On the Autism Spectrum: Top 25 Hurdles Individuals Face Daily
Navigating the world on the autism spectrum can be a complex journey, as individuals face a unique set of challenges that are often misunderstood by society at large. From struggles with communication and social interactions to autism sensory problems and repetitive behaviors, those on the autism spectrum encounter obstacles that can significantly impact their daily lives.
The top challenges of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) extend beyond just the individual themselves; they also encompass societal barriers that hinder their inclusion and acceptance.
Understanding these autistic challenges is crucial in fostering a more empathetic and supportive environment to thrive in all aspects of life.
Here are top 25 hurdles and signs ASD adults and children alike commonly face.
Top 25 Challenges for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: Signs ASD Adult Often Show
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Communication challenges
Relating to others is one of the core difficulties faced by people with autism. Many struggle with verbal and nonverbal communication, including understanding figurative language, conversational rules like turn-taking, and expressing their own thoughts and feelings clearly.
This can lead to frustration and isolation. Learning to improve communication skills through speech therapy and social skills training is important but not always accessible or affordable.
READ MORE: Feeling Left Out – 12 Ways to Conquer Ostracism When You Have Autism -
Sensory sensitivity
Autism sensory problems impact many people with autism, who can become easily overwhelmed by certain noises, textures, smells, lights, or other stimuli. This makes many public spaces like schools, offices, and stores stressful environments.
Finding ways to limit exposure to upsetting stimuli or building coping strategies are necessary but difficult adaptations. Families, friends, employers, and communities must better understand these challenges and accommodate sensory needs where possible.
READ MORE: Sensory Integration Dysfunction? A Sensory Diet Can Change Your Life -
Rigidity and Resistance to Change
The tendency toward rigid, rule-based thinking and resistance to change are also common challenges of autism. Many rely on set routines and have trouble adapting when plans abruptly change. While structure and predictability are comforting, the world is full of surprises.
Supporting flexibility, problem-solving, and resilience are important skills that require patient teaching and practice. With compassion and creativity, especially for those with ASD symptoms in adulthood, the autism community continues making progress in this area.
READ MORE: Break Free – 10 Tips to Take A Risk and Escape Your Comfort Zone -
Impaired social skills
Appropriate social skills present difficulties for many people with autism. Not fitting in is one of the key signs ASD adults and children alike commonly face. They may struggle to make eye contact, read facial expressions and body language, and develop age-appropriate friendships.This can lead to loneliness and anxiety in social situations. Social skills training and peer support groups can help, but social dynamics are inherently challenging. Greater societal acceptance and opportunities to connect are needed for those with autism sensory problems.
READ MORE: Autism Social Skills – Inferencing and Body Language Hurdles to Overcome -
Emotional regulation
Emotional regulation is another one of many challenges of autism. Many with autism have difficulty identifying and expressing their own emotions appropriately, and is one of many common ASD symptoms in adulthood. Extreme reactions is one of the signs ASD adults and children alike display, and emotional regulation struggles can contribute to emotional outbursts and meltdowns. Developing healthy coping mechanisms takes time but can improve quality of life. Patience and understanding from family, friends, and colleagues assists progress.
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Executive functioning deficits
Problems with planning, organization, time management, and decision-making affect the majority with individuals on the autism spectrum. These skills allow people to live, work, and function independently. Steps like creating structured routines, minimizing distractions, providing checklists can help compensate, especially for those with ASD symptoms in adulthood. But gaps in executive functioning undermine autonomy. More research into improving these abilities is essential.
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Co-occurring mental health conditions
Challenges of autism frequently include other co-occurring conditions accompanying an ASD diagnosis. Many individuals also struggle with anxiety, depression, ADHD or obsessive compulsive disorder.These additional challenges, along with autism sensory problems, exacerbate autism symptoms and require coordinated care. However, finding providers equipped to treat dual diagnoses is difficult and expensive.
Improved access to integrated mental healthcare is imperative in order to correctly help with the mental health signs ASD adults and children alike display.
READ MORE: New Research Reveals Autism Mental Health Linked to These Disorders
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Bullying and social exclusion
Being bullied and ostracism are painful realities for many on the autism spectrum, especially children. Differences in communication, behavior and interests can lead to rejection from neurotypical peers. This isolates students with autism and impacts self-esteem and mental health.
Greater autism awareness and inclusion training for youth could help change school culture. All students benefit when diversity is valued. Social exclusion is among the signs ASD adults still may display, as it is considered a lifelong challenge.
READ MORE: How to Combat Autism and Bullying Behavior Once and For All -
Successfully finding and maintaining employment
Finding and keeping a job is challenging for those with ASD symptoms in adulthood. Communication struggles, sensory issues, desire for routine, and social difficulties hinder workplace success. Providing accommodations like written instructions, noise-cancelling headphones, flexible schedules helps. But ignorance and stigma means qualified individuals are often passed over, which is one of the most concerning challenges of autism. Workplace education alongside supportive policies are key to unlocking potential.
READ MORE: Work and Autism – What Employers Should Know About Neurodiversity -
Mastering daily living skills
Personal hygiene, household chores, cooking, and transportation requires executive functioning many with ASD symptoms in adulthood lack. These deficits are among signs ASD adults may still face, and the struggles undermine independence in adulthood. Support services like occupational therapy and life skills classes are invaluable but costly. Government funding and insurance coverage for these services needs to improve.
READ MORE: Autism and Poor Hygiene – The Smelly Truth to Overcome
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Affording and accessing quality autism services
Accessibility to help presents monumental challenges of autism for most families. Essential therapies, social skills classes, job coaching and more are out of reach financially. And availability of good autism providers is woefully inadequate, with long waitlists. Increased funding, insurance reform, and incentives for autism professionals would make care for those with ASD symptoms in adulthood more attainable.
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Finding supportive communities
Finding support and connection is difficult for many on the autism spectrum. Connecting with others who understand their experiences decreases isolation. But in-person peer groups and online communities aren’t always accessible. Public spaces accommodating those with autism sensory problems are limited. More community building efforts by and for those with autism could empower this marginalized group.
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Navigating romantic relationships
Romantic relationships present complex difficulties for many with ASD symptoms in adulthood. Reading subtle social cues and connecting intimately may not come naturally. Resulting awkwardness and rejection are among the damaging signs ASD adults struggle with.
There are few resources tailored to fostering these skills. Parents and educators must provide thoughtful guidance. And society should move beyond outdated views that incorrectly desexualize or infantilize adults on the spectrum.
READ MORE: Love Without Limits – Navigating Romance and Dating with Autism -
Managing anxiety
Overwhelming anxiety is a constant struggle for most on the spectrum. Fears and phobias related to social situations, changes, sensory triggers, and specific objects can be paralyzing without the right coping tools. Access to therapists specializing in autism and cognitive behavioral therapy provides relief, but availability is inconsistent. Calming strategies and emotional regulation and other significant challenges of autism should be prioritized.
READ MORE: Anxiety and Autism – 5 Powerful Strategies to Conquer Emotions -
Meltdowns
Meltdowns or being overwhelmed triggered by overload happen to most with autism, but are misunderstood by the public as fits or tantrums. In reality they are an involuntary reaction to uncontrolled stressors for autism sensory problems like being subjected to too much noise, disruption, or emotion.
Preventing outbursts involves minimizing triggers and overstimulation. Patience and safe spaces to de-escalate must be provided. Caregivers need more guidance to avoid and manage meltdowns.
READ MORE: Mastering the Art of Calming Down Autism Meltdowns -
Transitions
Shifting from one activity to another can be tremendously difficult because of the preference for sameness. Daily disruptions most take in stride can be traumatizing for those with autism. Sticking to consistent routines provides needed stability. Preparing individuals for any changes and allowing time to process reduces anxiety. Small adjustments help tolerance increase gradually.
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Grasping subtle, non-literal aspects of communication
Communication nuances like sarcasm, white lies, metaphors and humor present ongoing language challenges of autism. Concrete thinking leads to misinterpreting meaning. Cues like tone and facial expression provide context. But mastering the nuance of unspoken rules in conversation remains an interpersonal hurdle requiring continual guidance.
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Self-care activities
Signs ASD adults are struggling may include not taking care of themselves. Self-care needs like getting enough sleep, healthy eating, hygiene, and exercise are impacted by executive functioning and sensory challenges.
These daily maintenance tasks necessary for wellbeing for individuals with ASD symptoms in adulthood require structure and guidance for many with autism. Caregivers play an important role in establishing such habits.
But ultimately, supporting greater autonomy in self-care is the goal.
READ MORE: Learn How to Love Yourself – Autism Self-Care Ideas -
Finding meaningful ways to occupy time
Challenges of autism include individuals who don’t work or attend school. Structured activities provide purpose and fulfillment. But options catered to varying support needs when it comes to ASD symptoms in adults are scarce. More accessible community programs, volunteer opportunities and day programs for different ability levels could make a real difference in quality of life.
READ MORE: Autism Volunteer Opportunities – 5 Ways Helping Others Fosters Acceptance -
The health care system
Healthcare in general is often difficult to navigate for those on the autism spectrum. Sensory issues and social demands of medical visits, alongside communication gaps, create barriers. Doctors pressed for time may discount symptoms. Caregiver supports and accommodations like quiet rooms and patient advocates are needed. Providers should have training to ensure those with autism sensory problems and related needs receive quality care.
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Daily obstacles
Challenges of autism include hurdles most take for granted like grocery shopping, using public transit or flying can be monumentally difficult due to sensory overload, uncertainty and unfamiliar social expectations. ASD symptoms in adults can make seemingly simple tasks a challenge, as they require planning, coping ahead of time, and recovery after. Caregiver assistance and awareness in the community minimizes stress and promotes greater participation.
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Making and keeping friends
Friendship is an ongoing social challenge due to inability to pick up on subtle social cues. What neurotypical peers inherently understand about humor, unspoken rules and etiquette needs to be explicitly taught. Signs ASD adults often display is not having a circle of people. Building true connection and reciprocity requires work. Social skills groups, peer mentoring and roleplaying exercises provide practice for those with ASD symptoms in adults or any age. But acceptance from others is key.
READ MORE: Breaking Down Barriers That Challenge Autism and Friendships -
Lack of necessary life skills training
Preparation for adulthood after high school leads to poor outcomes. ASD symptoms in adults can compromise progress in navigating higher education, living independently, and finding fulfilling work and relationships without proper support. Transition planning and programs focused on practical real-world skills are needed well before graduation.
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Advocating for personal needs and accommodations
Signs ASD adults often display include being resistant in asking for help. Being a self-advocate in school, work and health care settings is extremely difficult due to communication challenges and discomfort with self-assertion. Disclosing diagnosis, asking for help and standing up against discrimination takes practice. Mentors and advocacy groups are invaluable in providing coaching and bolstering self-advocacy abilities for those on the autism spectrum.
READ MORE: Autism Stigmas – How to Champion Disability Rights in Politics -
Caregiver challenges
Family members, especially parents, face numerous emotional, physical, financial and logistical challenges caring for loved ones with autism sensory problems and other needs. The challenges of autism are relentless and intense, with few breaks from hands-on support. Caregiver burnout is real. But access to respite care, supportive communities and mental health services are limited. Greater recognition of family contributions alongside practical assistance and policy changes can make an immense difference in reducing caregiver stress.
If you found this list of greatest challenges for those on the autism spectrum helpful, then you might enjoy reading more FAQs related to autism. I’d love to hear from you. Just email me at connor@myautismmind.com
Additional FAQs About Autism Spectrum Disorder
- What Are 25 Common Traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- Do You Know Your Flavor of Autism Spectrum Disorders?
- Are You Addicted to Social Media? How To Face the Real World
- Hope for the Future: Will It Transform the Autism World?
- Am I Neurodivergent? Understanding Neurodiversity and Its Value is Key
- Autism Questions: 6 FAQs You Really Want to Know
- Do You Have Autism on the Brain? Unpacking the Meaning Behind Neurodiversity
- Is Autism A Disability? Surprising Reasons for the Debate
- Alexithymia Symptoms: Is Emotional Blindness A Thing?
