About Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental condition that affects the way a person communicates, relates and interacts with people and the world around them. The term Autistic Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella description that’s used to highlight the many different ways that people with ASD can be affected.
People with an ASD have difficulties in 3 broad areas:
- Social communication and language
- Social interaction
- Restricted or stereotypical behaviour
There may also be difficulties with sensory sensitivity, adapting to change and handling emotions.
A child with autism is often referred to as being on the “autistic spectrum” and autism as “Autistic Spectrum Disorder” (ASD). This is because autism covers a wide range (or “spectrum”) of disabilities from severely disabled sufferers to people who have relatively mild symptoms. The latter sometimes referred to as having “high function” ASD.
It’s not understood what causes Autism; however research suggests a genetic component that affects the development of the child’s brain. There’s no cure; it’s a lifelong condition that requires special education and structured support to develop the skills needed to achieve a person’s potential in life.