Autism is a type of neurodivergence affecting about 3.3 per cent of the Irish population. This term refers to a unique way in which certain individuals think, experience and respond to the world. Neurodivergence includes a wide range of neurodevelopmental differences, such as:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Specific learning difficulties, such as dyspraxia and dyscalculia
• Tic disorders like Tourette’s Syndrome
• Epilepsy

As an umbrella term, neurodivergence describes multiple different conditions affecting the ways people think, process and understand the world. Neurotype describes a person based on how their brain works. People who are not neurodiverse are often described as neurotypical.

What is Autism?

Are there any other names for being Autistic?

In the past, people used many different terms to describe what we now call Autism. Today, some of these older terms are considered outdated or even offensive.

Here’s a list of terms that are no longer used and have been replaced by the umbrella term Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):

• Early infantile Autism
• “High functioning autism”
• Childhood disintegrative disorder
• Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)
• Asperger’s syndrome

Currently, all of the above conditions are simply referred to as Autism or ASD. The term ASD is often used in medical and mental health fields. However, use of this term can suggest that Autism is a problem or “disorder” that requires treatment. Here, and in all our other factsheets, we use the language “Autistic person” and “Autism.” This supports the view that neurodivergence, including autism, is not a disease.

Is Autism a mental illness?

Psychiatrists and a range of other mental health professionals generally classify Autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). Neurodevelopmental disorders, like Autism and ADHD, affect how the brain develops and functions, starting in early childhood. NDDs are different from mental health conditions. However, research shows that Autistic people are at a much higher risk of developing mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

About 70 per cent of Autistic people have at least one co-occurring mental health condition, and about 40 per cent have two or more mental health conditions. A co-occurring condition, also known as a comorbidity, is a medical or mental health issue that exists alongside another condition, such as anxiety or depression occurring with autism.

Sometimes, undiagnosed Autistic people are misdiagnosed with mental health conditions because the signs of Autism are overlooked by caregivers, teachers, and medical professionals. This happens because the common symptoms of mental health conditions can be confused with the mental distress caused by trying to navigate social environments as an Autistic person without adequate support.

What conditions are associated with being Autistic?

Researchers have observed that Autistic people are more likely to experience certain physical and mental health conditions compared to their neurotypical peers. According to the DSM-V, common conditions that exist along with being Autistic include:

• ADHD
• Specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia
• Medical conditions, including epilepsy, sleep problems, and gastrointestinal issues

One recent US study involving medical data from 42,569 Autistic individuals and 11,389 neurotypical siblings found that 74 per cent of those who were Autistic had at least one comorbidity. Autistic people were found to have more co-morbidities compared to their neurotypical siblings. Specifically, ADHD was the most common comorbidity, affecting over one in three Autistic children, compared to one in six among their neurotypical siblings. Learning disabilities were found in 24 per cent of the Autistic sample. Intellectual disabilities were present in 22 per cent.

Additionally, some studies suggest that Autistic individuals might be at a higher risk for developing eating disorders. However, more research is needed to fully understand any potential connection between eating disorders and Autism.

What can Autism be mistaken for?

In some cases, professionals can confuse Autism with neurodevelopmental differences or disabilities that have similarities to Autism. Some of these include:

• Rett syndrome, a developmental disorder affecting movement and language abilities
• Selective mutism, an anxiety disorder where a person finds themselves unable to speak in certain social situations
• Language disorders and social (pragmatic) communication disorder
• Intellectual disability without Autism
• Stereotypic movement disorder
• ADHD
• Schizophrenia (during the early phase, when a person may show social impairments and unusual interests)

Can autism show up later in life?

When formally identifying someone as Autistic, a qualified professional will conduct a thorough interview. Sometimes, they will ask to speak to family members to determine if the traits were present during early development. Many people show symptoms of Autism or receive a diagnosis as children. However, professionals are now diagnosing more adults as Autistic later in life.

There are two common reasons why Autism might be missed in early childhood:

1. Masking: Some individuals develop coping strategies to hide their Autistic traits. This can include rehearsing phrases before social interactions (known as “scripting”), practising facial expressions, or trying to mimic socially acceptable behaviours. These efforts to appear more neurotypical can make it harder for others to recognise the Autistic individual’s true difficulties
2. Limited social exposure: When a person is in an environment with few social and/ or sensory demands, their Autistic traits might not be picked up as easily. Often, a person’s Autism becomes more noticeable when they face significant changes, like moving away for university or dealing with new social situations

In addition masking and limited social exposure, people’s Autistic characteristics may go unnoticed because of limited awareness or barriers to accessing the right information. Negative stereotypes and stigma around autism can make it harder for people to seek an assessment. Many Autistic individuals might not even realise that their differences could be related to Autism due to lack of awareness.

Accessing supports

You may suspect you are Autistic but have not been diagnosed. Under these circumstances, others in your life might be expecting you to behave as if you were neurotypical in work, school, and other social settings. This can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, especially when you struggle to meet these expectations or show the behaviours expected for a neurotypical person of your age. This can lead to autistic burnout. To learn more about autistic burnout and recovery strategies, take a look at our article on autism coping strategies for managing stigma, autistic burnout and stress.

If you’re looking for more information on being Autistic, visit our factsheets on getting an Autism diagnosis as an adult, building coping strategies, and having your child assessed for Autism.

More resources and information on supporting your Autistic child can also be found on the As I Am website.

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