Autism

Asperger’s Syndrome is a term that is no longer diagnosed, instead it comes under the autism spectrum umbrella. Some people continue to use the term Asperger’s to describe their own condition, however if you are diagnosed with autism then you can decide how you identify yourself.

Some people now use the phrase ‘high functioning’ to describe Asperger’s syndrome, however this can be misleading and make people think that your autism doesn’t affect your life as much as others.

To help show the difference between different autisms we will use the term Asperger’s and autism but it is up to you what terms you like to use.

People with Asperger’s encounter the same difficulties that everyone does on the autism spectrum:

The difference with Asperger’s is the person does not have a learning disability, which many people with autism do. They may still have difficulties with aspects of learning but this is different to a learning disability.

Because the spectrum is so broad, it is hard to narrow down exactly what difficulties someone with autism would have.

Some common things include:

If someone has profound autism, it is likely that they will have been diagnosed as a child as signs are picked up quite early.

People with severe autism experience many of the same difficulties listed previously but its impact is more extreme. Sometimes people with severe autism might not be able to communicate verbally, they are more likely to have a learning disability and they might need lots of help from their parents or caregivers to plan and support them through the day.

Some people with profound autism might need to live away from home in residential care where a team of trained staff help to look after them.

Waking up in the morning and not knowing what’s going to happen with your day can be scary and confusing for someone with autism. Predictability and routines help people with autism know what’s about to happen and what they have to do. Unexpected changes or disruptions can cause people with autism a great deal of anxiety and distress.

This might look like:

People with autism find it difficult to understand social norms or need more time to be able to communicate with others. This can mean that they find it harder to make or keep friendships.

People who are on the autism spectrum also find it hard to read other people’s body language or take things very literally. Being social can be very tiring for someone on the spectrum as they are constantly trying to figure out how to interact with others. This might lead to them preferring to spend time alone.

This might look like:

People who are on the spectrum have what is called repetitive behaviours. This means that someone with autism can be quite happy doing the same thing over and over again or they might have a certain behaviour they do often, which helps them to feel calm and happy.

This might look like:

It is really common for people on the spectrum to have one or a select few interests that they become highly focussed in. This means that many autisc individuals can become experts in their interests and like to share what they know with others.

The downside is that they might not want to pay any attention to anything else which means they can neglect key areas of their life without support.

What this might look like:

The austic brain takes in more sensory information than non-autistic brains, it does not filter out background noise or distractions in the same way. For example if you’re standing in the kitchen having a conversation, a person with autism can hear a dripping tap just as loudly as you’re talking. This means that people with autism can find it hard to know what to concentrate on in busy or highly stimulating environments.

It can also lead to sensory overload, which means that having too much sensory information causes them to feel overwhelmed and at times physical pain.

What this might look like:

When things become too difficult for people with autism to cope with they may completely shut down from the outside world. As a child this is often mistaken as a tantrum or called having a melt down as the child is unable to control their behaviours.

For teens and adults they might find that they close off from the outside world and aren’t able to figure out how to connect or understand how they are feeling.

What this might look like:

It has been harder for girls and women with autism to get the help that they need. This is because of how they cope and hide their difficulties is different to how boys do.

When a person with autism tries to hide their difficulties, it is called masking.

Young girls are very good at masking, they might copy other children to try and fit in and on the outside look like they are coping well. But on the inside they might be finding it very hard and may be experiencing lots of anxiety and confusion.

Lots of young girls and women are told that they have mental health conditions, when really they are on the autism spectrum. If you are autistic and told you have a mental health issue it can feel even more confusing because the help you are offered is not always what you need.

Autism is not a mental health condition, but many people with autism experience mental health issues when trying to live in a world that is not geared towards being autism friendly. It is thought that around 70% of people with autism also have a mental health issue.

It is common for people with autism to experience anxiety, depression and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

Why people with autism are more likely to suffer mental health problems:

Different Minds

National Autistic Society Scotland

Scottish Autism

Young Minds

SIGN Autism booklet for young people

Autism Toolbox – free online resources aimed at the inclusion of younger children of primary and secondary school age with autism.

Is it Autism, and if so what next? – downloadable guide for young people and adults who think they might have autism or are newly diagnosed.

Scottish Autism – An organisation that aims to enable and support people with autism to lead happy, healthy lives. Non emergency advice line also available

Flying Under the Radar – Resources and guides for girls with autism

Different Minds. One Scotland – Help and support for people with autism in Scotland

National Autism Society – Scotland Branches – Information on the National Autsitic Society services in Scotland