I happened to catch one of my favorite news segments on CBS called “On the Road with Steve Hartman,” and his story sparked an idea for this blog.
The feature shared the story of a 46-year-old man named Vaughn, who is a carpet cleaner by trade, even though he is also on the autism spectrum.
You see, Vaughn and his mother always suspected he had autism because of the tell-tale signs. He had difficulties communicating, he was socially awkward, and as he admitted, he was “misinterpreting other people’s feelings or intentions.” He was never officially diagnosed as being autistic, even though his behaviors made it seem obvious.
Vaughn’s autism has not prevented him from being a productive member of society, which is why there is an autism “spectrum.” There are many levels of autism, some more severe than others.
In the case of Vaughn, he is high-functioning and possesses a true autistic gift: he is considered a hyperpolyglot. He has learned almost 40 languages which gives him a unique way to connect with people of all ages and cultures allowing him to engage more socially.
According to Spectrum, a leading source of news and research relating to autism, “Most autism research has been focused on children, so there is little information about autistic adults, let alone older autistic adults. But emerging research suggests that autistic adults are at high risk of a broad array of physical and mental health conditions, including diabetes, depression, and heart disease. They are also about 2.5 times as likely as their neurotypical peers to die early. The reasons for these grim statistics may range from missed medical appointments and medication doses to a lifetime of social slights and discrimination. Many autistic seniors also bear the consequences of having been undiagnosed for most of their lives.”
Vaughn is an aging adult who was never diagnosed with autism, but he and his mother admit he is likely on the autism spectrum. Fortunately for him, his linguistical gift may prevent him from suffering from a variety of the maladies that Spectrum suggests typically impact autistic adults as they age. His ability to connect with people in their native language is building healthy friendships and keeping him active and social!
“Without a diagnosis, older adults with autism cannot access many services that could help them secure housing and medical care. Even after a diagnosis, those who have little income and no one to care for them may lose their housing and be sent to group homes, where insufficient care and support can leave medical problems untreated. Loss of parents and other caretakers can also shatter a structure of emotional and practical support, triggering a slide in both mental and physical health,” the Spectrum article stated.
“I think a lot of the reason why we end up having more health problems is because in adulthood, we don’t get the support we need to manage our healthcare,” says Samantha Crane, legal director of the nonprofit Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
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