Help CenterGrowing up gets hard. Everyone’s pulling you in different directions, and keeping up with school, everyone you know, maybe a job, and yourself is… hard. You’re learning the ropes and growing up, and there is a teething” process.
For someone on the autism spectrum, this time maybe even more complex.
This is especially true if they’ve not been diagnosed. A diagnosis gives someone with autism a chance to understand and come to terms with how they process the world. And as a result, they may find tools to make their life easier.
As a parent, having an undiagnosed teen with autism may also be a challenging experience. It will look like your son or daughter is withdrawing, easily angry, confused, and anxious.
Here is a helpful list of signs. Do you go to a professional, or can you put your teen’s behaviour down to simply being… a teen?
Your VoiX checklist for autism
Here are several “traits” or key markers that should prompt the question: does my child have autism? It’s unlikely a teenager will display all of these traits at once. It’s up to a qualified professional to make the formal diagnosis.
Regarding other people…
- Dominates the conversation or finds it difficult to ‘take turns’ when talking. Or the reverse: they struggle to answer questions about themselves and deal with the focus being on themselves.
- Focused on a specific topic and want to talk about it… a LOT! And as other subjects are brought up, they may find it difficult to display or be interested.
- Finds it challenging to follow non-verbal communication. E.g. they struggle to pick up sarcasm. They may get themselves into problems from interpreting things all the time. Another example: they can’t read facial expressions of anger and sadness.
- Struggles to keep up with the rules of friendship (after all, these are often never stated or written down explicitly).
- Dominates activities and has trouble letting others have a go
- They hang around with children younger than themselves or prefer spending time with adults.
- Follows the rules rigidly. This is seen at school and with those their age.
- Doesn’t make or keep eye contact.
- Uses speech in unusual ways. For example, they may speak in a monotone, with an accent, in a very proper and formal way or not at all.
- Finds it hard to follow anything but a straightforward set of instructions.
- Shows a limited range of facial expressions, mismatched facial expressions, or expresses few emotions.
- Prefers hanging around on their own rather than joining in with others.
- Does not enjoy sharing “personal space”! They don’t like to get physically very close to others.
- Regularly resisting or refusing to go to school.
As for themselves…
- Unusual hobbies or obsession with unusual objects. Here are a few examples of this point. They obsessively memorise all the facts about a popular band but have no interest in the music itself, keep mental lists of car registration plates, collect chewing gum wrappers, and insist on carrying a specific toy or object around everywhere with them, even as they get older.
- Repetitive behaviour, such as a rigid pattern of lining up their books or computer games on the shelf!
- Loving routine and getting easily upset when plans change suddenly, and routines are not followed.
- Very sensitive in regards to physical senses. They refuse to wear anything ‘scratchy,’ hate loud noises or only want to eat foods with a particular texture.
- Alternatively, they are under-responsive to sensory experiences. For example, keeping a jumper on when it is very hot or not reacting to pain when hurt.
- Unusual body movements include rocking, hand flapping, and constant finger flicking.
- Making unusual noises. Your teenager might repeatedly squeal, grunt or clear their throat.
- Feelings of depression may emerge when your teenager starts to understand that some of their behaviours are unique to their peers – and that others are noticing. This can lead them to feel ‘on the outer’.
- A sensory ‘overload’ or build-up can lead to your teenager displaying unexpected behaviour.
- An eating disorder can develop during peak stress or anxiety, such as when a teenager starts high school.
- Being disorganised. Teens on the spectrum often find it challenging to manage their increasingly complex school life, juggling study with extracurricular activity.
For Parents – The Time To Seek an Autism Assessment For Your Teen
Why is this urgent?
It may be difficult for you to think your child might be on the autism spectrum. This can lead to an avoidance of testing. Yet your teen is growing into a beautiful adult, and understanding this problem may lead to far better, stable, and exciting outcomes- in short, more LIFE! They are many benefits of determining sooner rather than later:
- You and your teenager find the help and support you need.
- At school, staff have a much better understanding of your child’s needs, which may lead to better support.
- Your teen may have a better sense of self-worth as they understand a valid explanation for their experience. They may have more confidence knowing they are part of a larger group of teens on the spectrum!
Getting the diagnosis
To find an assessment - there are a few options:
- Contact your state or territory autism association.
- Talk to a qualified health professional with experience in this field. To find such a professional, make an appointment with your GP.
- Refer your teenager for an assessment yourself.
To find an autism support service provider in your local area, visit our Resources page.
You may want to read about getting a diagnosis for adults (over 18).
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Please also check the most current Position statement of our College - Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) relating to Autism: