Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects social and communication skills.
Characteristics of Autism
Social interaction – difficulty with social relationships, poor social timing, lack of social empathy, rejection of normal body contact and inappropriate eye contact
Social communication – difficulty with verbal and non verbal communication; inability to understand the meaning of gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice
Imagination – rigidity and inflexibility of thought process, underdevelopment of play and imagination, with obsessional and ritualistic behaviour
These three characteristics are known as the ‘Triad of Impairments’.
In addition to these, repetitive behaviour patterns and resistance to change in routine are also notable features.
Understanding a person with Autism
People with autism share the common difficulty in making sense of the world in the way other people do. The degree to which individuals are affected varies widely but all will have deficiencies in the triad of impairments. These understandably lead to difficulties in everyday life and can lead to extremes of behaviour, which can be disruptive and isolating to all concerned. Autism can occur along side other problems and learning difficulties are common.
How can we help people with Autism ?
Specialist education and structured support can really make a difference to an individual with autism. Total understanding of the condition by all those involved in their care is paramount in helping them to develop their social and communication skills and ultimately achieve a better quality of life.
