Study suggested, autism self-awareness from young age may lead to higher quality of life

Individuals who discover they have autism at an early age may have a higher quality of life and a greater feeling of well-being in maturity.

That’s the conclusion of recent research published in the journal Autism, which also discovered that people who discovered they were autistic as adults expressed greater positive emotions (particularly relief) regarding autism when they first discovered they were. According to the findings, informing a kid at an earlier age that they have autism empowers them by offering access to assistance and a basis for self-understanding that helps them succeed later in life.

For the first time, researchers studied whether learning as an autistic child is related to improved adult results.

Many autistic people are identified years after the symptoms first appear, especially women, ethnic and racial minorities, and people with poor means. In many situations, autistic people are not diagnosed until they are adults.

A team of autistic and non-autistic pupils and academic experts conducted the investigation. Seventy-eight autistic university students were polled on how they discovered they were autistic and how they felt about their diagnosis. Respondents also expressed their feelings about their lives and being autistic currently.

Dr. Steven Kapp, a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 13 and informed of his condition.

He said: “Students who learned they were autistic when they were younger felt happier about their lives than people who were diagnosed at an older age. Our study shows that it is probably best to tell people they are autistic as soon as possible in a balanced, personal, and developmentally appropriate way. Learning that someone is autistic can be empowering because it helps people understand themselves and also helps them connect with other people like them.

However, being given a diagnosis as an adult can often also be empowering.

Dr. Kapp said: “Learning about autism at an older age is associated with more positive emotions about a diagnosis—especially relief. This finding makes sense, although emotional reactions are often very complex and unique to each person, and there has been a lot of emerging research showing that relief is a common response to an autism diagnosis in adulthood.

According to the findings, parents should not wait until their children reach adulthood before informing them that their child is autistic. No one suggested doing so, although most mentioned elements to consider when educating a kid about their autism, such as developmental level, support requirements, curiosity, and personality. The findings also suggest that parents should talk to their autistic children in ways that help them understand and accept who they are.

“I would tell my child that autism is a different way of thinking, that it can be challenging and beautiful and powerful and exhausting and impactful, and that autistic people deserve to be themselves, to be proud of their identity, and to have supports that help them meet their needs,” said one participant.

Bella Kofner, co-lead author (24), who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and told about it at the age of ten, stated: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that learning that one is autistic at a young age may have a positive impact on emotional health among autistic university students.” Hopefully, this discovery will help to alleviate parents’ anxieties about when to talk to their kids about autism. When the dialogue begins, it is very essential. Our findings imply that realising one is autistic at an earlier age might assist autistic people to develop self-awareness and obtain support, laying the groundwork for adult well-being. “