Dr Michelle Garnett and Professor Tony Attwood look at some of the common challenges facing autistic children and teenagers.
How’s your day been? Uplifting? Hilarious? Rewarding? If you’re living, teaching, or working with an autistic teenager, you’ve probably said this at some point. You’ve also most likely said something like challenging, a struggle or testing. How can you make these answers more regularly be like the first three?
Autistic children and teenagers vary considerably in their individual strengths and difficulties, with many having co-existing conditions which can make getting the right support more challenging. They often grapple with intense emotions like anxiety, stress, depression, and anger. Even minor triggers can lead to meltdowns. After school, they may come home utterly exhausted, needing significant time alone to recuperate. There are several common challenges faced by autistic teenagers, and by having a better understanding of these you can develop a clearer plan to offer even better support than you are now.
Being different
Autistic children and young people often feel different but may not comprehend why. Socialising at school can become a challenge, with peer criticism, rejection, and derogatory comments. Individuality and being socially different is not always celebrated and can be difficult for the individual. It can result in low self-esteem and depression, with some potentially responding with anger issues.
Self-regulation
Autism impacts the frontal lobes of the brain, responsible for executive functioning. Many autistic people also have ADHD, making executive functioning difficult. This could affect organisation, planning, problem-solving, and impulse control. Autistic teens can often struggle with impaired emotion regulation and behaviour, leading to impulsivity, defensiveness, and at times avoidance, which can increase anxiety.
Sensory
Loud noises, bright lights, specific smells, textures, and tastes can all have a unique sensory system impact. These can lead to pain, temperature perception, hypervigilance, exhaustion, and sleep issues. Processing sensory stimuli can add background stress, affecting concentration and focus throughout the day.
People
For many autistic teens their biggest challenge is navigating social interactions. People can be confusing, hard to understand, and sometimes do not understand. Some perceive people as toxic and withdraw, missing out on valuable connections. Encouraging positive relationships is crucial for their well-being. We know from research and clinical practice that having just one friend can protect an autistic teenager from poor mental health outcomes.
Double empathy problem
Autistic people often struggle with “theory of mind,” the ability to understand others’ expectations and intentions. While they possess affective empathy, they find cognitive empathy challenging. Likewise, neurotypicals may struggle to interpret autistic social cues, leading to misinterpretation and negative perceptions. This mutual misunderstanding can hinder social acceptance, and start feelings of being unwelcome.
Overthinking
Autistic people, facing social confusion and executive function challenges, can often overthink as a coping strategy. While intellect is obviously valued, overuse leads to exhaustion and potentially fosters avoidance behaviours or isolation. This disconnect from emotions impedes healing; feeling is essential for emotional processing and well-being.
Empathy overarousal
Affective empathy, distinct from cognitive empathy, involves feeling others’ emotional distress as if it were one’s own, though understanding may be lacking. Autistic people can often experience others’ pain intensely. Autistic teenagers can feel overwhelmed by others’ distress, possibly being unsure how to cope or assist, causing distress.
Alexithymia
From Greek roots meaning “a lack of words for emotions”, alexithymia involves difficulty recognising and expressing emotions, it is often coupled with interoception issues. This difficulty to sense and articulate emotions leaves people ill-equipped to manage them, contributing to sudden anger outbursts. Alexithymia heightens the risk of anxiety and depression in autistic teenagers.
A different learning profile
Autistic people often exhibit significant variability across IQ test subtests, showcasing strengths alongside notable difficulties. This uneven learning profile poses challenges in various settings, including school and social interactions. Despite intelligence or giftedness, they may struggle with new tasks, leading to feelings of inadequacy, depression, and hopelessness.
Trauma or the effects of past trauma
Autistic people are more susceptible to both experiencing traumatic events and developing traumatic stress reactions like PTSD. Undiagnosed trauma, such as bullying or abuse, may afflict your autistic teenager. PTSD symptoms include hypervigilance, distrust, flashbacks, and disrupted sleep. Seeking professional help promptly is crucial, as PTSD is treatable, and identifying ongoing trauma can ensure safety.
Summary
The child and teenage years pose unique challenges for autistic people, often intensifying typical teenage struggles. Understanding these specific challenges is crucial for effective support. The challenges outlined in this blog stem from clinical insights and research. While not all may apply, empathetic exploration is vital. Providing ongoing support enhances the chances for success.