For people with Autism, the world can be a frightening and confusing place. However, with early intervention, and appropriate support, people with Autism can begin to make sense of the world around them, and make a positive contribution to that world.

Recent estimates put the number of people with Autism in the UK at about 1 in 100. This means that, if you include their families, over two million people in the UK are affected by Autism every single day of their lives (Figures from the National Autistic Society, 2007, www.nas.org.uk). Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr Leo Kanner, who conducted an experiment on a group of children who appeared socially isolated and withdrawn. Since then, Autism has become much better known, but is still misunderstood by many people. Autism affects more boys than girls, but can affect anyone, regardless of race or social class.

Autism is a condition which affects the function of the brain, and therefore the way that someone interacts with and relates to other people. Although the exact cause of Autism is unknown, research has shown that it is very likely that it is genetic, although a child’s environment may be a factor too, (Marshall, 2004). Autism is a ‘spectrum condition’, which means that people are affected in different ways, and to different degrees. Some people with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) can lead independent lives with jobs, relationships and social lives. Others may need more support to achieve a good quality of life, and may have more difficulty living in the social world.

What Difficulties do People with Autism Face?

Although all people with Autism Spectrum Conditions differ, there tend to be some characteristics that they commonly display. Lorna Wing identified the ‘Triad of Impairments’ displayed by most Autistic people, as difficulties with:

Social Communication
People with Autism often have difficulties with language, both verbal and non-verbal. Verbally, things such as irony and sarcasm can be difficult for people with Autism to understand, as they tend to take things very literally. They may also have trouble understanding phrases such as ‘Pull your socks up’ and ‘raining cats and dogs’, due to their literal interpretation of language.

Although we may not realise it, much of our communication is non-verbal. Things like tone of voice, body language and facial expression all help us to understand what is being said, and, more importantly sometimes, what is being implied in a social situation. People with Autism often have real problems understanding these unwritten social codes, and may therefore misinterpret a situation, or react inappropriately. They may also appear insensitive to others, if they fail to realise someone’s mood from their body language.

Some people with Autism may not speak, or may simply repeat what has just been said to them. This is known as echolalia. Some people may also find it hard to understand how conversations usually work, with people taking it in turns to speak. They may go on at length about their own interests, seeming to ignore the other person’s input into a conversation.

Social Interaction
Many of us abide by unwritten social rules. Things like when it is appropriate to touch someone, what things are OK to talk about in public and how openly to express our emotions may seem like second nature. However, to a person with Autism, these things may not come naturally, and may have to be learned. This may lead to them preferring to spend time on their own rather than with others.

Social Imagination
Difficulties with imagination don’t just include imaginative play in children. People with Autism can find it hard to imagine how others feel, and empathise with other people. They might also find it difficult to imagine the consequences of their actions, for example that touching a flame leads to getting burnt, and therefore have little awareness of danger, or of how their actions might affect others.

A lack of imagination can also mean that people with Autism prefer to follow set routines and rituals. These may help them to feel secure, and may appear obsessive to others.

Sensory Issues

People with Autism often have issues with sensory stimulation, in that their senses, sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, may be over-sensitive, or not sensitive enough. This is the cause for many of the behaviours associated with Autism.

If a person’s senses are over-sensitive, known as hyper-sensitivity, they experience stimulation at a much higher level than most people. For example, what is a quiet humming from a fluorescent light to most people might be unbearably loud to someone with Autism. Certain smells or tastes may make them gag, or they might hate the feeling of certain clothes on their skin. Sensory overload can cause physical pan to a person with Autism, and can also cause them to react slower than expected, for example to a verbal command, as they attempt to process all the information they are being bombarded with. Hypersensitivity can lead to a person trying to block out sensory stimulation, for example by blocking their ears, avoiding eye contact, or preferring to wear very few clothes.

If someone’s senses are not as sensitive as you might expect, known as hyposensitivity, then they may not experience sensory stimulation that is going on around them. For example, they might not respond to someone talking to them, or they may have a very high pain threshold. Hyposensitivity can lead to a person seeking out sensory stimulation, which can result in behaviours such as hand-flapping, making loud noises, or eating non-edible items.

The most important thing to remember about Autism is that each person with the condition is an individual. One person will not be affected in exactly the same way as another, and expected ‘Autistic’ behaviours may well not be displayed. With early intervention and appropriate support, people with Autism can lead full and active lives. The key to helping people with Autism is by promoting awareness of the condition, and trying to dispel the common myths and stereotypes associated with it, in order that practical solutions can be found.

What is Asperger's Syndrome Please contact the Family Support Team for more information