Guide to Autism

Does my child have autism?

Do you think that your child is autistic? Can adults develop autism? What are the signs of autism? How is autism diagnosed? How do you live with autism?

These are some of the many questions people ask about autism which are answered in this comprehensive guide.

What is autism?

It is a developmental disorder which affects around half a million people in the UK and includes both adults and children. It touches the lives of both the sufferers and their families and can be a complex condition to understand.

A guide for the parents of an autistic child

This complete guide to autism is designed to answer any questions you may have about autism: whether you are the parent of an autistic child or suspect that your child has some form of autism. It contains information and advice which is designed to help you gain a greater understanding about this condition and how it affects both you and your family.

A guide for adults with autism

We have not forgotten adults in this guide: there are people who are diagnosed with autism later on in life and have gone through life, up until now, totally unaware that they have autistic spectrum disorder.

This guide contains help, advice and support for them. If you are an adult who has recently been diagnosed with autism then we hope this guide will help you learn more about your condition and how it is managed on a day to day basis.

The information contained in this guide is presented in an objective and sympathetic manner. It is designed to accompany any information you have been given by your GP and/or behavioural support team/psychologist.

Structured, informative guide to autism

This guide is designed to educate and inform you and your family about the causes, signs and treatment of autism.

It is arranged as follows:

• What is autism?
• Facts and figures about autism
• Causes of autism
• Symptoms of autism
• Diagnosing autism
• Treatment for autism
• Living with autism
• Autism FAQs
• Glossary

Visit any of these to find out more about this lifelong developmental disorder.

Learning to live with autism

There is no cure for autism at present. Research is continuing into the causes of this complex disorder which suggests that there may be a genetic link, i.e. an ’autism gene’. Another theory is that autism is caused by any number of physical factors.

But even though there is no cure there are methods or ’interventions’which enable autistic people to deal with their condition and function as part of society.

A person with autism finds it difficult to interact socially with others or to understand the world around them. They are often highly intelligent and creative but are unable to cope with the minutiae of life that we all appear to do so with ease.

This guide has information about a range of interventions and support services which are designed to help them make sense of the world around them and interact with other people.

Learn more about autism….