Autism A Brief Overview H2AU.THESTUFFOFOURLIFE About this This - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Autism

A Brief Overview

H2AU.THESTUFFOFOURLIFE

About this Presentation

• This presentation highlights some traits that some people on the

autism spectrum may experience.

• 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.

Identity First Language

• This presentation deliberately uses Identity First Language as

preferred by many adults on the spectrum. 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?

Autism is;

• a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person

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.

AUTISM

Explicit Instructions

hyperlexia LIFELONG Trust

NON VERBAL

Empathy

LITERAL

Lifelong

• Autism is a neurological difference meaning it is integral to the

person and can not be ‘cured’ or ‘outgrown’.

• 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

• n the spectrum than previously thought and many people remain

misdiagnosed and undiagnosed.

• Early intervention and ongoing support is key.

Fear of Making Mistakes

• Many autistic people have a pathological fear of making mistakes,
• ften being called a ‘perfectionist’.
• This fear can cause ‘perfection paralysis’ which can prevent many

autistic people from even trying something they think they may not be able to do perfectly. Working on a growth mindset can help.

Social Interactions

• Many autistic people have a preference for one-to-one social

interactions and often have single close friendships.

• 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 Breaks

• Many autistic people often require time alone to recover from

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.

Sleep Difficulties

• Many autistic people have sleep disorders, have trouble sleeping, or

manage on comparatively little sleep. Autistic people often don’t produce [enough of] the sleep hormone melatonin, which can be the root of their

• struggles. Other causes include

anxiety & sensory issues.

Co-

• ccurring

Conditions

• Autistic people can experience many different co-occurring

conditions. Common examples include; Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), ADD/ADHD, Epilepsy, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, and Mental Health conditions like Anxiety/OCD.

Hyperlexia

• Some autistic people are hyperlexic.
• 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.

Masking

• 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

unsupported. Masking is usually involuntary and difficult to stop.

Meltdowns and Shutdowns

• Autistic people often react 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.
• They are not receptive to any input during meltdown/shutdown and

any further input will exacerbate the crisis. Time, space, reassurance and quiet allows us to recover.

Stimming

• 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 serve to calm, soothe, or even energise. Sensory tools can be

• helpful. If a stim is

harmful, finding an alternative behaviour is advised.

Selective Mutism

• Some autistic people experience Selective Mutism which is an

involuntary inability to speak in certain situations, despite typically being able to speak.

• 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.

Non Verbal

• Some autistic people are non verbal. This means that their spoken

communication is very limited.

• They often use alternative means to communicate e.g. sign

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.

Trust

• Autistic people are usually very trusting and often naïve.
• This can make them vulnerable.

Safeguards are really important.

Demand Avoidance

• 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.

• Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a type of autism

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

• ppositional and gain attention.

www.stephstwogirls.co.uk

Empathy

• Many autistic people are very empathetic, often to the extreme.
• They often find injustice insufferable as a result.

Emotions can be

• verwhelming

and confusing.

Literal

• Most autistic people are very literal. They are also often rule driven.
• Metaphors, sarcasm, and figures of speech can cause confusion.
• They often fail to recognise the difference between a joke and

something serious.

Rigidity

• Cognitive Rigidity (difficulty changing mental sets) is a core feature
• f autism.
• Many autistic people are resolute once their minds are made up –

known as ‘stubborn as a mule’.

• They need time to adjust to a new way of thinking about something.

Countdowns, warnings and visual reminders can help.

Echolalia

• Many autistic people exhibit echolalia. Echolalia is the repetition of

phrases, words, or sounds.

• It can be immediate, delayed, functional, or non functional.

Echolalia can be a stim or a sign of anxiety.

Affection

• 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.

• Conversely they may be very tactile and fail to recognise social

boundaries regarding showing affection. Always ask before touching someone on the spectrum.

Explicit Instructions

• Many autistic people require explicit instructions or explanations

regarding what is expected of them. Breaking tasks down to small steps helps. ‘Reading between the lines’ and picking up on social cues is not easy.

Time

• Autistic people require time.
• Time to process, to interpret, to answer, to plan, to react, to think,

to understand, to switch (mindset/task), to adjust and to recover. Being patient helps!

Acceptance

Most of all, autistic people need to be supported to

• vercome the challenges

they face, recognised for all their positive traits, and 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 articles published internationally, has appeared on the radio and is available to speak at events.

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