Being An Autism Mum
Hear Elaine of Life Upside Down. Being an Autism mom. chat about the realities of a ASD.
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong neuro-developmental disability that affects the development of the brain in areas of social interaction and communication. People with autism have difficulties in communicating and forming relationships with people, in developing language and in using abstract concepts. It also impacts on their ability to make sense of the world around them.
Autism is described as a “spectrum disorder”. This means that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations and can range from mild to severe. Two people with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another and have varying skills. Autism Spectrum Disorder is also referred to as ASD.
Autism is often referred to as the “hidden” disability because people who are on the autistic spectrum show no significant physical difference to their peers, rather it is their behaviours that mark them out as different. The 3 main areas of difficulty for people with autism are referred to as the “triad of impairments”.
- Social communication Click Here
- Social interaction Click Here
- Social imagination Click Here
There is a fourth area which has been identified as presenting people with autism with significant difficulties and that is the area of sensory processing. Sensory processing difficulties are indicated by either an over or under sensitivity across any or all of the senses. Click Here
What causes Autism?
Scientists are not certain what causes autism but research into autism and genetics has shown that it is likely autism is genetically pre-determined. However research is on-going to determine which genes may be relevant and to what degree environmental “triggers” may be involved in the increase in incidence.
It is possible that there is not one cause for autism but that there are several factors involved. The theory that a way a child was parented was in any way a cause of autism has long been dismissed.
Further information on current research into causes of autism Click Here