Autism

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental condition that affects your daily life. Around one in 68 children have it and it is about 5 times more common in boys than in girls because of genetics. However, there are false facts about autism that should be cleared up.

Characteristics

First of all, it is important to NEVER self-diagnose yourself with autism. The signs of autism are:

• Social interaction and communication problems.

• Repetitive patterns of behaviours or activities.

And much more. Your intelligence does not determine if you are autistic or not.

Risk factors and diagnosis

To identify autism in children and toddlers, the CDC have identified some possible red flags:

• Not responding to their name by 12 months.

• Not showing interest in objects by 14 months.

• Preferring to be alone.

• Getting upset by minor changes.

You cannot cause or treat autism with a vaccine. It’s almost purely genetic with some environmental factors.

Facts to know about autism

• Autism spectrum disorder affects all nationalities, religion, race and sex. Don’t assume someone isn’t autistic because of those factors.

• There currently is no medical detection or cure for ASD.

• Medical conditions associated with ASD include allergies, asthma, seizures, sleeping disorders, feeding disorders and more. However, not all people with medical disorders have autism.

• It’s widely speculated that Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Andy Warhol and Bill Gates are on the autism spectrum.

You can’t just look at someone and know if they have autism. If someone tells you they are diagnosed with autism by a professional, don’t assume they’re faking it. If you meet someone medically diagnosed with ASD, show them some sympathy. We hope this helped you learn more about ASD!