Understanding Autism for Dummies

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Asperger's (or Asperger syndrome) is used by some people to describe autistic people with average or above average intelligence

What is autism - National Autistic Society

In recent years, more people are embracing the idea of neurodiversity—the concept that some people have neurological differences and those differences should be valued rather than “corrected”. Still, a diagnosis of autism as an adult can come as an unwanted surprise. You may even experience denial or anxiety over the diagnosis. On the other hand, if you’ve long suspected that you have ASD or some other condition that sets you apart from your peers, a diagnosis can come as a relief. Suddenly, a lot of your past experiences and interactions make sense and you’re afforded a sense of clarity. Stephen Shore, EdD (Brookline MA), serves on the board for several autism spectrum-related organizations and he has written Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (1-931282-00-5) and edited Ask and Tell: Self Advocacy and Disclosure For People on the Autism Spectrum (1-931282-58-7). Government prevalence surveys last estimated that around one in 100 people are autistic. However, because these are estimates this is not definite. Other surveys and international estimates have come up with different prevalence estimates. Most of them suggest autism prevalence is higher. The National Autistic Society thinks the UK governments should do more research into autism prevalence to find an updated figure. Until that research is done, we believe that more thanone in 100 people are autistic, which means more than 700,000 people in the UK. Some autistic people need little or no support. Others may need help from a parent or carer every day. Some people use other names for autismWhen everything becomes too much for an autistic person, they can go into meltdown or shutdown. These are very intense and exhausting experiences. If you're worried that your child has ASD, it's important to seek out a clinical diagnosis. But don't wait for that diagnosis to get your child into treatment. Early intervention during the preschool years will improve your child's chances for overcoming their developmental delays. So look into treatment options and try not to worry if you're still waiting on a definitive diagnosis. Putting a potential label on your kid's problem is far less important than treating the symptoms. Title: “You Must Become a Chameleon to Survive”: Adolescent Experiences of Camouflaging | SpringerLink Practice relaxation techniques. You might find that techniques such as mindfulness meditation and deep breathing help you manage anxiety symptoms. These are also practices that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. A 2020 study showed that self-guided mindfulness and cognitive behavioral techniques may be useful in reducing levels of anxiety in people with ASD.

Understanding Autism For Dummies Understanding Autism For Dummies

Unlike so many books that parents have written over the years, Tom did not see having a child with autism as something that was an absolute crisis and totally devastating. From the very beginning he tried to connect with Ezra’s passions and Ezra’s interests. There’s a wonderful part in Following Ezra when he and his wife were taking Ezra for play therapy shortly after the diagnosis, he was around three or four years of age. Tom is a very grounded, quiet man and he was not speaking a great deal about all of the agony and pain involved in having a young child with autism. And the therapist said to him after a few sessions, “Tom, I think I know what the issue is. You have not grieved the loss of your typical child here.” She was responding to the fact that he was talking about how anxious he was and how scared he was. Tom’s response was basically, “This is my beautiful little boy, I don’t feel the need to grieve.” It is important to know how many autistic people there are for several reasons, including helping to provide support, as well as showing the sheer number and diversity of autistic people. This is also called “autism prevalence”. It is an estimate of how many autistic people there are in the UK. It is not the same as the number of autistic people who have a diagnosis and many autistic people might not have been identified or even know yet themselves. As autism understanding has grown, the estimated prevalence has also changed.Watch young people explain what it's really like being autistic and how you can support autistic people. Change to routine can also be very distressing for autistic people and make them very anxious. It could be having to adjust to big events like Christmas or changing schools, facing uncertainty at work, or something simpler likea bus detourthat can trigger their anxiety. Rely on close friends. Socializing can also be good for your mood, as long as the people you’re with don’t stress you out. Find people who share your interests. Thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to find people in your local area who share your interests. If possible, look for conventions or other gatherings where people who share your hobby come together and interact in person. ASD begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.