What Is Autism?What Is Autism?

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects how the brain functions. It affects that affects how the brain functions. It affects how a person communicates with, and relates how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.sense of the world around them.

AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)

The symptoms of autism can vary from The symptoms of autism can vary from person to person, and can range from mild person to person, and can range from mild to very severe. to very severe.

This is why we use the term This is why we use the term ‘‘Autistic Autistic SpectrumSpectrum’’..

AspergerAsperger’’s syndrome is an ASD, on the s syndrome is an ASD, on the mild end of the spectrum.mild end of the spectrum.

‘‘Classic autismClassic autism’’ is on the severe end of the is on the severe end of the spectrum.spectrum.

Autistic spectrumAutistic spectrum

What is autism?What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong disability that affects Autism is a lifelong disability that affects the way a person the way a person communicatescommunicates and and relatesrelates to people around them. Children to people around them. Children and adults with autism have difficulties and adults with autism have difficulties with everyday with everyday social interactionsocial interaction. They . They often have often have repetitive behaviour repetitive behaviour patterns patterns that may interfere with their functioning.that may interfere with their functioning.

People with autism struggle to make People with autism struggle to make sense of the world. sense of the world.

AspergerAsperger’’s Syndromes Syndrome

This is a form of autism used to describe This is a form of autism used to describe people who are usually at the higher people who are usually at the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum. functioning end of the autistic spectrum.

Reality Reality

As described by a person with autismAs described by a person with autism   "Reality to an autistic person is a "Reality to an autistic person is a

confusing, interacting mass of events, confusing, interacting mass of events, people, places, sounds and sights. There people, places, sounds and sights. There seems to be no clear boundaries, order or seems to be no clear boundaries, order or meaning to anything. A large part of my meaning to anything. A large part of my life is spent just trying to work out the life is spent just trying to work out the pattern behind everything.pattern behind everything.““

                                                                   

SymptomsSymptoms The first symptoms of ASD usually appear when The first symptoms of ASD usually appear when

the person is under two years old, and last the person is under two years old, and last throughout life. This is when they find it harder throughout life. This is when they find it harder than most people to learn new skills.than most people to learn new skills.

Symptoms of ASD can be divided into three Symptoms of ASD can be divided into three main groups. They are:main groups. They are:

social interaction, social interaction, communication, and communication, and routine and repetitive behaviour.routine and repetitive behaviour.

Social interactionSocial interaction

A person who has ASD may:A person who has ASD may:have little or no interest in other people, have little or no interest in other people, not seek affection in the usual way, not seek affection in the usual way, resist physical contact such as cuddling, resist physical contact such as cuddling, find it difficult to make eye contact with other find it difficult to make eye contact with other people, people, not understand other peoplenot understand other people’’s emotions, s emotions, prefer to spend time alone.prefer to spend time alone.

Communication IssuesCommunication Issues A child who has ASD may speak later than other A child who has ASD may speak later than other

children, or never learn to speak. When their speech children, or never learn to speak. When their speech does develop, the language and choice of words they does develop, the language and choice of words they use may be wrong.use may be wrong.

::A person with ASD may alsoA person with ASD may also

not be able to express themselves well, not be able to express themselves well, not be able to understand gestures, facial not be able to understand gestures, facial

expressions, or tones of voice, expressions, or tones of voice, use odd phrases and use odd choices of use odd phrases and use odd choices of

words, words, use more words than is necessary to use more words than is necessary to

explain simple things, explain simple things, make up their own words or phrases, make up their own words or phrases, not use their hands to make gestures when not use their hands to make gestures when

they speak, find it difficult to understand they speak, find it difficult to understand instructions.instructions.

Routine and repetitive behaviourRoutine and repetitive behaviour

Children with ASD may:Children with ASD may:play the same games over and over, or play with games play the same games over and over, or play with games designed for children younger than themselves, designed for children younger than themselves, get upset if their daily routines are interrupted in any way, get upset if their daily routines are interrupted in any way, and and repeat actions, such as rocking back and forth or head repeat actions, such as rocking back and forth or head banging.banging.Older children and adults may develop obsessions. For Older children and adults may develop obsessions. For example, with specific objects, lists, timetables or routines.example, with specific objects, lists, timetables or routines.

Sensory difficultiesSensory difficulties

Some children with ASD also have sensory Some children with ASD also have sensory difficulties. For example, they may prefer being difficulties. For example, they may prefer being indoors if they are sensitive to light, or they may indoors if they are sensitive to light, or they may bump into people if they are under sensitive to bump into people if they are under sensitive to touch.touch.

Sensory difficulties can also lead to problems Sensory difficulties can also lead to problems with movement. A person with ASD may appear with movement. A person with ASD may appear clumsy or have an unusual way of walking.clumsy or have an unusual way of walking.

CAUSESCAUSES

Symptoms of ASD are caused by an abnormality Symptoms of ASD are caused by an abnormality in the development of the brain that occurs in the development of the brain that occurs before, or soon after birth. Causes are unknown.before, or soon after birth. Causes are unknown.

Some evidence shows that having a defective Some evidence shows that having a defective gene may be a risk factor in developing ASD. gene may be a risk factor in developing ASD. These genes may be inherited, and the chance These genes may be inherited, and the chance of you having ASD if your brother or sister has it, of you having ASD if your brother or sister has it, is slightly higher than in the rest of the general is slightly higher than in the rest of the general population.population.

CausesCauses

Some research suggests that Some research suggests that environmental factors such as pollution or environmental factors such as pollution or viruses such as rubella (German measles) viruses such as rubella (German measles) may trigger ASD. However, ASD is not a may trigger ASD. However, ASD is not a result of anything that a parent has done result of anything that a parent has done either during pregnancy or after the child is either during pregnancy or after the child is born.born.

DiagnosisDiagnosis

Getting a diagnosis for autistic spectrum Getting a diagnosis for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is important, to enable access to disorder (ASD) is important, to enable access to the right services and treatments to support the right services and treatments to support individual needs.individual needs.

ASD may be difficult to diagnose as symptoms ASD may be difficult to diagnose as symptoms can vary considerably from person to person, can vary considerably from person to person, and mild symptoms can be hard to spot.and mild symptoms can be hard to spot.

Tests for ASDTests for ASD

There are no specific tests for ASD, although There are no specific tests for ASD, although other tests such as hearing tests and blood tests other tests such as hearing tests and blood tests may be done to rule out other health conditions. may be done to rule out other health conditions.

Treatment For ASDTreatment For ASD There is no treatment that can There is no treatment that can ‘‘curecure’’ autistic spectrum autistic spectrum

disorder (ASD). However, there are many ways in which disorder (ASD). However, there are many ways in which a person with ASD can get support. Many people with a person with ASD can get support. Many people with ASD will require specialist care and support throughout ASD will require specialist care and support throughout their lives. Health professionals will work as a team to their lives. Health professionals will work as a team to care for them.care for them.

The aim of interventions is to help a person with ASD to The aim of interventions is to help a person with ASD to speak and communicate better, and to get along better speak and communicate better, and to get along better in education and at work. Health professionals think that in education and at work. Health professionals think that interventions work better when a child with ASD starts interventions work better when a child with ASD starts them from a young age.them from a young age.

Savant SyndromeSavant Syndrome

Excellent memory - Excellent memory - ““very deep, but exceedingly very deep, but exceedingly narrownarrow““

Have difficulty putting memory to useHave difficulty putting memory to use Savant skills usually found in one or more of five Savant skills usually found in one or more of five

major areas: art, musical abilities, calendar major areas: art, musical abilities, calendar calculation, mathematics, spatial skillscalculation, mathematics, spatial skills

50% of savants have autism; the other 50% 50% of savants have autism; the other 50% often have some other form of central nervous often have some other form of central nervous system injury or disease.system injury or disease.