There are many assumptions about autistic people and their presumed desire to be alone. But being alone can also lead to profound experiences of loneliness, which can be detrimental to the lonely person’s health. Increasing evidence suggests that autistic people experience loneliness at higher rates than non-autistic people. But little is understood about the causes of loneliness in autistic people.

In this podcast, Distinguished Professor Wendy Rogers and guest Dr Emily Hughes explore the potential causes of loneliness in autistic people.

 The podcast features Emily’s recently accepted chapter, "Loneliness and Being Other/ed in Autism", which will be published later in 2025 in the Bloomsbury Loneliness Anthology.