Autism, or autism spectrum disorder/condition (ASD/ASC) is part of the neurodiversity umbrella.
Famous people with autism include:
Dan Aykroyd - ActorAlbert Einstein - Scientist/MathematicianAnthony Hopkins - ActorTim Burton - Movie DirectorSteve Jobs - EntrepreneurBill Gates - EntrepreneurWoody Allen - Actor/filmmaker
What is autism?
Autism is a spectrum condition (some call it a condition, others a disorder), which can affect individuals greatly, from those without spoken language to those with high intelligence (was called Asperger's Syndrome, but this term has now been dropped by the medical profession).
Google says ‘Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK’.
Autism is not an illness
Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way. Signs of autism might be noticed when a child is very young, or not until they are older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life.
Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a ‘cure’. But some people need support to help them with certain things.
Symptoms
Autistic people may:
find it hard to communicate and interact with other people
find it hard to understand how other people think or feel
find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable
get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events
take longer to understand information
do or think the same things over and over
Many with autism will struggle with sensory overload so may have extreme dislike of certain foods, textures (or clothing), smells and loud noises. Many find the use of a weighted blanket to be soothing (my own 23 year old son, who doesn’t have autism, also finds a weighted blanket to be relaxing).
A different way to see the world?
Individuals with autism can see the world as being illogical and strange. They struggle to understand people’s emotions and take their use of language at face value. They will struggle to understand jokes and will take what you mean literally. Comments like ‘its raining cats and dogs’ will seem illogical to them. As they find the world around them to be confusing, they will find using computers, and especially virtual worlds to be comforting and logical. Those with autism may seem antisocial as they prefer their own company, will be rigid in their thinking, will avoid eye contact, and avoid being touchy feely. But this is how they can cope with the world around them.
Experts in their own hobbies
Many with autism develop specialist knowledge of a certain topic, which can range from mathematics, train timetables, war, guns, to the military. Many also develop artistic talents.
Is autism more common in boys or girls?
Autism is more commonly diagnosed in boys as the diagnostic measures are more behaviour based, however girls do get autism however they tend to camouflage it by masking (mimicking others), and are more introverted and reserved. Clinicians are beginning to recognise that girls manifest autism in different ways.
How is autism diagnosed?
Autism is a medical condition so requires either a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist, so medical training is required. Diagnosis requires the input of the child, the parents, and the school. As symptoms need to be confirmed in all three settings, hence why the school’s views are so important to the process. If you are concerned about your child, please be in touch and we can use screeners to gain the input of yourself compared with your child’s teachers.
Success as someone with autism
The challenge with those with neurodiversity is to find careers that positively uses their strengths, and there are many fields that are ideal for someone who is meticulous in how they work e.g. working in a operating theatre to make sure everything is sterilised, computer programming, auditors, accountants, and actuaries - most professions that rely on maths and abiding to rules/procedures. NASA and GCHQ actively recruit individuals with autism as they tend to be very good mathematically.
The following video from the National Autism Society maybe of useful: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism
At Edge Grove we see several children with autistic traits, whether they are diagnosed or not. A diagnosis is not important to us, as we support all needs, recognising their many strengths!
