Am I Autistic?

You might be curious about how to tell whether you are Autistic. In this factsheet, you will find information on the core Autistic traits and how they affect the Autistic experience.

Being formally identified as Autistic requires a diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional. However, among the wider Autistic community, there is growing acceptance of self-diagnosis as an equally valid route to understanding yourself. This is partly because of the many obstacles and challenges people face when trying to obtain a diagnosis from a professional. Not all qualified professionals understand the nuances of how Autism can present. This is especially true for people of different ethnic, cultural, and gender identities.

What characteristics do Autistic people share?

For those who can and want to seek a professional diagnosis, the psychologist or psychiatrist diagnosing you will likely refer to one of two standard classification systems:

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V): a widely accepted set of guidelines, developed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), used by mental health professionals worldwide for diagnosing and treating mental health conditions
• The International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11): a global standard for diagnosing and classifying health conditions, developed by the World Health Organisation

Both the DSM and the ICD-11 identify that Autistic individuals show differences in the following core areas:

Communication

Autistic people may struggle with understanding body language, maintaining eye contact, and picking up on non-verbal cues. Non-verbal cues are signals that neurotypical individuals use during social interactions. These cues help them adjust their words, tone of voice, and facial expressions to fit specific contexts. Most people aren’t aware that they are reading these unspoken signals or that these cues are shaping their interactions.

Autistic people, who understand or pick up on social cues differently, may often find it difficult to coordinate their speech and body movements. For them, understanding and responding to these non-verbal signals usually requires conscious effort. They often need to learn and study other people’s facial expressions and behaviours to know what others expect their response or reaction to be.

We tend to confuse Autism with being introverted or experiencing social anxiety. However, a key feature that distinguishes Autism from being introverted or socially anxious are the different ways in which they may understand and respond to the non-verbal cues described above. Although many Autistic people experience anxiety as a result of these communication difficulties, Autistic individuals can be extroverted and may even enjoy social interaction in the right contexts or with the right understanding and support.

Social interaction

Autistic people often find it challenging to understand the unspoken rules of social interaction. It can feel like being invited to a dance where everyone else knows the choreography. You might be unfamiliar with the social scripts and routines that are part of everyday life. You could have less interest in small talk, struggle with the back-and-forth of conversation (such as taking turns to speak), and prefer to talk at length about just a few interests that you are passionate about. Starting conversations and knowing how to respond when approached by others can also be difficult in certain situations.

Because of these communication and social interaction challenges, Autistic people may struggle to develop and maintain relationships, especially with those outside their family or neurotypical individuals. However, contrary to what some might think, these differences in communication and understanding do not indicate that Autistic people are any less empathetic than non-Autistic individuals. According to The Double Empathy Theory, Autistic people may have difficulty understanding the experience of non-Autistic people, just as non-Autistic people may have equal difficulty understanding the experience of Autistic people. The theory highlights that this challenge is mutual, with both sides sometimes finding it hard to empathise with each other.

Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour among Autistic people

In this section, we may use clinical terms like “restricted, repetitive behaviours” because these terms are part of the guidelines that professionals use to diagnose Autism, known as “diagnostic criteria.” However, many people within the Autistic community prefer to use more neurodiversity-affirmative language when describing their experiences.

According to the DSM-V, Autistic individuals often have “restricted, repetitive behaviours.” They may also find it difficult to handle changes in their routine. Below is a list of some of the ways in which these differences can manifest.

Self-stimulatory behaviour (‘stimming’)

Self-stimulatory behaviour or ‘stimming’ refers to repetitive movements or activities that some Autistic people do.  Examples include flapping one’s hands, rocking back and forth, lining up objects, twirling one’s hair, or repeating certain words or phrases (known as “echolalia”). Stimming can help Autistic individuals feel calm, especially in busy or overwhelming environments, and it can also be a way to express themselves. It’s not just about feeling anxious or stressed; some Autistic people might ‘stim’ when they’re happy or excited too.

Special interests among Autistic people

Many Autistic people are deeply passionate about certain subjects or activities and may spend a lot of time focusing on and learning about these interests, often referred to as “special interests.” Some individuals within the Autistic community prefer the term “passion areas.” These interests can be enjoyable and deeply fulfilling.

However, special interests can sometimes make social interactions challenging. For example, if someone only talks about their special interest, or if their interest is something that few others know about, it can be difficult for them to connect with others. On the other hand, special interests can also bring benefits. When an Autistic person pursues their special interest in higher education or as a career, it can allow them to excel in something they are passionate about.

Need for unchanging routine

Autistic individuals can have rigid thinking patterns and a need to follow specific routines. Changes to these routines can cause significant emotional distress. This rigidity and the stress that arises from not being able to stick to routines can sometimes lead to misdiagnoses of mental health conditions, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Sensory processing

Autistic individuals tend to show differences in their reactions to external stimuli. External stimuli are things in your environment that you can perceive through your five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Researchers are still studying how repetitive behaviours, like stimming, relate to sensory processing difficulties, but there is evidence of a connection.

These reactions can range from very little response (“hyporeactivity”) to very strong responses (“hyperreactivity”). For example, Autistic people may react strongly to bright lights, loud noises, and certain smells. Some researchers think that repetitive movements  might help Autistic people cope with environments that have too much or too little stimulation. However, more research is needed to understand this better. It is possible that sticking to the same routine can help manage unpleasant or unexpected sensory stimuli. Too much of these stimuli can lead to an experience of sensory overload. Sensory overload can occur when someone’s senses become overwhelmed by too much information. This can make it hard to process the information or cope with the environment.

Some Autistic individuals may also be sensitive to the taste and texture of certain foods, leading to specific and limited food preferences. For up to a third of Autistic people, these limited food preferences can result in a type of eating disorder known as avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). One large study of 5,157 Autistic children living in the US found that 21 per cent of them had ARFID.

What can increase the likelihood of a person being Autistic?

The exact causes of neurodevelopmental differences like Autism are still not fully understood. However, researchers have identified some factors that might increase the likelihood of developing Autism:

• Environmental factors: Having older parents at the time of conception and/or low birth weight may contribute to a higher risk of developing Autism
• Genetic factors: Studies suggest that individuals with a close biological relative (like a parent) who has Autism may have a significantly increased chance of developing Autism themselves. This increased risk ranges from 37 per cent to over 90 per cent.

Wondering if you might be Autistic can be a confusing and overwhelming experience. Although it may not be easy for everyone to access, getting a diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional can help you receive certain supports. It’s important to remember that being Autistic doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you; it simply means you have a unique way of processing information and relating to the world. To learn more about Autism, check out our factsheet on what Autism is. You can also find more information on diagnosis in our articles on how to get assessed for Autism and how to get your child assessed for Autism.

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