AutismA 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

hyperlexiaLIFELONG

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

on 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,

often 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-

occurring

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.

Meltdownsand

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

oppositional 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

overwhelming

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

of 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

overcome the challenges

they face, recognised for

all their positive traits, and

accepted for who they are!

About the AuthorMrs 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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

H2AU.THESTUFFOFOURLIFE@GMAIL.COM

H2AU.WORDPRESS.COM

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/H2AU.THESTUFFOFOURLIFE

WWW.TWITTER.COM/H2AUSTUFFOFLIFE