AUTISM SPECTRUM CONDITIONS

There are over 700,000 people in the UK with an autism spectrum disorder – that’s around one in a hundred people with autism spectrum disorder. They come from all nationalities, cultures, social backgrounds, religions and gender.

What to look for – The symptoms of autistic spectrum disorders.

Symptoms may become apparent during the first few years of life. In many cases the symptoms come to light once a child has started education.

Some have great difficulties in learning with varying levels of intelligence and I.Q levels.

In both adults and adolescents the signs vary greatly but there are some core identifiers.

Signs to look for:

Social difficulties:

May prefer to be alone
Lack of understanding others emotions
May seem uninterested in others
Resistance to being touched
Unusual body language
Lack of eye contact

Language and communication Difficulties:

Facial expressions or tone of voice
Find it hard understanding jokes and sarcasm
Common phrases and sayings; an example might be the phrase ‘It’s cool’, which people often say when they think that something is good, but strictly speaking, means that it’s a bit cold.
Unable to express themselves
Unable to understand gestures, emotions, expressions
Using odd phrases, making up words

Social Imagination Difficulties:

Understand and interpret other people’s thoughts, feelings and actions
Predict what will happen next, or what could happen next
Understand the concept of danger, for example that running on to a busy road poses a threat to them
Engage in imaginative play and activities: children with autism may enjoy some imaginative play but prefer to act out the same scenes each time
Prepare for change and plan for the future
Coping in new or unfamiliar situations can be tricky