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The Signs of Adolescent Autism

Autism is a neurological disorder of unknown origin that affects the person's ability to communicate effectively, develop age-appropriate social interactions and engage in developmentally appropriate leisure activities. Although the basic symptoms of autism are the same at any age, how these symptoms present changes as the child matures. Adolescents with autism face challenges in fitting in with their peers and developing a sense of identity.

  1. Social Interactions

    • The teenage years are notorious for narrowly defined socially acceptable interactions with peers as adolescents try out new roles and form social groups. For the teen with autism, this can cause considerable difficulty. Lack of adequate social skills may inhibit the ability to fit into a group, leaving no alternative but to join groups of other students who have been isolated from social groups. This complicates the issue by providing negative role models for the teen with autism.

    Language Difficulties

    • Adolescents typically express feelings and emotions through the use of sarcasm. Those with autism often do not understand the nuances of the English language and may interpret comments literally. Teasing may be misconstrued, causing the child with autism to either react negatively to perceived insults or to fail to recognize negative remarks, making them the brunt of jokes and teasing.

    Deviate Behaviors

    • Deviate behavior may result from the lack of positive interaction with peers and lack of understanding of feelings and emotions. Although some maintain a strict sense of right and wrong, others face significant difficulties in making healthy lifestyle choices. The temptation to smoke or drink, particularly when combined with peer pressure from others who have been ostracized from social groups, may be too strong for the teen to resist.

    Sexual Exploration

    • Sexual exploration may lack human emotion, and interactions may fail to address the emotional impact on self or others. Failure to understand the risks associated with sexual behavior may lead to promiscuous behaviors or set the teen up to be taken advantage of. The pressure to belong and to be accepted may be so strong that the child ignores the risks.

    Self Awareness

    • Many adolescents with autism become aware that they are different yet are unable to understand how or why. This may cause considerable difficulties in developing a healthy self-image. Some join groups of others with similar conditions and make efforts to understand their limitations. Although this can be a positive move, many suffer from depression and a sense of loss when they realize that they are not like everyone else.

    Knowledge

    • Many teens with autism have areas of well-developed skills and knowledge, and may become overly involved in the study of one particular subject. In their zeal to fit in they may talk excessively about the subject. Although they may have vital information to share, others are often put off and bored with the subject after a short period.

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