Autistic people often have a desire for intimacy and companionship. However, difficulties in interacting so- cially are a key feature of autism, which makes finding a partner and making a relationship work more diffi- cult. But many autistic people do have successful relationships.

Can autism become worse?

Not every adult with autism gets better. Some -- especially those with mental retardation -- may get worse. Many remain stable. But even with severe autism, most teens and adults see improvement over time, find Paul T.

Can you get autism later in life?

Older children, teens, and adults do not develop autism. In fact, to qualify for an autism spectrum diagnosis, you must have symptoms that appear during early childhood (i.e., before age 3).