6Could it be possible to have autism your whole life and not know it?
Autism Camoflouge?
Not only is it possible, but a term called “Autism Camoflouging” may help explain why older people are diagnosed with autism after living their life apparently “symptom-free,” and why the rate is higher in women than men.
Masking Personality for Social Survival
Autism camouflaging is the process by which a person that would normally present autistic-like symptoms “masks” their personality by learning appropriate social behaviors, such as keeping eye contact during conversations, learning, and retelling jokes, and mimicking the facial expressions that they see in others. Though these are learned behaviors, the actions themselves are subconscious, with the autistic person having little-to-no knowledge of their conduct.
