Tallulah Willis is no stranger to the spotlight, as she’s the child of two of the most famous American actors – Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. Despite being very well off financially in her childhood, Tallulah’s autism still managed to go undiagnosed until recently, and she’s in her 30s!
Late autism diagnoses are becoming more frequent for several reasons. Knowledge regarding the autism spectrum and the symptoms of autism have helped more adults recognize their own patterns of behavior and seek help. It’s also helped more parents than ever before get their children early access to specialized care.
Early diagnosis is extremely beneficial because it helps that person grow and thrive from an early age. Specialized teachers will provide early intervention to develop healthy management strategies in the child. Without early help, difficult life situations might lead to maladaptive behaviors in autistic children who don’t get the help they need.
Tallulah was diagnosed when she was 29-years-old. While she can definitively look back on her childhood and see clear signs that point to autism, no one had identified those traits or connected the dots until recently. Some of the things Tallulah pointed out as being early signs include:
- Getting overstimulated by sound
- Overthinking
- Hyperfixations
- Struggles to maintain eye contact
- Repetitive behaviors
- Stimming – running her hand over her father’s head
- Social challenges
Tallulah has spoken to media outlets about her recent diagnosis. She has said that while all these traits and symptoms seem so obvious in retrospect, it took years for her to finally get a proper diagnosis and answers from a doctor.
This fact holds true for many autistic women. Research from 2022 showed that an overwhelming 80% of women with autism are still undiagnosed by the time they turn 18 years old.
Autism Speaks asked Willis to host its gala in October, and Tallulah happily accepted. She’s looking forward to becoming an advocate for the community and helping to encourage parents to seek early diagnosis for children.
Do You Suspect that Your Loved One Could be Autistic?
Have you recently seen signs or symptoms that could point to autism in your loved one? At the Nevada Autism Center, our team is specially equipped to identify and treat autistic children. The center is known for its safe and fun environment.
First, our trained staff will observe your child as they naturally interact in different circumstances as part of a functional analysis. They’ll also have direct contact with the child’s family. Indirect assessments in the form of checklists and questionnaires will need to be filled out by the parents.
Staff will use all the information they learn to create a customized treatment plan for your child. From there, our team will work towards helping your child reduce and eliminate maladaptive behaviors while fostering and strengthening positive coping methods.
If you have more questions about our assessment process, treatment options, or simply want to speak one-on-one with an agent, then reach out to our team now.
