Patient Journey - Identifying Autism
What is Autism?
Autism, or clinically referred to as “Autism Spectrum Disorder” (ASD), is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. Children with autism have a spectrum of impairments in social interaction, communication and imagination. They are also likely to have stereotypic or ritualistic behaviour and sensory difficulties. Whilst many children with autism have learning difficulties and intellectual challenges, there is also a proportion with normal or exceptional cognitive abilities.
Areas of Impairment
Social Communication and Social Interaction
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1. Difficulties with Social interactions
(e.g. Sharing toys, interests, having conversations with others) -
2. Difficulties using non-verbal behaviours to communicate with others
(e.g. eye contact, gestures) -
3. Difficulties understanding social situations and forming relationships
(e.g. with friends and colleagues)
Restricted, Repetitive Behaviours
(at least 2 out of 4)
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1. Unusual and repetitive speech, motor movements or use of objects
(e.g. echoing/parroting, hand flapping, lining things) - 2. Insistence on following rules/routines, often doing or saying things in the same manner or difficulties with changes
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3. Very strong interest in specific topics or objects
(e.g. cars, planets, lifts) -
4. Over- or under-sensitive senses
(e.g. to sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, movement)
Identifying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is another lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.
They would fall under 2 different categorization of behaviours.
Areas of Impairment
For symptoms with inattention, nine associated behaviours are described:
- Neglecting to pay attention to details or making casual errors in schoolwork, job, or other activities
- Maintaining focus in tasks or leisure activities
- When spoken to directly, he seems unwilling to listen.
- Ignoring directions and neglecting to complete schoolwork, housework, or workplace tasks (not due to oppositional behavior or a lack to grasp instructions)
- difficulty organizing tasks and activities
- avoiding, disliking, or being reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)
- losing things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
- being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
For the symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity, the following behaviours are described:
- fidgeting with hands or feet or squirming in seat
- leaving their seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
- running around or climbing excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
- difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
- being ‘on the go’ or often acting as if ‘driven by a motor’
- talking excessively
- blurting out answers before questions have been completed
- difficulty awaiting turn
- interrupting or intruding on others (e.g., butting into conversations or games)
