Youth and adults on the autism spectrum often have trouble making and maintaining friendships due to the differences in social communication that are characteristic of autism spectrum disorder. Research shows that the majority of these adolescents and young adults are socially isolated.
These high rates of social isolation are troubling and the interaction between social challenges and isolation contributes to difficulties with friendship. Other research, however, suggests a different picture of friendship for youth and adults on the autism spectrum. In some studies, youths' perspectives about friendship differed from those of their parents and researchers.