Questions about autism in adolescence

What autism is and is not

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a form of neurological development that is present from birth and lasts a lifetime. It affects how a person processes what comes in through the senses, how they communicate and relate, and how they need to organise their world. It is called a spectrum because no two autistic people are alike: the same traits appear in very different intensities and combinations.

It is not an illness, so it is not treated to make it go away and there is nothing to correct. It is not caused by parenting, vaccines or screens. It is not a lack of empathy or intelligence. It is a different way of functioning which, in a world built for the majority, can produce a great deal of tiredness, anxiety and a sense of not fitting in.

In adolescence many traits become more visible because social demands shoot up: groups get more complex, the unwritten rules change and everyone is expected to manage on their own. Boys and girls who had been coping until then start to run out of energy, and for the first time someone, they themselves or their family, asks the question.

How to recognise the traits

• Being with people is draining in a way others do not seem to feel: after an afternoon with friends it takes hours alone to recover.
• Changes of plan, timetable or routine are far more unsettling than would seem reasonable, and transitions are hard.
• Certain sounds, lights, textures or clothing labels are unbearable, or the reverse: things that bother others barely register.
• There are very intense, very specific interests that can be talked about for hours and that bring calm.
• They have learned to copy what others do in order to go unnoticed, with an enormous effort nobody sees, and fall apart at home.
• She is a girl and has always seemed 'shy' or 'odd': in girls and women the traits tend to go unnoticed for longer, and the question arrives in adolescence or adulthood.

What helps

Understanding before correcting. The first relief is usually having a frame: knowing that social exhaustion, the need for routine or sensitivity to noise have an explanation and are not a character flaw. That changes the conversation at home and the way a person treats themselves.

Adjusting the environment. Anticipating changes, respecting recovery time, reducing noise and light where possible, negotiating reasonable adjustments with the school. Many of the difficulties ease when the environment stops demanding what costs the most.

What therapy does. At Psycho, a psychologist with experience in autism can help you understand your own traits and put a name to them, manage the anxiety that often goes with autistic life in a noisy world, work on the exhaustion of masking and, with adolescents, guide the family on what helps and what does not. When there are solid grounds for suspicion, they guide you on how and where to ask for a formal assessment.

What it does not do. Psycho's psychologists do not issue an official autism diagnosis or reports for third parties. A formal assessment is done by specialised teams (child and adolescent mental health units, the diagnostic services of autism associations, accredited professionals) with specific tests over several sessions. Therapy accompanies that process; it does not replace it. Nor does it aim to make the person stop being autistic: the goal is to live better as who they are.

When to ask for an assessment

Having a trait from the list does not mean being autistic: many people are sensitive to noise or prefer routines. The question deserves an assessment when several traits coincide, have always been there and cause real distress: exhaustion, anxiety, isolation, a sense of living in performance.

If on top of that you notice a persistent low mood, or thoughts of self-harm, do not wait for the assessment: talk to a professional now. With thoughts of not wanting to be here, call 800 911 2000 (Línea de la Vida); in immediate danger, call 911.

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  Ainhoa Corbera

  Licensed psychologist · Clinical director

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Frequently asked questions

Can Psycho diagnose autism?

No. Psycho's psychologists do not issue official diagnoses for third parties. They can help you understand what you see, manage what hurts and point you to where to ask for a formal assessment: your local mental health unit, with a referral from your paediatrician or doctor, or the diagnostic services of autism associations.

Is an assessment worth it if they are already a teenager, or even an adult?

Yes. A late assessment does not change who the person is, but it changes how they understand themselves and what support they can ask for. Many women and people who learned to mask get the answer in adolescence or adulthood.

Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?

No. You can start with what hurts now (the anxiety, the exhaustion, the difficulties at school) while the diagnostic question is clarified. If you are looking for a psychologist with experience in autism, their profile shows whether they work with ASD.