Autism Spectrum Disorder

There are over 1 in 100 people in the UK living with Autism. This condition affects both children and adults and is lower in girls than boys.

This disorder is not an illness and there is no cure. ASD is for life.

ASD is a condition the affects interests, behaviour and the ability to communicate.

Autistic people can find it hard to socially interact and to start conversations. Instead of socialising with children their own age people with ASD favour to play alone. This can be down to being unable to communicate and create friendships.

By using the support mechanism of occupational, language and speech therapy this can help to support challenges associated with a person who has Autism.

People who suffer from Autism can find it hard to decipher both non verbal and verbal communication. None verbal language for example body language or tone of speech. Sufferers can’t fully understand language and literally pick up what you say to them without the ability to understand this correctly, for example sarcasm.

Some professionals that are involved with people who have ASD include Clinical psychologist Counsellor and psychotherapist, GP (General Practitioner), Speech and Language Therapist (SLT).

People with ASD like to have a daily routine and like to have a plan of what is going to happen day on day and this may cause anxiety.

There are different forms of Autism. Asperger’s syndrome is a form of Autism. Other conditions related with Autism may include learning difficulties for example dyspraxia and dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)