Not only is actress and singer Tisha Campbell raising a son who has been diagnosed with autism, but the comedian is also living with it herself.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a broad range of conditions describing challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, according to advocacy organization Autism Speaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that autism affects 1 in 31 children and 1 in 45 adults in the U.S.
Campbell made the revelation about her diagnosis during an appearance on the “Way Up With Angela Yee” radio showthis week, discussing her own diagnosis and her recent book release, “A Word: A Mother's Journey Through Autism and Love,” which chronicles her journey
raising her son, Xen, who is autistic.
When the host mentioned how common it is to know someone who is autistic, Campbell said she was tested and has "AuDHD." That’s an informal term for having both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, according to Autism Speaks.
“I got the diagnosis after I wrote the book, so that part's not even in the book. This just happened this year.”
Campbell said she also has obsessive compulsive disorder.
“I’ve got a lot of stuff going on,” she said. “My whole entire life, I've masked in front of the public and I've masked with my loudness and my jokes. That was my way of hiding in plain sight.”
Here’s what else the comedian had to say about her health.
Therapist suggested getting tested for autism, Campbell says
Campbell said getting tested for autism was her therapist’s idea after the pair worked on her trauma and gained a better understanding of her nervous system.
She underwent a series of tests, including oral and written ones, she said.
She explained that people who are autistic have what used to be called “obsessions” or “fixations.” Now, she said, they’re often called “special interests.”
“My special interest was always acting and music,” she said. “I feel like I know myself so much better and I do all the things and (I’ve) been hiding from everybody that I stim.”
Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behavior, is repetitive actions or movements that look different depending on the person, according to the Lighthouse Autism Center. It can manifest in forms like hair twirling, drumming fingers, foot tapping, random humming, shrieking or making other vocal noises.
Some experts believe stimming is a form of self-regulation, the center said.
Campbell reflected on growing up in Newark, New Jersey, and how masking is something she did so she didn’t stand out.
“You couldn't be different,” she said. “You couldn't stand out like that, so I guess I've been masking my entire life.”
Her son, Xen, was excited to find out his mother is autistic like he is.
“He was like this: 'Yay, I got a friend,’” Campbell said, clapping her hands. “He was happy.”
Tisha Campbell isn’t the first celeb to talk about an autism diagnosis
Campbell is one of many celebrities who have spoken publicly about their autism diagnoses.
“Prison Break” actor Wentworth Miller in July 2021 made a now-deleted post on Instagram in which he said he had been diagnosed with autism. A doctor diagnosed him about a year before he made the post, in 2020.
"Like everyone, life in quarantine took things from me. But in the quiet/isolation, I found unexpected gifts," Miller said in the post. "This fall marks 1 year since I received my informal autism diagnosis. Preceded by a self-diagnosis. Followed by a formal diagnosis."
He added that he didn’t know a lot about autism and now that he had a formal diagnosis, it was time to learn more.
Since then, other celebrities with autism diagnoses like Sia, Tallulah Willis and Grimes have revealed their own experiences with the most recent being Robbie Williams, Elle King and SZA whom all spoke out about it this year.
Contributing: Amaris Encinas, Brendan Morrow, Charles Trepany, Jenna Ryu, KiMi Robinson, Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tisha Campbell reveals autism diagnosis: 'I know myself so much better'
