Anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Gender differences in misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis among adults with autism spectrum disorder with no language or intellectual disability. Missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses of adults with autism spectrum disorder. Intellectual disability shares symptoms with ASD in social communication differences and repetitive behaviors.

Autistic people often have difficulties with verbal and nonverbal expressions. Research from 2017 shows that 11% to 84% of autistic folks experience anxiety. Autistic people commonly experience tension and anxiety. Many autistic people experience mood episodes, such as anger or depression, which might look like bipolar disorder. This may be due to difficulties handling emotions or relating to other people. Autistic people often have food sensitivities and ritualistic eating behaviors, which may look like an eating disorder. It can also be difficult to tell the difference between the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and ASD symptoms. Sensory issues in autistic people may be misdiagnosed as hallucinations in schizophrenia. A 2020 study found that 9% of autistic participants had OCD, and in one 2018 study, 27.8% of people with OCD had undiagnosed ASD. These disorders also frequently co-occur. ASD often involves repetitive or ritualistic behaviors, which may look like OCD. They may also prefer solitude, making them appear withdrawn or shy. Many autistic people have difficulty with social interaction.

Avoidant personality disorder, social anxiety disorder, shyness.ASD shares several symptoms with ADHD, including difficulties with impulsivity, executive functioning, and hyperactivity. The following disorders share many of the same symptoms as autism, which may result in a misdiagnosis: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Research from 2020 has shown that adults who received an ASD diagnosis had frequently received diagnoses for: What is autism commonly misdiagnosed as (and vice versa)?īefore receiving an ASD diagnosis, many autistic people are misdiagnosed with a variety of conditions. These children were primarily Black and Hispanic males. Of the 4,500 children researchers identified as having ASD symptoms, 25% had not been diagnosed or treated. One 2019 study looked at the education and medical records of 266,000 children who were 8 years old in 2014. There may also be racial or ethnic disparities leading to missed diagnoses. Females have less obvious social and communication difficulties.Females are more likely to have internalizing symptoms, rather than externalizing symptoms, which could be confused with anxiety or depression.Diagnostic tools are designed to identify symptoms commonly seen in males (due to mostly male samples in research).Research from 2021 that grouped participants into male and female categories indicated that ASD symptoms in females are more likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed. In some cases, ASD may be overlooked while the secondary condition, such as depression, is diagnosed. These secondary conditions frequently arise due to the high levels of stress experienced by autistic people - often the result of difficulties with interpersonal and communication skills. For example, evidence from 2021 suggests that ASD may share a common developmental root with other disorders, be a basis for other conditions to flourish, or both.įor instance, the 2021 study cites research that has confirmed that ASD is a risk factor for conditions such as: In addition, ASD and certain conditions may overshadow or even shape one another. 9% had obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).In fact, more than half of young autistic children have four or more other conditions.Ī 2020 review study found the following prevalence rates of other psychiatric conditions in autistic people: About 70% to 80% of autistic people with milder forms of ASD are also diagnosed with another psychiatric condition. One of the biggest challenges is the co-occurrence of other disorders. This in itself can make an ASD diagnosis challenging, sometimes leading to: Each individual exhibits a unique set of symptoms and different degrees of severity. Since researchers began tracking the disorder in 2000, ASD diagnoses have steadily increased, primarily due to its growing awareness among the general public and the scientific community.ĪSD can look very different from person to person. How common is autism misdiagnosis, and why does it happen?ĪSD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting about 1.5% of the population.

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