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Are autism and PTSD related?
Coping with a diagnosis of autism and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can be overwhelming, both for those living with it and their loved ones. These conditions, while different in origin and manifestation, can create significant challenges in daily life. However, understanding them is not only possible but also essential to offering appropriate support and building an environment of understanding and empathy.
While autism is a developmental disorder that a person is born with, affecting communication skills, social interaction, stimulus processing, motor development, and behavior, PTSD is a mental condition that an individual can experience after living through or observing a traumatic event. But are autism and PTSD related?
Although the symptoms of autism and PTSD may appear similar at first glance, these conditions are pretty different. In this ABA Centers of Florida blog, we will address autism and PTSD and explore their similarities and differences in their symptoms, challenges, causes, contributing factors, and therapeutic approaches.
Understanding Autism and PTSD
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects how a person perceives the world and relates to it. People with autism may experience challenges in social communication, repetitive behavior patterns, and intense sensory sensitivity. No two people with autism are alike; each has their way of seeing and interacting with the world, which makes this spectrum so broad and diverse.
On the other hand, PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. This disorder can manifest itself through flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and a constant sense of impending danger. While autism is a condition one is born with, PTSD develops in response to highly stressful experiences. Although the triggers are different, both conditions can profoundly affect a person’s daily life.
Autism and PTSD share some similarities in symptoms such as anxiety or depression. However, both conditions have very different underlying causes. Understanding the differences is essential to an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.
Could There Be a Connection Between Autism and PTSD?
According to research from The Australian National University(ANU), people on the autism spectrum may have a predisposition to post-traumatic disorder.
While PTSD arises from exposure to extreme stress, for people with ASD, mild stress may be enough to produce a traumatic memory due to the inherent hypersensitivity to stress in the condition. The research also found that PTSD can exacerbate core features of autism, such as repetitive behavior, and that PTSD in autism is currently complex to diagnose.
Additionally, the study “Experience of Trauma and PTSD Symptoms in Autistic Adults: Risk of PTSD Development Following DSM-5 and Non-DSM-5 Traumatic Life Events” highlights that approximately 60% of people with autism report experiencing PTSD in their lifetime, compared to 4.5% of the general population. According to Rumball and among other theories, people on the autism spectrum have a more active amygdala, more reactive and inflexible nervous systems, greater difficulty regulating emotions, a tendency to perceive sensory experiences with more intensity, and a more significant vulnerability to social victimization and marginalization.
Symptoms: Similarities and Differences
Although autism and PTSD are distinct conditions, certain similarities in their symptoms can lead to confusion. For example, both disorders may involve problems with emotional regulation and a strong reaction to certain sensory stimuli. However, while in autism, these reactions are part of the condition from birth, in PTSD, they usually emerge after exposure to trauma.
The differences are also striking. Autism manifests primarily in early childhood, with signs including lack of eye contact, difficulty carrying on conversations, and repetitive play. In contrast, PTSD can develop at any age, depending on when the traumatic event occurred, and the condition is characterized by reliving the trauma through intrusive memories and an exaggerated “fight or flight” response.
PTSD Symptoms:
- Intrusive memories and flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Avoidance behaviors
- Hypervigilance
- Heightened startle response
- Extremely emotional responses or emotionally numb
- Low self-esteem
- Executive functioning challenges
Autism Symptoms:
- Communication challenges
- Difficulty reading social cues
- Special interests
- Repetitive behaviors and adherence to routines
- Sensory sensitivities
- Difficulty managing intense emotions
- Impulse control difficulties
- Executive functioning difficulties
- Tendency to ruminate and obsess
Overlapping Symptoms:
- Dissociation
- Social interaction difficulty
- Increased risk of victimization
- Negative beliefs of self and worth
- High rates of depression, self-harm, and substance abuse
- Hypervigilance and an overactive nervous system
- Heightened sensitivities to sensory input
- Difficulty managing intense emotions
- Impulse control difficulties
- Executive functioning difficulties
- Sleep issues
- Stimming
What are the Challenges in Diagnosing Autism and PTSD?
The diagnosis of autism and PTSD is different. Individuals with autism can get a diagnosis in childhood through behavioral observation and the use of standardized tests. On the other hand, individuals with PTSD can get a diagnosis at any age by recognizing symptoms and a history of a traumatic event.
To diagnose autism, a team of specialists performs a comprehensive evaluation using a set of tools to observe the child’s behavior and assess communication skills and cognitive abilities.
PTSD involves an evaluation by a mental health professional, who reviews the person’s symptoms and medical history. They can also use standardized questionnaires or psychological tests.
While the diagnostic criteria for autism and PTSD are different, diagnosing both conditions presents unique challenges.
Although professionals may diagnose autism in childhood, many people do not receive a diagnosis until adulthood because of a lack of awareness or understanding of the disorder or because some people present with mild or atypical symptoms.
PTSD can also be complex to diagnose because many people who experience trauma do not seek help right away or do not realize they have PTSD until years later. In addition, some people may experience complex PTSD from prolonged exposure to trauma.
Being aware of each condition’s challenges and differences is critical to seeking trained professional help to obtain a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Causes and Contributing Factors
Autism is a condition that develops due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although no single cause is known, research suggests that specific genetic mutations, combined with factors such as parental age or complications during pregnancy, may increase the risk.
PTSD, on the other hand, has a clear cause: trauma. However, not everyone is susceptible to developing PTSD after a traumatic event. Personal resilience, social support, and genetic factors can determine whether or not a person develops the disorder.
Treatments: Differentiated Approaches
Treatment for autism usually focuses on long-term support, including behavioral interventions such as ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapy. ABA helps individuals with developmental disorders, including autism, to develop and strengthen skills that allow them to function as well as possible in their environment.
PTSD treatment, on the other hand, focuses on processing and overcoming the trauma with approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, in some cases, physicians can prescribe medications to manage anxiety and depression.
ABA Centers of Florida and Autism Support
Both autism and PTSD are conditions that require understanding, support, and a personalized approach to treatment. The key is to recognize that, while different, both conditions impact the lives of those who experience them in profound and complex ways. As a society, our role is to provide an environment where each person can find the tools and support needed to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, regardless of the challenges they face.
At ABA Centers of Florida, we specialize in autism care and understand that each individual on the spectrum requires unique and specialized care for their needs and concomitant conditions. With our diagnostic and intervention services with ABA therapy, we ensure that individuals receive a professional and official diagnosis that serves as a gateway to receiving the support they need.
In addition, ABA therapy, the gold standard for autism care, greatly benefits individuals with autism who require support in acquiring essential skills to enable them to thrive in their environment, as well as learning alternative healthy coping mechanisms and decreasing challenging behaviors.
To begin ABA therapy and speak with an autism specialist, call us at (772) 773-1975 or connect virtually with us.
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