Understanding autism necessitates a nuanced comprehension of this complex and diverse condition. Considering the real experiences of real individuals enhances our ability to create an inclusive and accepting world where autistic people are supported, understood, and empowered.
Teenagers are at a special time in their lives, at once navigating an exit from childhood and an entry into adulthood, all while dealing with new peer relationships, romantic awareness, intense emotions, and cognitive growth. This period can present a challenge for anyone who experiences it; many of us can remember the pain and uncertainty of our teenage years. For individuals with autism, the challenges are similar but with key differences relating to being autistic and what that means in terms of day-to-day life and behaviors.
Communication
One of the biggest challenges facing teens who are diagnosed with autism is the difficulty of communicating; those with autism frequently have delayed speech, find it hard to understand figurative language, and often struggle to wrap their heads around abstract concepts. At a time when communicating is crucial for socialization, family harmony, and opportunities for future work and study, teenagers who have been diagnosed with autism may find themselves out of the loop or isolated in a way they did not experience as young children. This can cause difficult situations, not only for them but also for loved ones who may experience painful feelings at seeing the intense disparity in communicative ability that develops during these years.
Behavior
Sensory sensitivities are a very common challenge for those with autism; it is very difficult for people with autism to focus when there are sensory distractions present, such as loud noises or bright lights. What’s more, individuals with autism often have an intense need for routine and struggle immensely with small daily changes. For teenagers, who are traditionally seeking out new experiences, taking risks, and engaging in new social behaviors, changes to routine, including new stimuli such as lighting and sound, occur frequently. Autistic teens may find themselves in new and stressful situations, which cause them to act out or seem disconnected, which can seem alarming or upsetting.
Social Life
One of the major challenges facing teens who are diagnosed with autism is the difficulty surrounding friendships; where childhood is a phase characterized by more frequent and fleeting friendships, adolescence is often where close bonds with key friends are formed. Autistic teens may find themselves socially isolated in new ways as they find themselves unable to navigate this changing landscape of socialization due to difficulties understanding and interpreting social cues, along with a traditional preference for solitary activities. This can put autistic teens at risk of bullying, isolation, and stress as they negotiate the changing social landscape of this age bracket.
Education
Autism offers a significant potential for high intellectual performance in teens; when presented with the opportunities to study their preferred subjects at a higher learning level, such as in high school, teens who have been diagnosed with autism thrive and excel. However, this often occurs at the expense of other subjects that present less interest. The overall learning experience at school can therefore be very uneven, and autistic teens may therefore need individualized education programs (IEPs) in order to progress through to higher education or employment.
Mental Health
All teens are presented with certain shared mental health risks; this is an age where anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and other mental health conditions can emerge and become extremely challenging, not just for teens but also for their friends, families, and communities. The risks have been shown to be increased for individuals who have been diagnosed with autism, however. There is a great need for supportive mental health services which can help autistic teenagers negotiate all of the challenges listed above, as well as the daily stresses and anxieties of feeling different, out of place, or as though they are a difficulty to others. Autism may limit some understanding of social cues and emotions, but the feeling of being problematic or an outsider still presents major risks as teenagers become aware of the challenges that present in classrooms, school yards, lunch cafeterias, or at home in new ways.
The world is not easy for any teens, especially at this moment in time. However, teens who have been diagnosed with autism may face more difficulties due to the complexities presented by this condition. We have a responsibility to come together and educate ourselves to better support the young people in our lives with autism and to make the world a more inclusive place.
Sources:
[1] Autism Society. (n.d.). Communication and social interaction. Retrieved from https://autismsociety.org/communication-and-social-interaction/
[2] American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Autism. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/autism/
[3]Mayo Clinic. (2023). Autism spectrum disorder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928
[4]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html
[5] National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Autism spectrum disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorder/index.shtml
[6] U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Building the legacy: IDEA 2004. \https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
[7] Autism Speaks. (n.d.). School community toolkit. https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/school-community-tool-kit
[8] Mazurek, M. O., & Kanne, S. M. (2010). Friendship and anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(6), 653-664.
