What is Autism?
The term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is used to describe a group of closely related disorders, which all belong to the same diagnostic category and share the same core symptoms. These disorders include autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified. (For ease of use, the term 'autism' will be used throughout this site to include all of these disorders).
Autism is a complex, life-long developmental disability which is neurobiological in origin. Approximately one in every 160 children in Australia is diagnosed with an ASD1.
Autism: The early signs
One of the first signs, which can alert a parent to the fact that their child is not developing as he or she should, is the manner in which their young child responds to them. The child may not learn to speak or have very limited speech. The child may also have great difficulty in comprehending the speech of others.
Some children with autism can develop good spoken language. However, their language is very concrete and literal; it lacks a social quality and is not used in a conversational manner.
Parents may notice that their young toddler with autism does not seem interested in playing with other children. They may also notice that their child is not playing with toys in an imaginative way. Instead, the child may spend time placing toys in neat lines; or engaging in the same sequence of play activity over and over again.
Common Features of Autism
People with autism have difficulties in three main areas; impaired social relating, impaired communication and restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests. These difficulties may present as:
- Impaired social interaction e.g. a lack of spontaneous interest in sharing in activities or interests with others; or lack of appropriate social responsiveness.
- Lack of make-believe play.
- Absence of language; or echoing of language; or language used in a very literal way.
- Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation.
- Distress, or difficulty, with change to a routine.
- Narrow and restricted range of interests e.g. may have a preoccupation with an object; may only be interested in lining up objects or making collections of particular items; may only be interested in a single topic or amassing facts about a single interest.
Is There Success In Treating Autism?
Children do not grow out of autism. With appropriate intervention, however, they can be assisted to gain many of the skills we take for granted, such as learning to play, to communicate and to respond to others in a social way. People with autism benefit enormously from programs which provide them with a means to communicate and to develop the skills they need to participate in everyday life. With appropriate education, and the support of dedicated people, the person with autism can go on to lead a fulfilled life, engaging in social activities and vocational pursuits in later life.
What Can Be Done?
The cause of autism is still unknown despite worldwide research. We do know, however, that specialised programs help to markedly reduce many of the difficulties experienced by the person with autism, and improve the quality of life for their family. With appropriate teaching, the child with autism can be taught to communicate using verbal or visual systems of communication and can also be assisted to cope with change and to develop many of the social skills necessary for day-to-day life.
People involved in teaching or supporting the person with autism need to understand the nature of autism and how it impacts on learning. An understanding is further needed on how to use appropriate strategies to overcome the many difficulties the child and older person with autism experiences in everyday situations.
Is Diagnosis Important?
Without diagnosis, a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder cannot receive the specialist intervention and education they require to develop or maximise their skills. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the better the chances are of a child and their family receiving appropriate help and support.
1 Refer to Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders 2007 research paper The Prevalence of Autism in Australia: Can it be established from existing data?
