What is Autism?

Autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects how a person perceives the world and interacts with others. The term "spectrum" in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide variation in strengths and challenges possessed by each Autistic person. Autism is present from birth and influences the development of the brain in areas related to social interaction and communication skills.

Autism is a Spectrum

Autism is a spectrum. This means every Autistic person is different. Some Autistic people may have low support needs, while others may have high support needs. Some refer to this as “high functioning Autism” versus “low functioning Autism”. However, these terms are problematic and increasingly recognised as disrespectful for several reasons:

Oversimplification of Autism: Autism is a complex and multi-dimensional spectrum. Describing someone as "low-" or "high-functioning" oversimplifies this complexity and reduces a person’s entire being and experience to a single, linear scale. Autism affects individuals uniquely, with a wide range of strengths, challenges, and needs that cannot be adequately captured by such terms. Also, every Autistic person’s experiences, strengths, and challenges vary day to day. This means that one day an Autistic person may have high support needs, while another day the same person will have low support needs.
Misleading implications: The terms "low-" and "high-functioning" can be misleading. "High-functioning" may imply that a person needs little or no support at all. In reality this ignores the variety of challenges and strengths the person may experience in various areas like mental health, sensory sensitivities, or communication. This can lead to underestimating the amount and type of support the person requires. Conversely, "low-functioning" can overshadow a person’s abilities, strengths, and potential, leading to lower expectations and opportunities for engagement and growth.
Ableism and judgment: The terms implicitly define a person’s worth based on their capabilities and Autistic traits, which is inherently ableist. Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that neurotypical or able-bodied abilities are superior. Using such functioning labels perpetuates ableism and a hierarchy of value based on ability.
Preference of the Autistic community: Many within the Autistic community and their allies advocate for language that respects their identity and experiences. The shift towards using "low support needs" and "high support needs" is a move to focus on what a person requires to thrive, rather than on what the person can or cannot do. This terminology acknowledges that everyone has unique needs and emphasises the importance of providing appropriate support based on those needs.

Autism Traits

Autism signs and traits can vary widely among individuals, but there are several common traits. Some Autistic traits include:

Special interests: Highly focused interests in specific subjects or activities.
Sensory Sensitivity: Over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, lights, touch, tastes, and smells. This is also referred to as hyper- and hyposensitivity.
Repetitive behaviours: Engaging in repetitive movements (also referred to as stimming), such as rocking, spinning, fidgeting.
Social interactions: Autistic people may have difficulties understanding social cues, maintaining eye contact, and may prefer to play/spend time alone or with other Autistic and/or neurodivergent friends.
Communication: Autistic people may have difficulties with verbal and non-verbal communication including interpreting body language and facial expressions, delayed speech development, and experience verbal shutdowns.
Difficulty with change: Struggling with changes to routine or environment, which can lead to distress or anxiety.
Echolalia: Frequently repeating words or phrases out loud or in your head heard in the past.
Mental health: 80% of Autistic adults experience mental health issues. This can include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and more.
Emotional regulation: Autistic people may struggle with emotional regulation. This is when a person struggles to regulate and control their emotions.  Emotional dysregulation can show in a variety of ways including feeling overwhelmed, unpredictable outbursts, mental health issues, and meltdowns.
Meltdowns and shutdowns: Autistic people may experience meltdowns or shutdowns. A meltdown is a temporary and involuntary loss of behavioural control. This can show in verbal ways (e.g. crying, shouting, screaming) or physical ways (e.g.kicking, lashing out, and biting). Shutdowns may present as a verbal shutdown (not being able to verbally communicate) or a physical shutdown (feeling unable to physical move or get up).

Autistic Women and Girls

Autism in women and girls is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed because of diagnostic bias and lack of awareness among healthcare professionals, and masking. The average age when Autistic girls are diagnosed is between the ages 10 and 12, compared to ages 4-6 for boys. To read more about Autistic women and girls click here.

FAQs

Q: Can Autism be cured?
There is no cure for Autism, but there are many tools, resources, and practices that can help Autistic people live happy and healthy lives. It is important to remember that while Autistic people are different, there is nothing about them or Autism that needs to be “cured”.

Q: How is Autism diagnosed?
Autism is diagnosed through behavioural assessments and developmental screenings conducted by healthcare professionals.

Q: Do vacciness cause Autism?
Extensive research has shown that vaccines do not cause Autism. Vaccines are a safe and essential part of preventive healthcare.

Q: Can adults be diagnosed Autistic?
Yes, adults can be diagnosed Autistic. Awareness and understanding of Autism amongst adults is increasing, leading to more adults seeking and receiving a diagnosis, and getting the support they need and deserve.