Cognitive Challenges Often Overlooked in Autism

Today, a lot of conversation surrounds what autism actually is. Since the 1990s, awareness has grown, and more people understand that autism can present even when someone has spoken language and is intellectually gifted. Many now recognize that difficulties with social interaction, sensory sensitivities, and repetitive interests are often part of the autistic experience. However, a crucial aspect is often overlooked: cognitive challenges, which can be the most significant hurdle for those of us on the spectrum. There’s considerable research on this, extensively covered in books by authors like Tony Attwood and Christopher Gillberg.

Highly Individual

The specific cognitive challenges an autistic person faces vary greatly, but a common issue is executive dysfunction. This can involve difficulty starting and completing tasks, planning ahead, and adapting to changes or unexpected events. So, someone with autism, even if they know something is inappropriate to say, might struggle to stop themselves. They simply have a hard time overriding the impulse. It can also mean feeling unmotivated and having considerable trouble getting started, even with tasks they know how to do. While executive dysfunction is strongly associated with ADHD, it’s also prevalent in autism.

Requires Different Cognitive Abilities

Autism can also involve difficulty processing a lot of information at once. Tony Attwood writes that autistic individuals might struggle to follow conversations involving multiple people. One-on-one conversations are often easier, but when more people join in, it can overwhelm the autistic brain. Of course, an autistic person might naturally steer the conversation towards their special interests when talking to just one person. However, often the difficulty arises simply from the different cognitive skills needed to engage in group conversation.

Can Struggle with Learning

Some autistic individuals also experience learning difficulties. When I was newly diagnosed and met other autistic people (back then, the diagnosis was often Asperger’s syndrome), I met several who had previously attended special classes and received adapted math instruction. I initially thought, “Math difficulties can’t possibly be related to autism—it’s not in the diagnostic criteria!” But I was wrong. Tony Attwood notes that some autistic people are incredibly gifted in math, while others struggle significantly. And when you consider it, it makes sense. Autism, at its core, is about neurodiversity. An autistic person can have a very uneven profile of abilities and, despite normal intelligence, have significant difficulty learning certain things – whether it’s math or something else entirely.

Poor Sense of Direction and More

Autism can also manifest as prosopagnosia – or face blindness – and a poor sense of direction. The autistic brain – and this is also common in ADHD – can struggle to wind down, and many autistic people are sensitive to stress and have trouble sleeping. I often feel embarrassed that I don’t recognize people I should recognize, and they often struggle to understand why – “We talked for several hours yesterday!” I also have a terrible sense of direction and struggle to navigate, even in Stockholm, where I’ve lived for 24 years. I need to visit a place multiple times before I remember the way, and crucially, I need to do it alone, because if I’m talking to someone, I don’t have the mental energy left to process and memorize the route.

Difficulty with Automatic Processing

Finally, autism can involve difficulty with automatic processing. This means we autistic people might expend a lot of energy on activities that others perform automatically. It can be anything from household chores to greeting people – because saying “hello” isn’t always natural for an autistic person; some of us have to consciously expend mental energy on it. These difficulties can make everyday life more challenging and mean we need to rest and avoid certain things. The exhaustion an autistic person experiences after certain activities can be far more significant than others realize. I used to save energy by collecting the mail once a week instead of every day – even though I could do it daily, it would negatively affect my quality of life, so I chose to conserve my energy.

The Need for Greater Understanding

That’s exactly what’s so important to remember: autism is so much more than just the diagnostic criteria. We tend to focus on the external manifestations – the social challenges, the repetitive behaviors, and the sensory differences – but behind all of that often lies a complex world of cognitive difficulties. And even if these difficulties aren’t explicitly outlined in the formal diagnostic criteria, they can be a central part of autism. We autistic people need to understand how cognition functions in autism so we don’t blame ourselves for not being able to cope with everything society and those around us expect. But society also needs to understand this so we can receive the support we need.

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