Understanding Autism

Each individual with autism is unique and it is not possible to use a blanket description to identify the disorder, its causes or signs. In this article, we hope to provide you clarity on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and information around it.

What is Autism?

Autism is a complex developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and is characterised by difficulties in social interaction, communication, restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours, and sensory sensitivities. It is called a ‘developmental’ condition because symptoms of autism generally appear in the first two years of a child’s life. It is called a ‘spectrum’ disorder because it is most influenced by different combinations of genetic and environmental factors and affects people differently and to varying degrees. Each autistic person has a set of strengths and challenges that are distinct from any other autistic person and the way (s)he/she learns, thinks or solves problems can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. ASD may occur in persons across all ethnic, racial, and economic groups.

Research into autism has been unable to confirm a single specific cause for a person to have autism. They have however narrowed down on a few possible risk factors including having a sibling with ASD, having certain genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome or Rett Syndrome, babies born to older parents or in babies with very low birth weight.

Signs and Symptoms of Autism?

The difficulties experienced by persons with ASD are broadly divided into Communication and Social Interactions, Restricted and Repetitive Interests, and Behaviours and Sensory Sensitivities. A person with autism may show a few or more of these signs and to varying degrees.

A) Communication and Social Interactions

An autistic individual may have trouble communicating / interacting with others. This need not necessarily mean that they do not like people. The individual may:

• Make little or inconsistent eye contact with another person
• Tend not to look at people or listen to what they are saying
• Rarely share awareness or enjoyment of objects or activities by pointing or showing things to others
• Fail to, or being slow to, respond to someone trying to gain his / her attention through verbal attempts
• Have difficulties with the back and forth of conversation
• Often talk at length about a favorite subject without noticing that others are not interested or without allowing others to respond
• Have facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not have any connection to what is being said at the time
• Have an unusual tone of voice that may sound sing-song or flat and robot-like or have speech difficulties
• Have trouble understanding another person’s point of view or be unable to predict or understand other people’s actions

B) Restricted and Repetitive Interests and Behaviours

A person with ASD may have trouble focusing on certain topics but have an increased and focused interest over a long period of time on certain other topics. He / she may:

• Repeat certain behaviors or have unusual behaviors like repeating words or phrases over and over again
• Have a lasting, intense interest in certain topics, such as numbers, details, or facts
• Have overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects
• Get upset by changes in his / her routine, howev"