ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
Joe Powell explains some of the everyday challenges of living with Asperger syndrome
What is Autism? Autism is a condition that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
Individuals with autism vary enormously but they all share the two ‘core’ features of autism:
- persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction. For example, they may find it hard to begin or carry on a conversation, they may not understand social rules such as how far to stand from somebody else, or they may find it difficult to make friends.
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities. For example, they may develop an overwhelming interest in something, they may follow inflexible routines or rituals, they may make repetitive body movements, or they may be hypersensitive to certain sounds.
People with autism also have significant strengths. These often include reliability, a good eye for detail, producing highly accurate work, an excellent memory for facts and figures, and the ability to thrive in a structured, well-organised work environment.
Diagnosis Getting a diagnosis of autism can be a positive thing. It means you have an explanation for some of the difficulties you may be experiencing, and it may also give you access to services and support.
The process of getting a diagnosis varies from country to country and sometimes even within the same country. In the UK you start the process by contacting your GP who will then refer you on to specialist diagnostic services. However this is not always a straightforward process, with some GPs being reluctant to start the process and with a lack of specialist diagnostic services in some areas.
Challenges Adults with autism face many issues and challenges on a day to day basis. Some issues – such as difficulties with communication or excessive anxiety – affect many people with autism, whatever their age. Other issues – such as finding and keeping a job – are more likely to affect adults with autism.
However it is important to remember that each person with autism is a unique individual, with unique needs and abilities. Because of this, he or she will experience those issues in a unique way or may not experience them at all.
Services Many countries provide services to help adults on the autism spectrum, although the range and qualify of those services varies enormously between countries and may even vary within the same country.
Some services – such as the National Autistic Society Prospects supported employment service in the UK – are specifically designed to help adults with autism. Other services are designed to help a range of people, irrespective of their age or disability
Interventions There are a number of interventions – treatments and therapies – that are designed to improve the quality of life for adults on the autism spectrum.
However there is no one-size fits all solution. Each adult with autism is a unique individual, with unique needs and abilities. The most effective interventions are personalised to meet the unique characteristics of each individual.
What is Autism? Autism is a condition that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
Individuals with autism vary enormously but they all share the two ‘core’ features of autism:
- persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction. For example, they may find it hard to begin or carry on a conversation, they may not understand social rules such as how far to stand from somebody else, or they may find it difficult to make friends.
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities. For example, they may develop an overwhelming interest in something, they may follow inflexible routines or rituals, they may make repetitive body movements, or they may be hypersensitive to certain sounds.
People with autism also have significant strengths. These often include reliability, a good eye for detail, producing highly accurate work, an excellent memory for facts and figures, and the ability to thrive in a structured, well-organised work environment.
Diagnosis Getting a diagnosis of autism can be a positive thing. It means you have an explanation for some of the difficulties you may be experiencing, and it may also give you access to services and support.
The process of getting a diagnosis varies from country to country and sometimes even within the same country. In the UK you start the process by contacting your GP who will then refer you on to specialist diagnostic services. However this is not always a straightforward process, with some GPs being reluctant to start the process and with a lack of specialist diagnostic services in some areas.
Challenges Adults with autism face many issues and challenges on a day to day basis. Some issues – such as difficulties with communication or excessive anxiety – affect many people with autism, whatever their age. Other issues – such as finding and keeping a job – are more likely to affect adults with autism.
However it is important to remember that each person with autism is a unique individual, with unique needs and abilities. Because of this, he or she will experience those issues in a unique way or may not experience them at all.
Services Many countries provide services to help adults on the autism spectrum, although the range and qualify of those services varies enormously between countries and may even vary within the same country.
Some services – such as the National Autistic Society Prospects supported employment service in the UK – are specifically designed to help adults with autism. Other services are designed to help a range of people, irrespective of their age or disability
Interventions There are a number of interventions – treatments and therapies – that are designed to improve the quality of life for adults on the autism spectrum.
However there is no one-size fits all solution. Each adult with autism is a unique individual, with unique needs and abilities. The most effective interventions are personalised to meet the unique characteristics of each individual.