What is autism spectrum disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. It is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how you interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. The characteristics of ASD usually start in infancy, but may not be noticeable until the age of 2 or 3 years. Sometimes ASD is diagnosed much later in life.
The main characteristics related to ASD fall into two broad areas:
· difficulty with social interactions and communication
· restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests
Common signs and traits of ASD in children include a lack of social or emotional exchanges like pointing or smiling, a lack of non-verbal communication like nodding and shaking their head, difficulty developing and maintaining relationships which are age appropriate, lack of close friends, lack of eye contact when speaking, loss of language skills, excessively following routines or patterns of behaviour and becoming distressed if these are changed, stereotyped or repetitive speech, movements such as flapping hands or toe walking, strong reactions to sensory input such as sound or textures, restricted or fixated interests, and difficulty managing emotions.
In adults, ASD traits may include struggling with time management, environmental sensitivity, a sense of isolation, difficulty paying attention, struggling to pay attention to detail or paying too strong attention to detail, difficulty maintaining relationships, and becoming overwhelmed easily.
It is estimated that 1 in 100 children have ASD and males are three times more likely to be diagnosed than females.
Do vaccines cause autism?
Any link between immunisation and ASD has been completely discredited.
During the 1990s, concern in the community about a possible link between the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism was generated by the findings of research (known as the Wakefield study) conducted in London in 1998. The Wakefield study has since been discredited and withdrawn by the journal that originally published it. Dr Wakefield’s registration as a doctor in the United Kingdom has also been cancelled.
Extensive research conducted globally for a decade did not establish any link between vaccines and autism.
How does autism spectrum disorder impact life?
Since ASD is a spectrum, it can impact people in different ways, but the main areas are social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviours, interests and activities.
You may have difficulty communicating and expressing your needs. While some people with ASD never develop language, others may have very good verbal language skills.
If you do develop language, then you may have difficulties using appropriate grammar, vocabulary and constructing meaningful sentences. You may misunderstand words or phrases and interpret them literally or not understand them at all. It can be very difficult to understand what’s being communicated as people who are neurotypical often expect you to “read between the lines” and understand what isn’t being said.
Difficulties in communicating can make it very difficult to build social connections with others and will definitely make it challenging in the work environment, particularly when workplace politics is at play.
What treatments are available?
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 from other people.
It's something you're born with, and signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life.
Different therapies such as speech pathology, occupational therapy, music therapy, behavioural support, psychology and social skills coaching can help you develop and provide important support.
Our support team can help you in your everyday life to experience a greater quality of life by ensuring you’re eating healthy, nutritious meals, attending appointments, keeping yourself and home clean and hygienic, as well as accessing the community and rebuilding interpersonal skills.
Comments