In order to help the fight against stigma surrounding autism, it's important to understand and learn about autism. What better place to start than learning about what autism it! Here we will discuss some common questions about autism and debunk some myths.
What Autism Is
Autism is a brain based condition that allows autistic people to think differently to neurotypical people. In the past, autism was defined as a linear spectrum, with high and low functions. However, we now understand that autism varies from person to person, with differing levels of:
sensory sensitivities- whether they are hypo- & hyper- sensitive or both!
communication skills
perception- how they interpret the world or what is being said.
repetition- whether for fun or out our anxiety.
emotional regulation- control over the emotional state.
executive function- cognitive process that allow us to plan, focus, remember, and multi-task.
and more!
The Cause of Autism
The cause of autism is not yet known. However, scientist believe a probable cause might be genetics, passed down through families.
Misinformation can be spread about the cause of autism, which can make people scared. So, it is important to note that the cause of autism is NOT due to:
bad parenting
vaccines
diet
an infection you can spread to other people
Diagnosing Autism
There are two ways autism can be diagnosed. One is through speaking to a professional to get an autism diagnosis (through either the NHS or Private) and the other is through self-diagnosis. Both of these forms of diagnosis are valid and have their own benefits which will be discussed below.
Professional Diagnosis
Diagnosing autism usually involves speaking to a professional, whether this is a doctor, a paediatrician, or a special educational needs teacher. They can then let you know if it is best to get a further autism assessment test which is done by autism specialists.
The autism assessment test will go into more detail to decide if you or your child is autistic. They may:
ask problems you or your child are having
watch how you or your child interact with other people
speak to people who know you or your child well, such as family, friends, your GP or your child's teachers
At the end of the assessment, you'll be given a report saying if you or your child are autistic
(NHS, 2019).
If you are a parent, a diagnosis can help you understand your child better. A diagnosis means you can start providing better support for your child and understand what they truly need. It also means you can get more support, both from schools and financially.
If you are an adult, a diagnosis will help you understand who you are and why you might struggle in some areas which come easier to others. It also means you can get educational and financial support.
Self-Diagnosis
Self-diagnosis is another way to figure out if your are autistic or not. A genuine self-diagnosis is done by an individual who wants to understand themselves better. They will thoroughly research autism and look at their own life and behaviour to see if there are any comparisons. They may also take an online autism test to get an understanding if they are autistic or not. Click here for a recommended test (NHS) to see if you may have autism.
A common misconception can be that someone who is self-diagnosed has not properly researched autism and therefore cannot be autistic. Whilst there may be some who do not do the proper research, there will still be many who do. So this can be hurtful, especially when there are several reasons why someone may choose to take the self-diagnosis route, such as:
The very long wait times to get a professional diagnosis through the NHS.
The criteria in a professional assessment can be flawed with stereotypes and a bias towards white boys. This can leave many feeling overlooked, especially girls & women.
The pressure and fear of going to the doctors and through this process can be daunting to some.
Autistic people who choose to stick with a self-diagnosis tend to understand that, unfortunately, it may be tougher to access formal resources and help. However, there are some amazing neurodivergent communities out there who are very helpful and welcoming, whether you are professionally or self-diagnosed.