Why do we only see younger children with Autism?

Question

Why do we only see younger children with autism? Why arent there older people with it 40's 50's and so on? Im 21 and Ive never heard of anyone with it except for 2 yr olds over the last couple of years? Something seems wrong with this picture

Answer 1

It's probably due to how recently the disorder was identified.

I know and know of teens and people in their young 20's who have Autism/Asperger's

There probably are older people who have Autism but are either misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all.

Answer 2

There are adults with autism too. You just haven't noticed them before.

Those with mild forms of autism learn to compensate for their lack of social skills, so when they are adults they almost blend in with others and are often just thought of as a little strange or eccentric.

Adults with severe forms of autism often live with their parents or in institutions and since they are not out on the job market or out in public much, they are not very noticeable.

Another reason is that it's not that long since autism was recognized as a diagnosis, so there are many adults out there who are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, so even if you'd meet them you wouldn't necessarily know they were autistic.

People, professionals and the media also focus on autism in children a lot because when it's detected early there is a chance to use early intervention to help the child develop skills they lack. With adults I get the feeling people think it's either too late to do anything to help or that whatever help they got in childhood was enough, so there are rather few resources, research or discussions about adults with autism.

Answer 3

Hi there.

There are persons' from the age of "0" to

"100" (for example) who are on the autism spectrum.

There are people who have previously lived who have been on the spectrum.

And there will be many more people yet to be born, who will be on the autism spectrum.

There is autism in the animal kingdom as well.

An individual with autism, is autistic for life. Autism is a part of their 'fabric'.

If you want to know more about autism, check out Donna Williams and Temple Grandins', Aspergers Parallel Planet (Alyson)  web sites. These wonderful people are on the autism spectrum and have terrific information about autism for all to read. Mine, "The Heart and Soul of Autism" has extra info and links too.



Have a great day ;)

Answer 4

Because the adults with autism that  are medium to high functioning have learned how to blend into society.  I have been to autism conferences where the speakers were autistic, one of them was Stephen Shore.  If you were sitting in a restaurant next to any of them you would not notice.  Observing them, you did not notice, until someone put them on the spot with a question they weren't ready for.  Someone asked this question while we were there.  The answer was and all agreed that as children you aren't aware of social norms for say stimming by flapping the arms.  All admitted they still stim, but in public choose a more socially appropriate stim like tapping the feet or drumming the hands.  All said that at home they do arm flap, wring hands, screech, and do a lot of rocking.  More are dx now, there are several reasons for this.  Dx is broader, the spectrum growing, less are misdx with something else, awareness is higher, there are more environmental toxins and pollutants now that many feel are at least partially causal, among others including a better understanding of genetic predisposition.

Answer 5

Your question is flawed hugely by your own experience and lack of research. Just because only YOU have met young children with Autism is not to say adults don't have it. Many adults have Autism but have either learned to function in society despite it or have become entirely reclusive/hidden away from society. (Many autistic adults with difficult functioning are just sent to institutions.)

Answer 6

its getting overdiagnosed.

really every kid who doesnt do well with others or is a little odd is diagnosed as having autism or being on tthe autism spectrum.

im not saying there isnt a rise in autism, im just saying that like add its like acceptable diagnosis/ excuse to have a bratty kid.

Answer 7

The reason you only tend to see younger people and children with autism is because it is such a recent diagnosis. Autism was only relly recognised in the 1940's, first by Kanner and then by Asperger. Before they began to research the condition children who would now be classified as having an autistic spectrum disorder were thought of as being slow or eccentric. I have a relative who was recently diagnosed at the age of 69 as having Asperger syndrome. Through out his entire life we have thought of him as being odd and a bit of a loner. When he was finally diagnosed it all made sense, although it does not change him.

Answer 8

There are definitely older people with autism...although reserach shows that the number of infants being born with it is rising astronomically, so YES, it makes sense that it seems as though they are only younger children...

Autistic adults either learn to cope better throughout their lives and are less noticeable to the average person...OR...they were so severe that they stay in a home...OR...they don't live as long as others due to other health complications...can be sad, but research is improving medicine and education of autistic people!

Answer 9

there are more young people with autism--as the rarte of diagnosis significantly increased during this generation----

but there are many adults with autism--some live in developmental centers because they did not receive proper intervention when they were young and now have difficulty living in teh community

also, many adults with autism have learned to compensate--so it is not as apparent

Answer 10

There are Autistic adults in mainstream society. I have met Autistic adults both off-line and on-line.

Google these people. These adult people have Autism.

1. Temple Grandin

2. Donna Williams

Answer 11

I agree with the other answers, but I'd like to add that we are getting better at detecting autism in children and adults.  Children with autism were often labeled mentally retarded or has having behavior/ mental health issues.  Sometimes both.  Now that education of professionals and the actual tests have become better, the number of autism is continually rising.  It's not the entire reason we've seen an increase, but it's part!