There are many degrees of autism with different ways of expressing themselves, so there is a difficulty in making an accurate diagnosis.
This diagnosis can be even more difficult in children, since it is a formative phase that can present many peculiarities. On the other hand, the signs of autism in teenagers they are usually more perceptive.
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Main signs of autism in teenagers
In cases of mild autism, there is a tendency to associate autism traits with simple personality expressions. Thus, it is common that only in contact with contexts other than the family, such as school, is there recognition of the disorder.
This happens even more in adolescence, when social connections are formed more intensely.
Thus, autistic adolescents may experience many difficulties during elementary and high school, as adolescence has its own dynamics. In this context, it is common for autistic adolescents to feel excluded from this dynamic, which can cause a lot of suffering.
Here are some of the main signs:
- Have problems making friends and trusting people;
- Have difficulty understanding sarcasm or irony;
- Avoid eye contact and be shy about public speaking;
- Is sensitive to sensations, such as noises, touches, different flavors;
- They feel uncomfortable in the middle of the crowd;
- They prefer to have virtual friends to face-to-face friendships;
- Have low self-esteem;
- Have anxiety and social phobia;
- He has difficulty opening up about his feelings to anyone.
How does autism treatment work?
It is not possible to talk about a single treatment for autism, but about treatments, since there are several forms of manifestation of the spectrum. Thus, it will depend a lot on how the spectrum presents itself in the life of this teenager. But basically, we can say that psychotherapy remains the most efficient way to deal with it.
Therefore, it is important that children and adolescents who experience autism have the psychological support they need. In addition, this follow-up may include other professionals, such as pedagogues, speech therapists, for when there is speech difficulty, in addition to the psychiatric for possible use of medications.