Understanding autism

AUTISM is a neurodevelopmental disability that affects the way people communicate and interact with the world. Characteristics generally appear in early childhood and will be present, in some form, for life.

Around 1 in 100 Australians is autistic and 85% of the community has a personal connection with an autistic person.

Autism affects the way individuals interact with others and how they experience the world around them. Every autistic person is different, which means that each person has unique strengths and challenges.

Autistic people may have:

■ challenges with communicating and interacting with others

■ repetitive and different behaviours, moving their bodies in different ways

■ strong interest in one topic or subject

■ unusual reactions to what they see, hear, smell, touch or taste

■ preferences for routines and dislike change. There is no known cause of autism. Much research is being done to try to find out more. Right now, evidence suggests that autism results from changes to the development and growth of the brain. These changes may be caused by a combination of factors, including genetics.

Autism is part of who a person is. It isn’t caused by parenting or social circumstances. Autism is also not caused by vaccination or other medical treatment.

Could it be autism?

As a parent you may be worried about your child’s development. You, or someone close to you, may have noticed that your child’s speech is delayed, or that they seem to be ‘aloof’ or ‘detached’ from you. There can be many reasons for a child’s development being delayed. One of the possibilities could be autism.

If a child with a developmental delay is suspected of being autistic, an assessment is usually made by a team of professionals experienced in the field.

The team will often be made up of a paediatrician (or child and adolescent psychiatrist), a psychologist and a speech pathologist. Between them they will carry out a series of different assessments over several appointments.

Once the assessment has been completed, the team will decide if your child meets the criteria for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and a diagnosis will be made.

Diagnosis is usually made from the age of about 18 months onwards. Sometimes a provisional diagnosis is made when the child is very young and is reassessed at a later date.

There are a number of government-funded teams that specialise in the assessment and diagnosis of autism. Parents can contact these teams directly, but you may need a referral from your GP or paediatrician.

There are also private practitioners and teams who conduct assessments on a fee-paying basis.

After a child’s diagnosis

Once a diagnosis is made, the parents will receive a copy of the assessment report. This report is used to plan a program for the child in consultation with parents and service providers.

The assessment report is also used by government agencies, schools, respite care and other services to determine eligibility for funding or other support.

Receiving a diagnosis of Autism

For some people, receiving an autism diagnosis can be an emotional event.

It may come as a relief, after a long period of not being sure why they, or their child, are different from others their own age or in their peer groups.

What is the future?

Autism is a lifelong condition. There are many things that autistic individuals and families can do to learn more about autism, connect with people who have shared experiences, and get support to live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives.

There are many support groups around Victoria and Australia, set up by people who do a wonderful job of providing safe, supportive spaces. Find out more about peer support groups here.

There are therapies and interventions that can help autistic people develop their social interaction and communication skills. With the right help and support, great outcomes can be achieved.

Sharing a diagnosis

When you’re ready to share an autism diagnosis with your family and friends, it can be difficult to know where to start. You may wonder how much you should share with people, and if you even have to tell anyone at all! These are common questions, and the answer is the same: there is no one way to talk about your autism diagnosis - you just need to do what’s right for you.

To help you to determine how and when to share a diagnosis, you can find information sheets on Sharing the Diagnosis and Sharing the Diagnosis with the School on the Resources page of amaze.org.au site.

It is important to remember that a diagnosis does not change who your child is.

A diagnosis can be useful, however, to help inform families, professionals, child care workers, teachers and other people involved in the child’s care or learning about what strategies, interventions, or supports have been shown to be effective with other children with similar difficulties.

It is important to note that a diagnosis can inform developmental, educational and social outcomes at any age, no matter when the individual is diagnosed

Source: https://www.amaze.org.au/ understand-autism/. Call 1300 308 699, or email info@ autismconnect.org.au for more information.