Mild Autism: Are you really “mildly autistic” as an adult?

Megan’s relationship with her dad was a struggle as she grew up. He was a loving father and a hard worker, and he was incredibly talented. Relationships were just as complex as his intricate melodies.

It was like she had to enter his all-encompassing bubble to have an effective conversation. Her connection to him was dependent on his knowledge and interests, which, although extensive, did not always interest her. He struggled to join her and the rest of “the world”.

Megan came across an article on mild autism among adults while researching for her college psychology class. Her father’s story suddenly made sense. Megan began a journey to learn as much as possible about autism spectrum disorders. She learned a lot, which I would like to share with you.

Is mild Autism an official diagnosis of autism?

Several autism studies suggest that the majority of people diagnosed with ASD in adulthood do not have more severe forms. Mild autism is also known as Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the term used to describe mild autism, rather than as a separate diagnosis. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), autism is a spectrum disorder, which includes symptoms of varying severity and frequency. Mild autism falls into this category.

Adults with milder forms of autism may have different treatment options and be more concerned about comorbid disorders than those who suffer from more severe autism spectrum disorders.

Autism can affect people differently. They may have symptoms that are less severe, more easily masked, or even completely overlooked. This may explain why the children were not also diagnosed.

What are the mild symptoms of Autism in Adults?

The symptoms of mild autism can be less symptoms than those listed or milder forms. According to the National Health Service of the UK, here are some symptoms you should be aware of:

Autism in Adults :

• Finding it difficult to understand others’ thoughts or feelings
• Social anxiety is a very common problem.
• Finding it difficult to make friends? Or preferring to stay on your own
• Having a rude, blunt or uninterested attitude without intending to do so
• Finding it difficult to express your feelings
• You may not be able to understand sarcasm or phrases such as “break a Leg”
• The same routine every morning and feel anxious if the routine changes

Autism and other signs

• Not understanding social “rules” such as not talking above people
• Avoid eye contact
• Being too close to others or being very upset when someone touches you or gets close to you
• Small details, patterns or smells that others miss
• A keen interest in a particular subject or activity
• Plan everything carefully before you do it

Autism in Women and Men

Autism can be different for women and men, even though all people are unique. Autistic women, for example, may be quieter and hide their emotions. They may also appear to deal better with social situations. It can be difficult to detect autistic women.

What does it feel like to have mild autism?

If you are “mildly autistic”, your main symptoms may revolve around social interaction. Common symptoms include:

• communication difficulties
• Faces and facial expressions can be confusing
• Body language can be difficult to read
• trouble reading social cues
• It is difficult to maintain close relationships
• Trouble relating to others
• Trouble regulating emotions
• You may be surprised at how you act differently.
• Humour is not appreciated by others

Autistic adults often follow their paths. Some autistic adults “march to the beat” of their drummer. Some autistic individuals who are at the milder end of the spectrum may also be highly intelligent and talented.

Unawareness of autism can increase the risk of emotional or mental disorders. They may struggle with their social groups, relationships with their family, and self-esteem.

What is borderline Autism in Adults?

The topic of borderline autism can be controversial in itself. There has been much debate over whether it exists.

In this article, I will simply say that borderline autistic disorder is exactly what it sounds like. You may have symptoms of autism spectrum disorders but not meet the diagnostic criteria.

What are the advantages of having autism spectrum disorder diagnosed as an adult?

Should someone who has had autism symptoms their entire life and was never diagnosed pursue a diagnosis? Is it already too late? What’s the point of being diagnosed?

People with mild ASD can be very adept at hiding their symptoms. Undiagnosed people may feel confused, misunderstood or different. It can lead to serious problems, and they may feel isolated from their family members in ways that they are unaware of.

Each adult is responsible for deciding to get a diagnosis. Some people would rather not know. Others find it transformative.

Important to remember that ASD can also be diagnosed in adults who were children. It doesn’t matter that it was diagnosed later in life. Many of the research findings are applicable in retrospect.

Understanding

An autism diagnosis can lead to a better understanding of the individual diagnosed. They can then explain to others what they know. Understanding each other can be a relief for both parties and the catalyst to deeper connections.

Megan remembered a visit from her mother and father when she was learning about autism. She was aware of his particularity and had set up the room to suit him. She was excited about her trip with her parents.

After a few short hours, her father became agitated and lost his temper. He was upset that he wasn’t in his room, office or environment. Her father and mother had left two days earlier. Megan was devastated and took this personally.

Looking back, she realized that her dad’s need for a home was beyond anything else. At that moment, a little bit of her relationship was returned to her. She decided to make things different for the future.

Connect with others

Children with autism may not see the connection that other children have made with their parents. They might misunderstand the attempts of their parents to connect.

Megan was annoyed by her father’s random text messages detailing his project. These texts were sent at all times of the day and night. Didn’t her dad see that she couldn’t care less how the notes on the paper worked together?

He wanted her to know him, love him, and share in his excitement. He wanted her to love him and share his excitement. It was similar to a child who talks endlessly about their favourite toy.

She replied to him: “I also love you, Dad”. This perspective made her feel closer to him because something that had previously made her feel distant was now bringing them together.

Mental Health Conditions

A study entitled Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder: Diagnosis, Management, and Health Services Development reveals:

“Although mental health issues in adults with ASD may be less well-defined than for children, it is clear that they have a higher rate of mental disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders. They also suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, OCD and psychotic disorders. These comorbid problems persist into adulthood and affect both men and women with ASD. People with ASD may also have cognitive problems, such as poor decision-making, motor skills and timing. This can negatively impact their ability to live a normal life and access health care.

A mental health professional’s decision-making may be influenced by the addition of an autism diagnosis. This could lead to other professionals prescribing treatments in ways they hadn’t considered before.

The same study states: “There’s evidence that ASD adults have different brain chemistry. This may contribute to ASD symptoms as well as differential response to treatment. Current research has focused on three neurotransmitter systems: glutamine, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) acid.

“In summary, GABA is a key player in neurodevelopment as well as inhibitory neurotransmission. It binds differently in adults with ASD. In adults with ASD, glutamatergic neurotransmission (excitatory) appears to be enhanced. Serotonin abnormalities have also been linked with emotion recognition and response inhibition.

Serotonin levels are modifiable, and this may provide opportunities for the development of future treatments. An fMRI study of the neural processing for facial emotions revealed that modulating serotonin levels could normalize the brain activation pattern of ASD adults (frontal lobes, limbic regions, lingual gyrus) compared to typically developing controls.

“Similarly, fMRI study of serotonin moderating in tasks of impulsivity or inhibition found that brain activation was normalized in ASD adults’ key brain inhibition areas (frontal striatal and cerebellar). Studies using positron emission tomography have shown abnormalities of serotonin transporter and dopamine receptor binding in ASD adults.

“In addition to its more well-known hormonal role of facilitating uterine contracts and milk letdown, oxytocin acts as a Neuromodulator and it is thought to be involved in social cognition. Early oxytocin studies have mixed results, but preliminary evidence suggests that intranasal oxytocin is associated with increased empathy and decreased repetitive behaviours among adults with ASD. A 12-week modified maximum tolerable dose study of 15 young people with ASD showed that daily oxytocin administration was well tolerated with no serious adverse effects reported.

Translational research is needed to understand the relationship between brain chemistry, behaviour and ASD in adults.

The conclusion of the article is:

Megan was able to realize that her father provided for her in his unique way. Decoding his words revealed his true love for Megan. She made it a point of connecting with him on his terms, and she loved his response.

Mild autism is a term used to describe many adults with ASD. Social interaction may be more difficult for them than it is for the rest of society. If diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, they may be eligible for support services such as occupational therapy, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals.

They may learn to communicate better, have a deeper understanding of their loved ones, and develop a stronger connection with them. A diagnosis of ASD could be the missing link for their loved ones. It may motivate them to build relationships with a new perspective.