World Autism Awareness Day aims highlight the challenges those with diagnosed Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face & how finding support, especially for children with ASD, is so very important.
In a world where social media rules & we are bombarded with fast paced images, constant sounds, expectations to succeed & a constant noise from our hive of a planet; autists can find the modern world a challenging & overwhelming place to live.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate & interact with the world. One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum & there are around 700,000 autistic adults & children in the UK. (1)
ASD can manifest itself in different ways & each person can exhibit differing levels of ASD. Some of the more common ASD indicators are:
Social communication & interaction
Autists may take things literally & not understand abstract concepts for example sarcasm. They may need extra time to process information, repeat what others say to them or appear to be insensitive.
Often autists will seek time alone when overloaded when surrounded by too many people.
Some autists appear to behave ‘strangely’ in a way thought to be socially improper & they often find it very difficult to form & maintain friendships. (1)
Over- or under-sensitivity to light, sound, taste or touch
Autistic people may experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light, colours, temperatures or pain. Therefore, autists can find environments such as schools, workplaces & shopping centres particularly overwhelming which can cause sensory overload. (1)
Highly focused interests or hobbies
Many autists have intense & highly focused interests, often from a fairly young age. Autistic people can become experts in their special interests & often share their knowledge.
Being highly focused helps many autistic people do well academically & in the workplace. However, they can also become so engrossed in particular topics or activities that they neglect other aspects of their lives. (1)
Extreme anxiety, meltdowns & shutdowns
Anxiety is a real difficulty for many autistic adults, particularly in social situations or when facing change. (1)
In extreme cases, autists can experience complete meltdowns. These can happen when someone becomes completely overwhelmed by their current situation & temporarily lose behavioural control.
Shutdowns are also a response to being overwhelmed, but may appear more passive, for example, an autistic person going quiet or ‘switching off’. (1)
However challenging ASD can be, not only for the autist but for family & those close to them; it does not stop someone with ASD from being successful.
In an article from The Art of Autism, Nils Skudra reflects on the documentary Asperger’s & Me featuring Naturalist Chris Packham.
One such person is Chris Packham – author, TV presenter, naturalist & nature photographer. Packham was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome (now ASD) in his 40’s & yet the the signs of his diagnosis were very present at an early age.
His obsession with nature & him not needing friends at school, meant he spent much of his time pursuing his interest in nature rather than mixing with peers.(2)
“I’ve spent 30 years on the telly trying my best to act normal when I’m really anything but.”
Packham explains that he makes an effort to control his environment as much as possible, which includes following a regular set of routines such as wearing the same thing & eating the same types of food all the time, which he describes as “a comfort thing.” (3)
Some examples of other successful people with ASD include actor Dan Akroyd, singer Susan Boyle, actor Daryl Hannah & it is even believed that Albert Einstein may have been functioning on the autistic spectrum.
Despite the challenges autists can face, particularly in our fast paced, noisy, bright & blurry world; there are ways for them to find routines & solutions which suit them & in doing so, make some sense of the world around them.
Written & cited by Katy-Jane on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd.
- https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism
- https://the-art-of-autism.com/chris-packham-of-aspergers-and-me-spent-30-years-trying-to-act-normal/
