What is Autism?
Autism is very complicated and varies a great deal from person to person. This is why people talk about an autistic spectrum. However, there are some characteristics that are common across the autistic spectrum. The three main areas of difficulty are known as the triad of impairments, and include:
- Social and Emotional - people on the autistic spectrum have difficulties with social relationships and interaction. They might not join in with group games or activities, may not understand things such as turn taking, or may appear to be 'in their own world'
- Language and communication - children with autism may have trouble learning language and might take language very literally. People on the autistic spectrum will often have trouble understanding metaphors, jokes or idioms e.g. it's raining cats and dogs. They may repeat words or sounds; this is called echolalia. Language and communication also includes non-verbal communication, e.g. eye contact, facial expressions.
- Flexibility of thought - people with autism can find change difficult to cope with and may follow strict routines. Flexibility of thought also includes imaginative play
In addition to the triad of impairements, some people on the autistic spectrum may also have difficulties with:
- Senses - people on the autistic spectrum may have hypersensitive (over sensitive) or hyposensitive (under sensitive) senses. This can mean, for example, that they don't like bright lights or loud noise or that they don't seem to feel pain or cold. It might be that they like to eat strange or strong tasting things if their sense of taste is under sensitive, or that they like a lot of heavy blankets at night if they are undersensitive to touch. Sensory difficulties can also affect a persons sense of balance and co-ordination.
- Behaviour - some people on the autistic spectrum present challenging or unusual behaviour. For example, they might display repetitive and ritualistic behaviour or require a strict routine.
For more information about autism, you can visit the National Autistic Society website.
For personal accounts of autism, you can visit the following sites:
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