If you’re interested in finding out more about autism, or you think you or your child might show signs of autism, this guide can help. We take a look at how autism is defined, the main symptoms of autism, the causes and treatment of autism, as well as how it relates to Asperger’s syndrome. To find out more, and to gain support and advice from a community of fellow patients, carers and other experts, join Carecircle.

What is autism?

The medical name for autism is autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As the name implies, it’s actually a spectrum of conditions, with widely varying symptoms and widely varying impacts on a person’s life. People with severe ASD may have difficulty with speaking or movement, whereas people with mild ASD might not even realise they have the condition until they receive a diagnosis as an adult.

People with ASD tend to think differently from the majority of the population, or ‘neurotypical’ people. For example, they might think in very literal terms, or experience extreme sensitivity to certain sounds or smells. Some members of the ASD community use the concept of ‘neurodiversity’ to describe the condition, seeing it as less as a disability and more as a different way of experiencing the world.

What are the symptoms of autism?

According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) – the recognised manual used by psychologists to diagnose conditions – there are seven main symptoms of autism. These are divided into two categories: persistent deficits in social communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour. These are summarised below, but you can find the full definition [here](https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html).

Persistent deficits in social communication:

• Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, such as failing to initiate or respond to social interactions.
• Deficits in non-verbal communicative behaviours, such as abnormalities in eye contact and body language.
• Deficits in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships, such as difficulties in understanding imaginative play.

Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour:

• Repetitive movements, use of objects and speech, such as lining up toys.
• Insistence on sameness and adherence to routines, such that any small changes can lead to distress.
• Restricted and fixated interests of abnormal intensity.
• Extreme reaction or lack of reaction to sensory inputs, such as a fascination with certain smells or indifference to pain or temperature.

Signs of autism

Less severe forms of ASD can sometimes be difficult to recognise – and even if a person displays one or two symptoms, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they have ASD. If you’re concerned that you or your child shows signs of autism, ask your doctor for advice.

Signs of autism in adults

Autism is a lifelong condition: in other words, you cannot spontaneously develop autism as an adult. However, many people receive a diagnosis of ASD late in life, after their ASD symptoms were missed or dismissed during childhood. It can be revelatory for people who may have simply been labelled as ‘quiet’ or ‘weird’ as a child to discover that they experience the world differently from the majority of the population.

Signs of autism in adults include (but are not limited to):

• Difficulty in understanding what others are thinking or feeling
• Social anxiety
• Difficulty in making or keeping friends
• Being blunt with others without realising
• Difficulty in communicating emotions
• Taking things literally
• Sticking rigidly to the same routine

Signs of autism in women and girls

Roughly three times more men are diagnosed with autism compared with women, and sometimes the ratio is even higher. However, there are concerns that ASD is underdiagnosed in women and girls, since often they tend to be better at controlling their behaviour or copying the social habits of others (‘masking’).

Signs of autism in women and girls include (but are not limited to):

• Reliance on others to speak for them
• Passionate and restricted interests
• Shyness and difficulty making friends
• Difficulty in moderating feelings
• Unusual sensitivity to certain sensory inputs, such as food or noises

Signs of autism in toddlers

It is very difficult to detect signs of autism in babies, but some signs may begin to emerge after around 12-18 months, when the child begins to walk and talk.

Signs of autism in toddlers include (but are not limited to):

• Not recognising their own name
• Avoidance of eye contact
• Limited talking
• Repetition of certain phrases
• Repetitive movements
• Not smiling in response to an adult smiling

Types of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Autism was once divided into four separate types: ASD, Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. But since the publication of DSM-5 in 2013, these have been abandoned in favour of perceiving autism as a spectrum with three levels of severity, where level 3 is the most severe.

ASD Level 1: Requiring support

People who were once diagnosed with ‘high-functioning autism’ or Asperger’s syndrome would fall into this category. Some of the issues that people with ASD level 1 may have include:

• Difficulty in initiating and negotiating social interactions
• Difficulty in making and keeping friends
• Rigid, inflexible behaviour

ASD Level 2: Requiring substantial support

People with ASD level 2 generally show more severe symptoms than those with ASD level 1, such as:

• Issues with verbal and non-verbal communication
• Difficulty in coping with change or switching focus
• Repetitive or restrictive behaviours that interfere with their life

ASD Level 3: Requiring very substantial support

ASD level 3 is the most severe category, and people in this group may face issues such as:

• Severe issues with both verbal and non-verbal communication
• Unresponsiveness to social interaction from others
• Extreme difficulty in coping with change

Autism vs Asperger’s syndrome

Until 2013, Asperger’s syndrome was classified as a separate disorder from ASD, but now it is recognised as part of the same spectrum. ASD affects individuals to varying degrees and with wildly different symptoms in different individuals, and those who would previously be diagnosed with Asperger’s are now recognised as coming under ASD level 1. Generally, people in this group can speak clearly and fluently, but might have difficulty in initiating and maintaining social connections, among other symptoms.

What causes autism?

Many theories have been put forward to explain what causes autism, but currently there is no single known cause. The genetics of individuals could play a part, including both inherited and spontaneous genetic mutations, and environmental factors could also be involved. However, we do know that vaccines aren’t linked to ASD, despite many unfounded claims – no reliable study has ever found a link between autism and vaccines.

How do you diagnose autism?

If you think that you or your child might show signs of autism, the first step is to speak to your doctor or other health professional. They can talk you through the symptoms, and can then refer you or your child for an autism assessment with a specialist. Sometimes the waiting list for an autism assessment can be very long. The assessment itself usually takes the form of an extended interview, and the assessor may also speak to your family, friends or doctor.

What to do if you have autism

If you receive a diagnosis for autism, it may take some time to process the information. It can be comforting for many people, finally providing an explanation for why they have never felt like they fitted in. Other people may be shocked to discover that the majority of people think and experience life in a different way. It may take a while to come to terms with the diagnosis, and it’s important to seek support wherever you can.

What’s the treatment for autism?

There is no cure for autism, and treatments generally take the form of behavioural therapy. The key thing is to seek advice and support, particularly from other people with autism and parents of children with autism. You can seek help from local support groups, doctors, schools, national charities (such as the National Autistic Society in the UK) and social networks such as Carecircle, where you can talk with people undergoing the same experiences.

Autism FAQs

Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions relating to autism.

What does autism mean?

People with autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often have difficulty communicating with others and find it difficult to understand how other people think or feel. They might also have sensory issues and react strongly to changes in routine.

How to get an autism diagnosis?

The first step towards an autism diagnosis is to contact your doctor, who will then refer you for an autism assessment by a specialist.

What causes autism in children?

There is no known cause of autism, although there are theories that it might be linked with genetic or environmental factors. Studies have shown that there is no link between vaccines and autism.

Autism resources

Below is a list of some of the charities and other bodies who can provide support for people with ASD:

• National Autistic Society
• Autism Society
• Ambitious About Autism
• NHS Autism support groups

We hope that this guide has been useful if you or your child has been recently diagnosed with autism, or if you suspect you or someone close to you shows signs of autistic traits. Remember that autism is a very broad spectrum, and that symptoms can vary enormously between individuals – and just because someone shows a few symptoms, it doesn’t mean they have autism. If you’re concerned, speak with your doctor. And remember that there’s a whole community out there on Carecircle who can provide support.

Guide sources

• NHS Autism guide
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Autism Society: What is Autism?
• Scientific American: The Concept of Neurodiversity Is Dividing the Autism Community
• National Autistic Society: Autistic Women and Girls
• Child Mind Institute: Why Many Autistic Girls Are Overlooked
• Verywell Health: Symptoms of Autism in Girls
• HealthyChildren.org: What Are The Early Signs of Autism?
• Tony Attwood, The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2015)