Can autism be undiagnosed until adulthood? ?

autism spectrum disorders are usually diagnosed in childhood but many are diagnosed at a later age especially since awareness of autism has increased so rapidly in the last 10 + years it is especially so with girls with autism spectrum disorders symtoms can present differently and in more subtle ways i reccomend you read these three news articles about girls with autism spectrum disorders but first i recommend you read this article explaining the different types of autism spectrum disorders because the term autism can actually be used be describe a few different diagnoses http://autism.about.com/od/whatisautism/%E2%80%A6 here are the news articles http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/magazi%E2%80%A6 http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id%E2%80%A6 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/%E2%80%A6 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/761655%E2%80%A6 http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.%E2%80%A6 http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/20%E2%80%A6 also for diagnosis doctors usually do a variety of psychological tests and observe the patient and also ask questions relationg to the developmental history of the patient for more information about diagnosis check out these links http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/a%E2%80%A6 http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/how-aut%E2%80%A6 http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/how-asp%E2%80%A6 Source(s): also i suggest you take a look at these websites that give more information about girls with autism

There are a lot of parallels between autism and certain types of people. For instance, social awkwardness is a totally normal thing for someone to have. That can result in an inability to pick up on social cues. Inability to catch, run, play sports can be a product of not enjoying sports, not having the body for sports, or just being uncoordinated or uninterested in physical pass times. I can't personally stand uncomfortable clothes, I think that is normal. Would also describe myself as the weird one in my group of friends, but as we age and mature we should come to respect each other's differences. We all have a place in the social world, and those who judge you negatively are not worth your time or your friendship. Also overall intelligence plays into this as well - you do not have to be autistic to be slow, or unable to get with the program. Some people are just naturally in a daze, or have trouble concentrating in general. Autism too, is a spectrum - it is not just autistic or not autistic; there are varying degrees. Mental health is generally a recently advancing science, and has lived in the stone age up until modern day, so it might be possible that a doctor could miss a case of autism. With that said, I do not think that you have it - you are probably overthinking. But visiting a mental health practitioner can put your mind at ease.