Drogheda

Autism is a disability that affects the normal development of the brain, in areas of social interaction and communication.  The first signs of autism usually appear as developmental delays before age three.

Every person with autism is different however there are some common characteristics of individuals with autism that may occur, including:

Communication
Speech and language develops slowly or not at all
Communicates with gestures instead of words
Short attention span

Social Interaction
Spends time alone rather than with others
Shows little interest in making friends
Less responsive to social clues such as eye contact or smiles

Play
Lack of spontaneous or imaginative play
Does not imitate others actions
May be very attached to certain objects or play with toys in unusual way

Behaviour
May be overactive or very passive
Throws tantrums for no apparent reason
May resist change in routines or environment

Sensory impairment
May be very sensitive in areas of sight sound touch feel or taste
May seem unaware of pain heat or cold

Associated problems
May have problems with toileting, sleeping and/or eating
Repetitive mannerism such as rocking, spinning, hand flapping or finger flicking

Autism is described as a “spectrum” disorder. This means that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations and can range from mild to severe. Two children both with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another and have varying skills

Autism is a serious developmental neurological disorder.  Latest figures suggest that it may affect 1 in 100 children.   Autism is marked by severe difficulties in communicating and forming relationships with people, in developing language and in using abstract concepts.  Characteristics include repetitive and limited patterns of behaviour and obsessive resistance to tiny changes in familiar surroundings.  Children with profound autism, without appropriate intervention often remain speechless, incontinent, self-mutilating and find it difficult to communicate with the rest of the world.  The effect on those around – parents, family and carers – is exhausting and often frightening.  Families endure huge levels of pain and stress – endless nights of sleep disruption, frequent physical damage to the home and the inability to go outside the child’s familiar surroundings because of the threat of severe tantrums, injury and the need for constant surveillance.  

Autism sets in during the early years.  It affects four times as many boys as girls. No one knows exactly what causes it.

The numbers being diagnosed are rising.  In a recent briefing, the UK National Autistic Society confirmed that it now affects 1 in 100 children in the UK and there is no reason to believe the figures in Ireland are any different.