What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
ASD is a genetically-based human neurological variant. This is known as neurodivergence.
Researchers have confirmed that ASD is caused by different 'wiring' in our brains. Because our brain connections are different, we think, behave, react and see the world differently.
There are three known levels of ability of ASD. These levels are also known as;
Level 1- High Functioning, independent
Level 2 - Independent but needing support
Level 3 - Low Functioning, unable to live independently,
Diagnosis is based on three fundamental issues.
Diagnosis must show two out of these three are present to a significant degree. There are also other traits which point in the same direction such as early or late development of speech. The full diagnostic assessment by a Clinical Psychologist/Psychiatrist who specialises in ASD, may take around 10 hours.
There may be other co-morbidities such as anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar (Manic depression), dyslexia, dyspraxia, selective mutism.
Because we don't have visible disabilities, it seems to be much harder for people to tolerate and consider the difficulties we experience.
ASD is recognised as a disability under the United Nations Charter on disability.
Researchers have confirmed that ASD is caused by different 'wiring' in our brains. Because our brain connections are different, we think, behave, react and see the world differently.
There are three known levels of ability of ASD. These levels are also known as;
Level 1- High Functioning, independent
Level 2 - Independent but needing support
Level 3 - Low Functioning, unable to live independently,
Diagnosis is based on three fundamental issues.
- Difficulty with social skills which we do not develop naturally. We need to learn them by being taught or by observation.
- Sensory problems- Too loud, too bright, too fast, too tight. This may manifest in what we call a melt down or shut down.
- Executive function- this is a general umbrella term for various cognitive functions, most notably those related to planning, impulse control, working memory, and for monitoring action. Executive disfunction, by contrast, is a term used to describe cases where executive functioning of the individual seems to have broken down in some sense, leading to impaired functioning in day to day life.
Diagnosis must show two out of these three are present to a significant degree. There are also other traits which point in the same direction such as early or late development of speech. The full diagnostic assessment by a Clinical Psychologist/Psychiatrist who specialises in ASD, may take around 10 hours.
There may be other co-morbidities such as anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar (Manic depression), dyslexia, dyspraxia, selective mutism.
Because we don't have visible disabilities, it seems to be much harder for people to tolerate and consider the difficulties we experience.
ASD is recognised as a disability under the United Nations Charter on disability.
