What is Autism?
Autism is known as a complex developmental disability. Experts believe that Autism presents itself during the first three years of a person’s life. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, affecting development of the person’s communication and social interaction skills. People with autism have issues with non-verbal communication, a wide range of social interactions, and activities that include an element of play and/or banter.
Autism is sometimes referred to as ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder/Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This covers a wide range of disorders all categorised under Autism/ASD. A person with an ASD typically has difficulty with social and communication skills, however persons with Autism may not display the same issues or behaviour, the condition affects people in differing ways.
People with autism have said that the world, to them, is a mass of people, places and events which they
The three main areas of difficulty which all people with autism share are sometimes known as the ‘triad of impairments’. They are:
- Difficulty with social communication
- Difficulty with social interaction
- Difficulty with social imagination. Struggle to make sense of, and which can cause them considerable anxiety.