Amy Schumer’s Husband Has Autism Spectrum Disorder—but How Common Is an Adult Diagnosis?
In Amy Schumer’s new comedy special Growing, she reveals her husband Chris Fischer has autism spectrum disorder, which affects a person’s communication and behavior.
Schumer says there were “some signs early on,” like the fact that Fischer reacted in an unusual way once when she fell down.
Doctors explain what autism spectrum disorder is, how to spot the symptoms, and how it differs in adults compared to children.
In Amy Schumer’s new Netflix comedy special Growing, she reveals a lot about her pregnancy and marriage. One of the most surprising bits? Her 39-year-old husband Chris Fischer was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder while they were dating.
“I knew from the beginning that my husband’s brain was a little different than mine,” Schumer said of Fischer, per ET. “My husband was diagnosed with what used to be called Asperger’s. He has autism spectrum disorder. He’s on the spectrum.”
Schumer, who is expecting her first child with Fischer at 37, says there were “some signs early on,” like the fact that he reacted in an unusual way once when she fell down. “Once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was, because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he’s on the spectrum are all of the reasons that I fell madly in love with him,” she continued. “That’s the truth. He says whatever is on his mind. He keeps it so real. He doesn’t care about social norms or what you expect him to say or do.”
In a recent Instagram post, Schumer also made it very clear that his unwavering support has meant the world to her. “Thank you to my husband, Chris who has kept me going during this pregnancy. His willingness and desire to be open with the world about himself and our marriage is courageous and beautiful. He makes me laugh more than anyone and he laughs at me more than anyone.”
A post shared by @ amyschumer on Mar 18, 2019 at 7:26am PDT
Not exactly sure what autism spectrum disorder is? Here, doctors explain how to spot the symptoms and what a diagnosis means for your day-to-day life.
What is autism spectrum disorder and what do the symptoms look like?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s communication and behavior, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). People with ASD can have a wide range of symptoms, but they typically have difficulty communicating and interacting with other people, have “restricted” interests and repetitive behaviors, as well as symptoms that can interfere with their ability to do well in school and work. Those can include not looking at or listening well to people, being slow to respond, having trouble with making conversation, and having facial expressions and reactions that don’t match what’s being said, the NIMH says.
How is autism spectrum disorder different in adults?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for ASD and symptoms usually show up in the first two years of life, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it’s possible to be diagnosed at any age and even in adulthood, like Fischer. “We are finding more adults who might have had another diagnosis or none at all be diagnosed as being impacted by autism,” says Scott Badesch, president of the Autism Society of America.
“Symptoms of autism are varied in severity and the types of issues it can cause,” says Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, a neurologist and neuroscientist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. “That’s why some people can go undetected into adulthood.” Some people with autism also have strengths in some areas that can overshadow their symptoms, making it less likely that they’ll be diagnosed at an earlier age, Dr. Kesari says.
It can also be difficult to diagnose ASD in adults because some symptoms of ASD can overlap with symptoms of other mental health disorders like anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Dr. Kesari says. “It’s a little hard to eke out an ASD diagnosis in some cases with adults,” he says.
What happens after an adult is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder?
Overall, getting a proper ASD diagnosis-even as an adult-is a positive thing, Dr. Kesari says.
There’s no cure for ASD, but “there are many ways to help a person with autism achieve their highest quality of life,” Badesch says. Every person is different, but that may mean making other loved ones aware of the diagnosis so that they can better understand why a person acts a certain way, and learn to react accordingly, Dr. Kesari says. “In terms of interacting with these patients, there can be certain ways to do things to better manage symptoms,” he says.
There isn’t a one size fits all treatment for ASD, but some people may end up taking medication for anxiety, depression, or mood changes that can come along with having ASD, Dr. Kesari says.
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