Autism Symptoms in kids and children. What is Autism?

If you are the parent of a child with autism, or someone who has recently received a diagnosis, you may have many questions: What is autism? How is it different from other developmental conditions? How can I best support my child and my family?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is sometimes referred to as a “neuro-developmental” condition. The criteria for diagnosing autism are contained within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (also known as the DSM-5). Essentially, a “neuro-developmental” condition like ASD is one with a “neurological” (brain) basis, that manifests during an infant or child’s developmental period of life (i.e. from an early age) – hence the term ‘neuro’-‘developmental’.

Signs (observable to others) and symptoms (internal experiences) associated with ASD emerge early in a child’s life, a feature that differentiates it from many other mental health conditions, which tend to emerge later in life (such as depression or anxiety). Accordingly, ASD is sometimes simply referred to as “neuro-diversity”, because it represents an individual’s unique range of thinking and communicating patterns that are biologically-determined, predictable, and stable over time.

ASD describes a person’s profile of communicative, interactive, and learning tendencies. It is a “spectrum” condition, meaning that it impacts individuals differently and to varying degrees. Autism is characterised by people having unique strengths and challenges in life. Typically, people with ASD might have strong narrow interests, a preference for predictability and routine, difficulty socialising without learnt communication strategies, a strength in focussed attention, and repetitive behaviours. People with autism may describe having difficulty expressing themselves and understanding the emotions of others. They may also have unique experiences in processing and perceiving sensory information, which can cause them to become overwhelmed in certain situations. This can be a strength of people with ASD, in that they can comfort themselves with sensory experiences that they find soothing.

There is no single “cause” of autism, and there is no “cure”, given that it is a stable set of experiences with a neurological basis. However, there are many ways to support a child with autism, including early intervention, speech and occupational therapy, social skills training, positive behavioural interventions, and sometimes even specific medications.

It is important to remember that autism is not a “disease” but rather a “different type of normal”. People with autism are unique individuals with their own abundant strengths. With patience, understanding, and support, children will lead happy and fulfilling lives, aspire to and achieve their goals, and share strong connections with others. If you have any questions or concerns about autism, reach out to your GP or a local autism support group. Healthcare professionals with a background in helping people with ASD can provide invaluable support and information, and a referral to more specialised autism services if needed. By taking the time to learn more about ASD and how you can help your child, you can make a positive difference in their life.