What is Autism?
Autism can be misunderstood, so let’s start with what Autism is not. Autism is not an illness or disease, it is not something that you can ‘cure’ and it surely is not a medical condition that you can treat.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that people are born with. Autism can affect how people perceive the world and interact with those around them.
Autism is a spectrum condition, meaning that autistic people share similar characteristics and difficulties, however each person experiences the world around them in a different way. Autism is different for everyone.
Autistic people have many strengths, but they may also struggle with some things. All autistic people learn and develop. It is important for autistic people to receive the support they need to live a life they want.
What causes autism?
We still do not understand the exact cause of autism. What we do know is that autism is not caused by vaccines, an individual’s upbringing, their social circumstances, and it is in no way the fault of the autistic person.
There is some research that suggests autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (Timothy et al., 2013; Landrigan, Lambertini, & Birnbaum, 2012).
How common is Autism?
Currently in the UK 1 in 100 people are autistic. People from all backgrounds, cultures and religions can be autistic. Four times as many boys as girls are diagnosed with autism, although this ratio may change as the needs of girls on the spectrum become better understood.
What are the characteristics of Autism?
Autism is a spectrum condition which means the characteristics of autism differ from one person to another. For an individual to be diagnosed with autism, they will be assessed as having difficulties with social communication and interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, interests or activities since early childhood.
References:
Timothy, W. Y., Chahrour, M. H., Coulter, M. E., Jiralerspong, S., Okamura-Ikeda, K., Ataman, B., … & D’Gama, A. M. (2013). Using whole-exome sequencing to identify inherited causes of autism. Neuron, 77(2), 259-273.
Landrigan, P. J., Lambertini, L., & Birnbaum, L. S. (2012). A research strategy to discover the environmental causes of autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(7).
Hope Autism Society 