Autism NI, Donard, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast, BT8 8BH

1. What is Autism?

Autism is a Developmental Disorder, which affects the areas of the brain responsible for communication, imagination and social interaction.  Individuals with Autism will have problems in one, two or all of these areas.  Around 25% of people with ASD will have an accompanying learning disability.

2. What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Asperger’s Syndrome is Autism without a learning disability.  Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome may have average or above average intelligence and may not have the language problems that individuals with Autism have, but they may have co-ordination and movement problems.  Asperger’s Syndrome is an Autistic Spectrum Disorder and individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome will have problems in the same areas as Autism i.e. social problems, communication problems and problems with imagination and flexibility of thought.

3. What is Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Autism is a life-long developmental disability that prevents individuals from properly understanding what they see, hear, and otherwise sense. This results in severe problems of social relationships, communication, and behaviour.
Individuals with Autism have to painstakingly learn normal patterns of speech and communication, and appropriate ways to relate to people, objects, and events.

Since the 1980s it is accepted that Autism is a Spectrum i.e. that there are is a range of severity and symptoms in Autism.  Some individuals may have a learning disability and be very disabled; other individuals may have a high level of functioning, but maintain the problems of Autism. People who have Autism and don't have a learning disability are usually diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome is named after Dr Hans Asperger who first identified the condition in 1944.  Usually individuals with Asperger's Syndrome will not have had language development delay but may have had unusual language development in terms of the words and language the child/adult uses.

There is no known cure for Autism, but with correct intervention and support  most individuals can go on to live independent lives.

4. What causes Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?

Research suggests there is no single cause but that there is a physical problem affecting those parts of the brain that integrate language and information processed from the senses.  Autism has a physical origin not an emotional one.

5. What are the effects of ASD?

Individuals with ASD will have problems in the areas of:

Social interaction i.e. may not want to socialise, be with other people or may behave in socially inappropriate or naive ways. 

Communication i.e. some individuals may never speak any meaningful language or individuals may have functional language with no interest in making small talk.  Or individuals may engage in one sided interactions talking for long periods about a subject of special interest with no awareness of the needs of the listener. 
 
Imagination i.e. children may not play in a meaningful imaginative way, preferring to line their toys up according to size or colour instead.  Individuals may not be able to imagine an alternative, having little tolerance for unexpected change in any areas of their lives.  Individuals may be driven to follow particular routines and be unable to accept change or be flexible in their day to day life.  

• In addition to these, a person with Autism will also experience sensory problems, problems with certain noises or a need for deep pressure.  For example the child may climb in under the mattress or wrap himself/herself up tightly in the duvet.  Individuals may also have problems filtering information out e.g. the child may not be able to ignore certain sounds or stimuli in the environment. 
• Individuals may also have problems with organisation.  For example regardless of their level of ability he/she may have problems sequencing clothes to put on or plan ahead with correct school books.  This can seem unusual in someone who is extremely intelligent.
• Individuals may have problems with perception, focusing in on small details and not being able to see the “big picture”.  For example seeing each individual piece in the mosaic and not the picture. 
• Individuals may have problems understanding the perspective of other people or that they may have thoughts, feelings or experiences which differ from theirs. 

ASD affects the lives of people across ages and levels of ability.  Popular culture often has a perception of ASD as a condition of childhood, but this is not the case.

6. How is ASD diagnosed?

Autism is best diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team who assess the child in a variety of settings i.e. at home, in school, and in the clinic.  Each professional will contribute to the overall diagnosis and from this a treatment plan will be developed.  The team is likely to be made up of a Paediatrician, a Speech and Language Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Clinical Psychologist and sometimes a specialist Social Worker and a child Psychiatrist will be in attendance also.  Children may be picked up at school and be referred for an assessment by an Educational Psychologist. 

Autism in children may be picked up at school by a teacher or classroom assistant and then the child be referred for an assessment by an Educational Psychologist. 

7. Is Early Intervention Important?

Even before diagnosis, when queries are first raised about a child’s difficultly in Social & Communication areas it is important to seek advice and information. These months on a waiting list for assessment can be put to good use – reading and becoming familiar with holistic Intervention Programmes such as Keyhole®.

The Keyhole® Jigsaw of Early Intervention is a comphrensive early intervention package which includes an excellent (Rainbow Kit) that is available pre-diagnosis. Ask your local paediatrician or child development clinic for more details.

Information on other alternatives is available by reading “Journeys: Choices Not Solutions”

8. What is the most common problem in Autism?

Individuals with Autism have extreme difficulty in learning language and social skills and in relating to people.

9. How severe are behaviour problems in people with Autism?

In Autism, behaviour problems range from very severe to mild. Severe behaviour problems take the form of highly unusual, aggressive, and in some cases, even self-injurious behavior. These behaviours may persist and be difficult to change. In its milder form, Autism resembles a learning disability. Usually, however, even people who are only mildly affected are substantially disabled due to deficits in the areas of communication and socialisation.

Behaviour difficulties are often overt expressions of an inner frustration brought about by an inability to communicate effectively and interact appropriately.  Specific behavioural interventions built upon an expert understanding of Autism and which are individually tailored can be of great assistance.

10. What is the difference between Autism and Learning Disability?

Most people with a learning disability show relatively even development of skills while individuals with Autism typically show uneven skill development with problems in certain areas - most frequently in their ability to communicate and relate to others - and distinct skills in other areas. It is important to distinguish Autism from learning disability or other disorders since diagnostic confusion may result in referral to inappropriate and ineffective treatment techniques.

11. What kinds of jobs can individuals with Autism do?

In general, individuals with Autism perform best at jobs which are structured and involve a degree of repetition.
Some people who have Autism are working as artists, piano tuners, painters, farm workers, office workers, computer operators, dishwashers, assembly line workers, or competent employees of sheltered workshops or other sheltered work settings.

Some people with Asperger's Syndrome can go on to work in very specialised areas and even develop new ideas and ways of thinking.

12. What does the future hold for my child?

The uncertainty about the future is often an area of stress and concern for parents.  Given the right opportunities many individuals will go on to achieve in their future.  Autism is a lifelong disability and some individuals struggle with mental ill health, and problems finding their "niche" and forming relationships.  With help many of these issues can be supported and knowing who to ask and where to seek help is a great support.  Talk to other parents, find out how older children are managing and what worked for them.  Remember each child is an individual, and what may work for one child may not work for yours.