About Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
People with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) experience problems with social relationships, communication and imagination. It is a wide- ranging condition.
Autism (including Asperger syndrome) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates, relates to others and makes sense of the world.
Common characteristics of ASD
- Difficulties with social interaction and making friends, or appearing aloof and indifferent to others
- Difficulties with communication, including not fully understanding facial expressions, gestures, or tone of voice
- Difficulties in understanding the world, social norms and the feelings or experiences of other people
As many as 75 per cent of people with autism have accompanying learning disabilities.
Conversely, autistic children sometimes possess exceptional skills, such as in drawing, mathematics, or music.
How can autism be treated?
There is no specific cure or particular medical treatment for autism, but much can be done to maximise a child´s potential and this is key to managing the condition. Appropriate specialist education, speech, language and behavioural therapy are all important.