People diagnosed with autism are now often given an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
Asperger’s syndrome is a type of autism. It is not a disability, or a learning disability, it is a neurological difference. It can be associated with high intelligence but it can challenge a person’s way of life in terms of relationships or emotions. People with Asperger's syndrome process information, communicate, and experience the world in a fundamentally different way to neurotypical people.
Autism is a lifelong developmental difference which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.
Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people.
Autistic people often interpret verbal and non-verbal language like gestures or tone of voice. Some have limited ability to speak or do not speak at all while other autistic people have very good language skills but have difficulty understanding sarcasm or tone of voice. They may also take things literally, need longer to process information or answer questions and repeat what others say to them.
Autistic people often have difficulty 'reading' other people - recognising or understanding others' feelings and intentions - and expressing their own emotions. They may at times appear insensitive, feel quickly overcome in social situations and find forming friendships hard.
Greta Thunberg, climate activist, said: “I have Aspergers [a type of autism] and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And – given the right circumstances – being different is a superpower.”
Autism is more commonly referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is because different people on the spectrum display different degrees of difficulties in everyday life.
Experiencing one or more of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean a person is autistic. But if these kinds of things are consistently present and are impacting upon someone’s life, they may want to talk to a medical professional and discuss how to get a formal diagnosis.
Symptoms of autism usually start in very early childhood. However, it is unusual for people to get a diagnosis before the age of 5. Many people on the milder end of the spectrum go undiagnosed for years if not for their entire lives.
Autism is known as a neurodevelopmental difference and is not something to “cure”. However, there are many benefits in getting a diagnosis for autism, ranging from extra support at school through to a better understanding of the condition, how to live with it and how best to manage it.
Only 1% of people in the UK are on the autism spectrum. There are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Nobody knows. Autism is a neurological difference.
Risk factors for autism include:
Yes. There is no “cure” for autism, although medication is sometimes used to help manage symptoms.
There are instead a number of different therapeutic approaches which can help both the autistic adult or child. These include:
You can speak to one of our team for more information on how we can help.
NHS Choices gives clear information about what autism is, and what a diagnosis might mean for you or your family.
This autism support network offers advice for people whether or not they have a diagnosis.