Reviewed by Autism Awareness Australia
What is autism?
Autism (the medical term is Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a lifelong developmental condition that influences someone’s behaviour and the way they communicate and interact with others. Autism affects everyone differently, so there is a ‘spectrum’ of differences in communication and behaviour. These communication and behavioural effects can make social situations challenging for autistic people.
How common is autism?
Just over 1% of Australia’s population is on the autism spectrum.
Autism is more common in males than females. For every female diagnosed with autism, there are three or four males diagnosed. The reasons for this difference are not fully understood, but:
Like many health conditions, we know there are differences in autism between males and females, but we do not understand them very well.
What increases the likelihood of being autistic?
Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with autism.
Autism runs in families but there is no ‘autism gene’. There are thousands of different genes (many of which are involved in brain development) that contribute to the risk of autism. These genes interact with other factors from people’s environments to cause autism. Some autistic people have no family history.
What causes autism?
Autism seems to be caused by the way that different nerves and regions of the brain connect. The reasons why the brains of autistic people connect differently than other people’s are not known, and exactly how this causes the characteristics of autism are not understood.
Vaccination, particular foods or ‘bad parenting’ do not cause autism.
What are the signs of autism?
The signs of autism begin in early life but they may not be noticed until later, when they cause difficulty with social functioning, school, work or other important parts of people’s lives.
Autistic people have three main types of differences related to communication, and at least two of four main behavioural ones.
How is autism diagnosed?
There is no standard test for autism, and no cut-off scores for judging support needs, in people of any age. Diagnosis is made by mental health professionals based on their observations of patients, interviews with parents or carers (and the patient, if possible), and questionnaires to collect important information.
There is a National Guideline for the assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia that describes a clear process for assessment and diagnosis of autism.
Part of the process of diagnosing autism should be a Comprehensive Needs Assessment, which involves an Assessment of Functioning and a Medical Evaluation. This is required to identify the strengths and support needs of the person, so that they can make the most of their life. A Comprehensive Needs Assessment may need to be repeated as the autistic person develops and their circumstances change.
How is autism supported?
Autism is supported in a different way for everyone because the effects of autism, a person’s circumstances, strengths and needs are specific to each individual.
Early diagnosis and intervention are best for autistic people because of the differences in communication and behaviour it can cause.
Interventions that focus on behaviour, development, learning and relationships are used to build the strengths of autistic people, often by working together with their families, carers, teachers or employers.
Autistic people may benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy to help with movement, or a mental health professional (counsellor, psychologist, or psychiatrist).
No medication is effective for altering the characteristics of autism, but medication might be needed to treat other associated health conditions.
What does autism mean for my health?
Autism is a life-long condition, but it does not progress or worsen with age. With the right support, even people with significant challenges can have fulfilling lives.
Most autistic people have other health conditions as well, and signs of autism can overlap with characteristics of other conditions.
What should I do about autism?
The signs of autism begin to appear during early life. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, you should speak to your GP straight away. If you suspect you might be autistic, you should talk to your GP about it because they can help you to get an accurate diagnosis.
The developmental nature of autism means that its effects on individuals change over time. Autistic people often require a group of people, with different skills and specialties, to provide support throughout their lives. The types of support and the people who provide it may need to change over time, so it may be necessary to repeat Comprehensive Needs Assessments from time to time.
