Notice whether social interaction feels confusing, exhausting, or unnatural
Notice whether you often miss hints, sarcasm, or implied meanings
Notice whether you prefer clear, direct communication
Notice whether you strongly prefer routines, predictability, or sameness
Notice whether changes in plans feel especially upsetting or stressful
Notice whether you have intense, focused interests in specific topics
Notice whether you repeat movements, phrases, or behaviors to self-soothe
Notice whether you are unusually sensitive to sounds, lights, textures, smells, or tastes
Notice whether you seek or avoid certain sensory input more than other people do
Notice whether eye contact feels uncomfortable, distracting, or forced
Notice whether you have difficulty understanding social rules that seem automatic to others
Notice whether you mask or copy other people’s behavior to fit in
Notice whether socializing leaves you drained or leads to burnout
Notice whether you have a history of feeling different from peers since childhood
Notice whether you had early speech, play, or social differences as a child
Notice whether you experience shutdowns, meltdowns, or overwhelm under stress
Notice whether these traits have been present for a long time and across settings
Notice whether these traits affect school, work, relationships, or daily life
Consider taking a reputable autism screening questionnaire
Consider speaking with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinician experienced in adult autism assessment