20 Signs of Autism in Adults - Autistic Traits You Never Knew Existed

• Let's explore some autistic traits in adults that you may never have realized were actually autistic traits.
• Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list of autistic traits; this is clearly not a diagnostic tool.
• This is just a video with my own experiences and observations as an autistic person.
• A list of 20 traits you might not have been aware of, and just because you can relate to a few of these traits doesn't mean you're autistic.
• However, if you feel like you can resonate with the majority of these traits, you may wish to talk it over with your friends, family, or your healthcare professional about the potential of seeking an assessment.

Here we go! Let's explore some autistic traits in adults that you may never have realized were actually autistic traits.

Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list of autistic traits; this is clearly not a diagnostic tool. This is just a video with my own experiences and observations as an autistic person.

Here's a list of 20 traits you might not have been aware of, and just because you can relate to a few of these traits doesn't mean you're autistic. However, if you feel like you can resonate with the majority of these traits, you may wish to talk it over with your friends, family, or your healthcare professional about the potential of seeking an assessment.

Autistic traits in adults you might not have known:

1. Feeling uncomfortable, awkward, anxious, or stressed around new people or new places. That's an autistic trait in adults you may not have realized was actually an autistic trait. I can absolutely relate to this. This comes down to many different factors as an autistic person. For me, my safe space is my home, and being around people who aren't safe—people I don't know, their intentions, or their personalities—creates constant anxiety and triggers me as an autistic person.

2. The use of structures or scripts. Pre-planned, premeditated, pre-rehearsed conversations or templates to have conversations, interactions, and small talk with neurotypical people in the real world. As an autistic person, I can run conversations through my head thousands of times, not only before I know there's an interaction coming but after as well. This is something I find horrible.

3. A preference or dislike for hugging, kissing, touching, or holding people when you greet them. When I meet someone, it doesn't occur to me that the right thing to do is to kiss them or hug them. It doesn’t mean that I’m not interested; it just doesn’t occur to me. I don't think you should prompt autistic people to do this kind of stuff. If they want to do it, they'll do it.

4. Wearing noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds. This is a way to drown out the world when you leave the house. It's about having that protection from sensory overload from the noises and overwhelming nature of the outside world.

5. Noises seem louder when you're stressed, tired, triggered, or agitated. Sounds that shouldn't startle seem like the loudest sound on the planet. For me, I will literally cover my ears with both my hands; this isn't an act but an instinctual reaction to being overwhelmed.

6. Getting startled by certain noises. Do you have a disproportionate reaction to unexpected noises? I get startled by the silliest sounds, and this doesn’t just startle me; it makes me angry too.

7. Tolerating certain fabrics or textures. You might find certain types of clothing overwhelming and uncomfortable, which can lead to agitation.

8. Cutting the tags of clothing. I have to cut the tags off my clothes, especially t-shirts and underwear, because they just don’t feel right.

9. Simply can't wear particular clothing. Even if it isn’t uncomfortable, it just doesn’t feel right at that moment. This can happen with regular clothing, like t-shirts or socks.

10. The texture of food can utterly repulse you. Certain textures can cause a gag reflex; for example, pumpkin makes me gag because of its texture.

11. Being repulsed by certain flavors, smells, or textures of food. Just thinking of certain foods can make you feel sick. For me, the smell of peas is disgusting, but I can enjoy pea and ham soup.

12. Feeling exhausted after going out. The energy it takes to mask and suppress your true self leads to exhaustion. When I get home from social gatherings, I often feel completely drained.

13. Spending more time than usual in the bathroom. I often use the bathroom as a way to escape, relax, or decompress.

14. A preference for being alone in social gatherings. You might feel more comfortable staying close to a safe person rather than mingling freely.

15. Enjoying people-watching. You might like sitting quietly in public places, just observing others.

16. Having an exclusive use policy for shops. This means you exclusively use specific shops or cafes and don’t deviate from those.

17. Struggling to connect with others. If people find it difficult to connect with you, it might be because they are viewing you through the lens of a neurotypical person.

18. People laugh at your remarks when you weren't trying to be funny. This can often leave you perplexed, as you were being serious.

19. Winding up in arguments unintentionally. You might find yourself in disagreements without even knowing how you got there.

20. Being reprimanded for being rude or too blunt in the workplace. Understanding tone and body language can be challenging for autistic individuals.

The traits we've discussed here are not an exhaustive list. This is not a diagnostic video, but if it sparked some interest or rung some bells, you may wish to discuss it with your local general practitioner or your family and friends.

Thank you for watching this video. Hopefully, you can share it with your family and friends so we can reach more people and make the lives of autistic people better. I appreciate your support, and until my next video, we'll talk soon!