A top psychologist has revealed the common habits that could signal you have undiagnosed autism.
Dr Kim Sage, 56, a California-based psychologist, says undiagnosed autism in adults is common and she only realized she likely has the condition a few years ago.
In the US, more than 5.4million adults, or 2.21 percent, have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, autism rates are increasing, and diagnoses are becoming more common in younger adults.
One study by Rutgers suggests a quarter of teenagers with autism go undiagnosed and they remain unaware into adulthood.
Dr Sage says one of the most obvious tell-tale symptoms is ‘stimming’ – repetitive body movements or behaviors.
While autism-related stimming is often associated with severe behaviors, such as head banging and rocking back and forth, the mental health expert says it can present itself in subtler ways.
In a TikTok video, she says constant hair twirling is a common example of stimming, as is playing with jewelry, such as a pendant on a chain.
Next, she says repeatedly playing with a soft blanket is another thing that can give autistic people comfort, while pen caps are often another source of fascination.