Key takeaways: Many autistic adults work hard to “blend in,” using camouflaging strategies that can hide their true experiences, often at a personal cost. Because camouflaging can make autistic traits less visible, autism in adults is frequently missed or misunderstood by people who know them well. New research using the ASRS® Adult shows that camouflaging...
Presentations of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are complex, blended, and recognized more often in adults today. With a growing awareness of ASD—its likely prevalence, presentation, and pattern of diagnosis among adults1,2—detection has become an important clinical focus. To support a healthcare pathway for adult diagnosis, MHS is excited to announce the launch of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales™ Adult (ASRS® Adult). The ASRS Adult is a scientifically validated, adult-centered, multi-informant rating scale designed to assess symptoms and behaviors associated...
If a preschooler throws themselves on the floor over a broken crayon, is it a tantrum or a signal of something deeper? At this age, it’s hard to tell. Emotional highs and lows are part of typical early childhood, making it difficult to distinguish developmentally normal frustration from patterns of...
Accurately identifying mental health behaviors can be challenging, particularly when the evaluated person’s insight, self-awareness, and motivation to seek treatment vary. In the case of children, all of whom depend on a parent’s, guardian’s or teacher’s observation and a professional’s careful study, the challenge could widen. Relying on a single...
Over the years, there has been greater awareness (in research, practice, and the general population) of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its detection across a person’s lifespan. This growing recognition and heightened understanding are reflected in the surge in ASD diagnoses among adults1. In addition, the clinical community and the...
The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated public health response led to the enforcement of restrictions such as physical distancing, in-person school and office closures, shifts to online learning and virtual work, and reductions in community and school-based services and extracurricular activities. While these restrictions helped control the spread of COVID-19,...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interactions and accompanied by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The degree to which these symptoms manifest can vary considerably across different individuals and can even differ among...
We sat down with Dr. Sam Goldstein, co-author of MHS’ Autism Spectrum Rating Scales™ (ASRS®), to discuss challenges that can arise when diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and emerging trends within the clinical field related to ASD. The interview below has been edited for length and clarity. An ASD...
