About Autism

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AUTISM - A SPECTRUM CONDITION

Gaining a better understanding about Autism, a spectrum condition

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neuro-developmental disorder. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms ASD people might experience, skills, and levels of disability in functioning that can occur in people living with Autism (ASD).

Autism Spectrum Disorder affects how a person communicates, behaves and interacts with others, as well as their learning styles, auditory and sensory input and how they see the world around.

Autism is also known as a “spectrum” disorder as it refers to a range of conditions and wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience.

DID YOU KNOW....?

HOW AUTISM BECAME AUTISM?

Autism Spectrum Disorders was first documented in 1943 but was thought to be a part of Schizophrenia. It was only in the 1980s that it was separated as a diagnosis. Autism is thus a relatively new disability and we have so much to learn about Autism.

AUTISM DIAGNOSIS

It is not always easy to make an ASD diagnosis. There is no medical test, like a blood test, or hair analysis test to diagnose autism spectrum disorder, before or after birth. Genetic tests could be performed in severe cases.

To diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurological paediatrician rely on observing the behaviours of very young children and listening to the concerns of their parents. They look at the child’s developmental history and behaviour to make a diagnosis. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger depends on the signs and behaviour a child shows.

Some people who are “on the spectrum” have severe mental disabilities, whilst others are highly intelligent.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS RELATED TO AUTISM

TAKE ACTION TO HELP YOUR CHILD!

Early diagnosis and services can have a huge impact in the lives of children with Autism

None or Limited eye contact
Non-Verbal, Delayed & unusual speech patterns makes communication difficult
Have difficulties with Repetitive Speech, Behaviours, Body Movements and Stimming
May not react to their name or minimal reaction to verbal input and may act as though they don’t hear
Have difficulties in social connections and interactions with others
Change in routine or the environment, may cause distress or anxiety
Have difficulties understanding facial expressions and emotions of others
Sudden laughing or crying for no apparent reason
Unusual sensitivity to senses of touch, taste, sight, hearing and/or smell
Picky Eaters - Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

Do you require Therapies & Treatments to assist with your child's development?

If you are a parent seeking assistance for your child on the Autism Spectrum, please take the FIRST STEP and get in contact with us...

BEHAVIOURS OF AUTISM

A non-verbal child finds it not easy to communicate and this can lead to anxiety, anger and frustration.

This challenging behaviour may include avoiding eye contact, difficulty in processing information, unstructured time, over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to sensory stimuli, a change in routine, transition between activities, or physical reasons like feeling unwell, tired or hungry.

Restricted and repetitive behaviours accosiated to Autism include:

Repetitive body movements / Stimming (e.g. rocking, flapping, spinning, running back and forth).
Repetitive motions with objects (e.g. spinning wheels, shaking sticks, flipping levers).
Staring at lights or spinning objects.
Ritualistic behaviours (e.g. lining up objects, repeatedly touching objects in a set order).
Narrow or extreme interests in specific topics.
Need for unvarying routine/resistance to change (e.g. same daily schedule, meal menu, clothes, route to school).

Repetitive body movements / Stimming (e.g. rocking, flapping, spinning, running back and forth).
Repetitive motions with objects (e.g. spinning wheels, shaking sticks, flipping levers).
Staring at lights or spinning objects.
Ritualistic behaviours (e.g. lining up objects, repeatedly touching objects in a set order).
Narrow or extreme interests in specific topics.
Need for unvarying routine/resistance to change (e.g. same daily schedule, meal menu, clothes, route to school).

There are many ways to assist with Autism, also knows as a spectrum condition, from therapies like speech, occupational, physical, music, nutrition to natural treatments that may assist with neurological function & behaviour

Children living with Autism often avoid certain foods or have restrictions on what they eat, as well as difficulty sitting through mealtimes; which mean they may not be getting all the nutrients they need for neurological process in the body daily!

AUTISM IS OFTEN PRESENT WITH OTHER CONDITIONS

Anxiety
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Auditory Processing Disorder
Brain & Nervous Dysfunction System
Depression
Epilepsy
Feeding & Nutritional Disorder
Gastrointestinal (GUT) Issues
Gifted (There brain functions differently than Neuro typical people and are very good with Maths / Music / Creative Minds to name a few.)
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Insomnia or Sleep Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Seizures
Sensory Processing Disorder

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

It is important to remember that while a diagnosis of autism may change what you thought your parenting experience would be and how we live our daily life’s.

We now know that children in certain cases with Autism can achieve so much more in life as long as they are given appropriate support and opportunities.