Is Public Awareness Lagging in Adult Autism?

PostedNovember 6, 2025

UpdatedNovember 6, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Beatrice Holloway, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Public awareness of adult autism has made progress, but there is still a noticeable lag when it comes to recognising autism in adults. While childhood autism has become more widely understood, many adults remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness and understanding. This education gap can lead to late recognition of autism, leaving many adults without the diagnosis or support they need until much later in life.

One major factor contributing to this issue is that awareness issues often prevent adults from identifying their own symptoms. Autism in adults may look different from childhood autism, especially since many adults develop coping mechanisms to mask their challenges. As a result, autism can be overlooked, with traits often misidentified as other conditions like anxiety or depression.

How Awareness Issues Impact Autism Recognition

This is how awareness issues impact autism recognition:

Social Expectations:

Adults with autism may struggle to meet societal expectations for social interaction, but their challenges are often dismissed or misunderstood because they don’t fit the stereotypical image of autism.

Healthcare Gaps:

Many healthcare professionals are not adequately trained to recognise adult autism. This gap in education results in misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses, preventing adults from getting the support they need.

Increasing public awareness of adult autism is crucial to improving early recognition and diagnosis.

Providers like Autism Detect offer consultations that can help adults better understand their symptoms and seek appropriate care.

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to late diagnosis in adults.

Beatrice Holloway, MSc

Author

Beatrice Holloway is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a BS in Applied Psychology. She specialises in CBT, psychological testing, and applied behaviour therapy, working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delays, and learning disabilities, as well as adults with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, OCD, and substance use disorders. Holloway creates personalised treatment plans to support emotional regulation, social skills, and academic progress in children, and delivers evidence-based therapy to improve mental health and well-being across all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.