationships rooted in acceptance and authenticity. When partners take time to understand autism, they’re better equipped to create a supportive, inclusive space.
Dating someone with autism means celebrating a relationship shaped by honesty, loyalty and unique ways of connecting. It also requires both partners to understand the impact of autism on their relationship and to foster mutual respect and empathy.
Read on to learn about challenges you may face dating an autistic partner, the perks of dating someone who’s autistic, how to make your relationship thrive and more.
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