About 2% of adults in the United States are on the autism spectrum, according to the CDC. Typically, individuals with autism are diagnosed during childhood; however, some individuals may not receive a diagnosis until their teenage or even adult years. This can leave some to wonder: can you develop autism later in life? Keep reading to learn more about this question below.
At ABA Revolution, our caring team of mental health professionals is here to help your child with autism gain key life and personal development skills to thrive and reach their fullest potential. We understand that each child with autism may have varying developmental needs. That’s why we provide top-rated ABA therapy in Illinois to help your child receive the right support to effectively develop essential skills to thrive. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your child today.
What is Autism? Common Signs of Autism
Before diving into the question “can you develop autism later in life”, it’s critical to understand what is autism and what signs of autism to look for. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts how a person interacts with the world around them. It’s critical to understand autism is not an illness but simply how your brain experiences the world differently from others.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to spot the signs of autism. Common signs of autism can include difficulty interacting or socializing with others, communication challenges, repetitive behaviors, being passionate about specific subjects or hobbies, and more. Typically, most individuals receive a diagnosis that they are on the autism spectrum in childhood or adolescence; however, some individuals can still receive a diagnosis later in life.
Can You Develop Autism Later in Life?
As you can see, autism is a developmental disorder that impacts the brain and how an individual interacts and perceives the world around them. Therefore, to answer the question “can you develop autism later in life”, the answer is no.
Autism develops during an individual’s childhood; however, this does not mean that all individuals who have autism receive a diagnosis in childhood. All individuals who have autism are not the same. Some individuals may present different symptoms and varying levels of intensity than others, making it at times difficult or uncertain to tell whether someone has autism without seeking a professional diagnosis.
Therefore, while you cannot develop autism later in life, you can receive a diagnosis for autism later in life. There can be a number of reasons why you may receive a diagnosis of autism later on in life. For example, during childhood, your parents and the adults around you may not have had knowledge around what autism is and the signs of autism; therefore, they were unable to acknowledge and see the signs of autism you were presenting as autism.
Another potential situation could be that your signs of autism were difficult to spot or not as apparent as other individuals on the autism spectrum. As mentioned above, each individual on the autism spectrum, although they typically share common signs, can show those signs at varying levels of intensity. Therefore, one person on the autism spectrum may have significant difficulty talking to others and maintaining certain social cues during a conversation such as maintaining eye contact. However, another individual with autism may have relatively good communication skills, but still present other signs of autism.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about the question “can you develop autism later in life”. Because autism is a developmental disorder that typically develops in early childhood, autism does not develop later in life. However, an individual may have autism, but not receive a diagnosis that they are on the autism spectrum until they are in adulthood. This may be for a number of reasons such as a parent not recognizing their child has autism.
At ABA Revolution, we help children with autism develop the personal development and life skills they need to thrive. Whether your child struggles with socializing and interacting well with others, or communicating their needs, our compassionate team is here to help your child effectively develop key life skills to develop and raise their overall quality of life and well-being. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your child!
