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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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Understanding AuDHD: What It Is and How to Get Support
YouTube educator Chris was a child when he was first diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but he didn’t get his autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis until he was in his 40s. Like many people who have recently received this dual diagnosis, he’s only now truly learning what it means to be “AuDHD”. This includes an acute awareness of the tension and overlap of traits and how to manage their impact.
"AuDHD is when somebody has co-occurring diagnoses of both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” says Jacqueline Shinall, PsyD, Quality Control and Reliability Lead Psychologist at Prosper Health.
And in true neurodivergent fashion, Chris is learning everything he can about the management of AuDHD. As the cofounder of Audicate, an educational vlog about managing Autism and ADHD, he makes popular videos that teach others about what it’s like to live with both disorders.
“AuDHD isn’t a rare overlap—it’s much more common than anyone realized prior to the dual diagnosis,” says Chris. “But diagnostic data is going to take time to catch up to that. And when you don’t know you’re both, you can end up blaming yourself for contradictions: ‘Why do I want change but resist it? Why am I both restless and rigid?’ Understanding both diagnoses brings compassion and clarity.”
As awareness grows and diagnostic criteria evolve, more and more people are being diagnosed with both conditions.
That’s why, if you have been diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, or suspect you might be an AuDHDer it’s essential to understand the overlaps and interactions between the characteristics. Because just as these traits will manifest differently for every autistic and ADHD individual, the same goes for people with AuDHD.
It’s like if you were to give yellow and blue paint to a group of children and tell them to make green—every shade will be different. And your unique shade will inform what level of support you need and the accommodation strategies that will help you thrive.
Whatever stage of your neurodivergent journey you’re at, Prosper Health can help.
Navigating Autism and College: Challenges and Support for Autistic Students
Transitioning to college is a significant life change for all students, but for autistic folks, this transition often presents additional challenges. College life, with its complex academic demands, new social interactions and often overwhelming environments, can be a difficult adjustment for autistic people.
Autistic students may face barriers not only in academics but also in navigating the social, emotional and environmental aspects of campus life. Understanding these challenges and implementing appropriate support is essential to ensure that students can thrive in higher education settings.
What is Identity-First Language, and Why Use It?
Most of us were taught that it is best to use “person-first language” when referring to disabilities. Person-first language intentionally separates a person from the disability, as in saying “person with diabetes” rather than “diabetic person.” This intends to emphasize the individual over their disability, showing that the disability does not define the person. However, not everyone views their disability as something that can, or should, be separated from them.
This is why identity-first language—as in saying “autistic person” rather than “person with autism”—is important to the autistic community. Many autistic people prefer identity-first language because it acknowledges that being autistic is a core part of who they are.
Sensory Overload in Autistic Adults: Why It Happens and How to Cope
For autistic and neurodivergent adults, sensory overload can feel like it hits all at once. Imagine you’re in a crowded restaurant. At first, the talking all around you becomes intrusive, and you can’t concentrate on the person across from you, no matter how hard you try. Then, the repeated sound of clinking of glasses and forks on porcelain intensifies, grating at your nerves, and the smell of perfume on the woman next to you becomes unbearably strong.
Suddenly, you’re in full-body panic mode because this combination of sensory experiences is simply too much. Allistic people can compartmentalize and block out these types of input, but autistic people often cannot.
Sensory processing differences—formerly referred to as a “sensory processing disorder”—are the variations in how the brain receives, interprets, and responds to information gained through your senses from the environment and the body. Autistic people’s sensitivity to stimuli will vary depending on the individual.
Sensory overload, on the other hand, can happen when a neurodivergent person’s brain becomes so overwhelmed by sensory information in an environment (think: sights, sounds, smells, textures) that their body goes into a state of panic and fight or flight mode.
“Sensory overload, or strong sensory input, can often be described as ‘physically painful’ or ‘making my skin crawl’ by autistic adults,” says Jackie Shinall, PsyD, head of reliability and quality assurance at Prosper Health. “For example, they don’t necessarily feel anxious or stressed by the input, but rather uncomfortable overall, especially physically.”
While anyone can experience sensory issues and sensory overload, they are especially common among autistic adults and neurodivergent people more broadly. In fact, a 2021 study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders surveyed autistic adults and found that 93.9% reported being extra sensitive to sensory experiences. Autism and sensory overload often go hand-in-hand.
If you have questions about sensory overload in autistic adults, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we'll cover what sensory overload is, why it happens, what it feels like, and how to prevent and recover from it.
How to Get Tested for Autism as an Adult: A Comprehensive Guide
Have you ever thought about getting tested for autism?
Perhaps because, as both a child and an adult, you’ve always felt misunderstood or out of sync with your peers. You could never quite put your finger on why you were different, but deep down, you knew there had to be an underlying reason. As our collective understanding of autism and diverse neurotypes grows, more and more people are realizing their autism might have been missed when they were kids and are now seeking a diagnosis in adulthood.
The day we received my daughter’s autism diagnosis, it felt like the world finally opened its doors to our family. But so many autistic individuals have lived their entire lives without knowing they are neurodivergent, and as a result, aren’t getting the support they need. Luckily, it’s never too late to get an autism diagnosis, but the process can feel intimidating. Where do you even start? Especially when autism testing options for adults, as well as data on autistic adults, are still relatively limited.
For example, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 45 adults in the United States is autistic, but many are undiagnosed.
The good news is that there is growing recognition of the need for more accessible and respectful autism assessments and diagnoses. This has led to a push to improve the overall autism testing process for adults in recent years. According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, the rate of diagnosis in young adults (age range: 26-34) rose 450% between 2011 and 2022.
Getting yourself tested for autism can feel like an overwhelming task. That’s why Prosper Health is here to provide you with a step-by-step, supportive guide that will give you everything you need to know about the diagnostic process, from self-reflection to post-diagnosis support and resources.
ADHD vs. Autism: Understanding the Differences and Overlaps
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t ask the question, “Is it ADHD or autism?”
As the parent of an AuDHD child—AuDHD being a colloquial term used to describe the dual diagnosis of both autism and ADHD—I still have difficulty differentiating between the two diagnoses. Is her stimming an autism or an ADHD trait? Which of her Individualized Education Plan (IEP) accommodations at school are tailored to her autism, and which ones are tailored to her ADHD? How is her ADHD medication affecting her autism traits?
My experience is with my 9-year-old daughter, but this dilemma is equally accurate for many adults. If you’re neurodivergent in any capacity, you’ve likely had moments where you’re comparing your characteristics, trying to determine if they could be a sign of autism, ADHD, or both.
AuDHD is becoming increasingly common among neurodivergent people, and those with both diagnoses deserve a clear understanding of autism and ADHD, and what it means when they co-occur.
That said, the two conditions are not the same! Many people will only get diagnosed with one condition or the other, so it's essential to understand how they differ.
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