How Autism Affects Daily Life

Thanks to advances in research, and the expansion of awareness campaigns and organizations dedicated to the neurodevelopmental disorder, so much more is known about autism today that ever was. People in society are much more aware of what autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is and are much more accepting of individuals with it.

At the same time, so much about autism is still misunderstood. While people may understand the common signs and symptoms of autism — and how the developmental disorder is treated through leading treatments such as applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy — they might not understand how these challenges present themselves in daily life.

Autism’s impact on an individual can vary greatly from one person to the next. In some, the challenges may be minimal, while in others, they may be more extreme.

Below, we discuss some of the typical ways that autism affects daily life.

Table Of Contents

Communication

Most people on the autism spectrum face challenges with typical communication. In fact, it’s one of the hallmark characteristics of autism.

One of the reasons for this is that communication is complex. It requires people to use non-verbal and verbal cues, and to not only talk but to listen and understand.

Those who have autism might not be able to process what other people are saying as easily as others, and they might not be able to understand traditional social cues. This may lead them to having trouble fitting in with peers, developing personal relationships and succeeding in school and work.

Failures in communication can lead people on the autism spectrum to become frustrated, which can further make them feel isolated.

Social Interaction

The communication challenges can often cause individuals with autism to face challenges with social interactions as well. Because so much of social interactions revolve around clear communication, it’s no surprise that a struggle with one often leads to a struggle in the other.

It’s not just challenges with words, though. Autism can make it hard for individuals to understand non-verbal cues including a tone of voice or facial expressions.

As mentioned, challenges with social interaction can lead children with autism to feel more isolated, which can lead to anxiety and depression.

Sensory Processing

Many individuals with autism also experience challenges with sensory processing. They might be overly-sensitive to certain sensory stimuli, for example loud noises, strong smells or bright lights.

In daily life, this can cause a number of challenges. Someone with autism, for instance, might have difficulty wearing certain clothes because of how the material feels on their skin. They might have trouble dealing with loud noises in everyday life, such as a vacuum cleaner running.

These sensitivities can make it very difficult to navigate certain life situations, as it’s hard to completely avoid all of the stimuli that might affect them. This can cause a lot of stress, and make individuals with autism feel very overwhelmed at times.

Routines

Individuals with autism often thrive when they have a set routine every day. That’s because when they’re able to predict what’s to come, they can more easily prepare themselves, which helps them feel more comfortable and less stressed, anxious and depressed.

However, even small changes to these routines can significantly throw off some individuals on the autism spectrum. Having something different for breakfast, for example, might cause an individual with autism to become extremely distressed.

This can make it very difficult not just on the individual with autism themselves, but also on their parents, caregivers, teachers and others in their daily lives. This is especially true because it can be hard to ensure that everything proceeds in the exact same way, at the exact same time, every day.

Regulating Emotions

To that point, individuals with autism often experience challenges with regulating their emotions. When they feel distressed, for instance, they might lash out or throw a tantrum that might not seem to fit with the situation and/or with their age.

It’s not just this potential explosion of emotions, though. Individuals with autism can have challenges with processing their emotions and expressing how they feel, which can compound into greater challenges. They might not know the “appropriate” way to respond to certain things, which can cause them to be outcasts with their peers.

In response, individuals with autism may exhibit stimulating behaviors more often when they’re feeling distressed, such as biting their nails when they’re nervous. These behaviors can be harmless, in and of themselves, but some can also be damaging and detrimental.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Individuals With Autism Overcome Their Challenges

Children on the autism spectrum are faced with many challenges that neurotypical children do not. There are extra challenges that they are faced with on a daily basis that can disrupt their lives.

At Blue Gems ABA, we are dedicated to helping children with autism live happy and fulfilling lives. We do this by administering ABA therapy to our patients in a personalized way.

Our team of experienced BCBAs help children with autism overcome their challenges, and build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle.

To learn more, please contact us today.