Is your husband indifferent, rigid and avoiding your friends? Experts say there could be a surprising reason... and it's coming to light about so many men

With rising numbers of people being diagnosed with autism in adulthood, many talk about the lightbulb moment when those quirky behaviours and anxieties and maverick character traits are finally explained. ‘It can take someone very close to them to reveal that the strategies they’ve developed might not work so well in the context of a relationship - and might infuriate their unwitting partner.’ With men four times more likely to be autistic than women, here are six typical signs of autism to look out for in your other half - together with Mc Donagh’s expert advice on how to handle the situation. ‘Many autistic people find noisy pubs and restaurants very stressful,’ says Mc Donagh. According to Conor Mc Donagh, apparent flashes of OCD can be a sign of autism ‘Autistic men will often find small talk fiendishly difficult and if they sense a conversation is required will prefer to get on to one of their favoured topics,’ says Mc Donagh. Mc Donagh recommends pre-empting this possibility by discussing possible alternative scenarios ‘just in case’, but if disaster does strike, he says it’s never a good idea to say what you feel.