Autism A Brief Overview H2AU.THESTUFFOFOURLIFE
About this • This presentation highlights some traits that some people on the autism spectrum may experience. Presentation • The slides are based on a festive advent calendar run on the blog H2Au.thestuffofourlife that originally went viral in 2017. • It has been viewed by more than 20 million people.
• This presentation deliberately uses Identity First Language as Identity preferred by many adults on the spectrum. First Language The language we use is important because it embodies and can therefore help change attitudes towards autism. To reflect the findings of [this] research, the National Autistic Society has begun to gradually increase the use of the term 'autistic’. https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/describing.aspx
What is Autism is; • a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person Autism? communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them. • characterised by difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. • a neurological difference rather than an a disease/illness – a ‘diffability’! • a spectrum rather than a linear scale.
LITERAL LIFELONG hyperlexia AUTISM Trust NON VERBAL Explicit Empathy Instructions
• Autism is a neurological difference meaning it is integral to the person and can not be ‘cured’ or ‘outgrown’. Lifelong • Everyone on the autism spectrum is unique and no two people will experience autism in exactly the same way. • Latest research suggests that the ratio of males to females on the autism spectrum is 2.5:1, meaning many more girls and women are on the spectrum than previously thought and many people remain misdiagnosed and undiagnosed. • Early intervention and ongoing support is key.
• Many autistic people have a pathological fear of making mistakes, Fear of often being called a ‘perfectionist’. • This fear can cause ‘perfection paralysis’ which can prevent many Making autistic people from even trying something they think they may not be able to do perfectly. Mistakes Working on a growth mindset can help.
Social • Many autistic people have a preference for one -to-one social interactions and often have single close friendships. Interactions • Many autistic people are very sociable – this is commonly misunderstood, and many girls in particular, are overlooked for diagnosis due to being ‘too sociable’. • Contrary to popular belief, many autistic people are able to make eye contact.
Social • Many autistic people often require time alone to recover from Breaks socialising – these are called social breaks. • Without a social break they can experience a ‘social hangover’ which can be debilitating and take hours or even days to recover from. • Many autistic people enjoy solitude.
• Many autistic people have sleep di sorders, have trouble sleeping, or manage on comparatively little sleep. Sleep Autistic people often don’t Difficulties produce [enough of] the sleep hormone melatonin, which can be the root of their struggles. Other causes include anxiety & sensory issues.
• Autistic people can exp erience many different co-occurring conditions. Co- occurring Common examples include; Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), ADD/ADHD, Epilepsy, Conditions Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, and Mental Health conditions like Anxiety/OCD.
• Some autistic people are hyperlexic. Hyperlexia • In simple terms this is a precocious ability to read beyond their years, often self taught and usually with impaired comprehension. Often accompanied by a fascination with letters, numbers, maps or visual patterns.
• Many autistic people imitate their social environment. They often imitate so well that it serves to disguise their social struggles – this is masking. • This can cause many people to go undiagnosed and therefore Masking unsupported. Masking is usually involuntary and difficult to stop.
• Autistic people often r eact to stress triggers with meltdowns or shutdowns. Both are involuntary reactions and a sign they are in crisis. They are not being naughty. It is not a tantrum. Meltdowns • They are not receptive to any input during meltdown/shutdown and any further input will exacerbate the crisis. and Shutdowns Time, space, reassurance and quiet allows us to recover.
• Many autistic people stim. Stimming is short for self-stimulatory behaviours. • These are physical, verbal or mental repetitive behaviours which serve an important function and should not be stopped. They often Stimming serve to calm, soothe, or even energise. Sensory tools can be helpful. If a stim is harmful, finding an alternative behaviour is advised.
• Some autistic people experience Selective Mutism which is an Selective involuntary inability to speak in certain situations, despite typically being able to speak. Mutism • This is a social anxiety disorder and is often described by sufferers as a ‘paralysis’ brought on by ‘terror’/fear/anxiety. • It is not shyness or refusal.
• Some autistic people are non verbal. This means that their spoken communication is very limited. Non • They often use alternative means to communicate e.g. sign Verbal language, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), or a device as their voice. • They might only communicate by ‘scripting’. Scripting is quoting phrases from books/films/TV programmes or stock phrases from typical conversation. This can also be a form of stimming. • Being non verbal is not an indication of intellectual ability.
• Autistic people are usually very trusting and often naïve. Trust • This can make them vulnerable. Safeguards are really important.
• Some autistic people are demand avoidant. Placing a demand on them causes disproportionate anxiety and sometimes even anger. This is an involuntary reaction. Adjustments include indirect demands, choices, humour. Demand • Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a type of autism Avoidance characterised by extremely high levels of anxiety. In PDA, the avoidance of, and refusal to comply with, everyday demands is driven by high anxiety. It is not caused by an inherent desire to be oppositional and gain attention. www.stephstwogirls.co.uk
• Many autistic people are very empathetic, often to the extreme. Empathy • They often find injustice insufferable as a result. Emotions can be overwhelming and confusing.
• Most autistic people are very literal. They are also often rule driven. • Metaphors, sarcasm, and figures of speech can cause confusion. Literal • They often fail to recognise the difference between a joke and something serious.
• Cognitive Rigidity (difficulty changing mental sets) is a core feature of autism. • Many autistic people are resolute once their minds are made up – known as ‘stubborn as a mule’. Rigidity • They need time to adjust to a new way of thinking about something. Countdowns, warnings and visual reminders can help.
• Many autistic people exhibit echolalia. Echolalia is the repetition of phrases, words, or sounds. Echolalia • It can be immediate, delayed, functional, or non functional. Echolalia can be a stim or a sign of anxiety.
• Many autistic people are very affectionate. They may not be tactile though, so may refuse cuddles/touch unless initiated by themselves. They may also fail to seek physical comfort even when hurt. Affection • Conversely they may be very tactile and fail to recognise social boundaries regarding showing affection. Always ask before touching someone on the spectrum.
• Many autistic people require explicit instructions or explanations regarding what is expected of them. Breaking tasks down to small steps helps. Explicit Instructions ‘Reading between the lines’ and picking up on social cues is not easy.
• Autistic people require time. • Time to process, to interpret, to answer, to plan, to react, to think, Time to understand, to switch (mindset/task), to adjust and to recover. Being patient helps!
Most of all, autistic people need to be supported to overcome the challenges they face, recognised for all their positive traits, and Acceptance accepted for who they are!
About the Author Mrs H is mum to two amazing girls on the spectrum. She writes about autism and their family’s experiences at h2au.wordpress.com, on Facebook and Twitter. She ’s had arti cles published internationally, has appeared on the radio and is available to speak at events. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT H2AU.THESTUFFOFOURLIFE@GMAIL.COM H2AU.WORDPRESS.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/H2AU.THESTUFFOFOURLIFE WWW.TWITTER.COM/H2AUSTUFFOFLIFE
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