What is Autism?

Diagnosing Autism

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, impacting two key areas as described below. It is important to note that people diagnosed with autism vary considerably in presentation and functioning and some people’s difficulties may appear subtly while having a significant impact on their everyday functioning.

1) Autism involves difficulties with social communication and social interaction skills. This means that a person with autism may have difficulties reciprocating in conversations and social interactions, engaging in nonverbal behaviours (e.g., eye contact, gestures), and developing, maintaining and understanding relationships.

2) People with autism may also demonstrate restrictive, repetitive patterns of behaviours, interests, or activities. This might include insistence on sameness (e.g., rigid, black-and-white thinking, difficulties with change) or engaging in behaviours that may be perceived as unusual. Sometimes, a person with autism might also show intense focus for objects or interests and possess sensory sensitivities (e.g., hyper- or hypo-sensitive to sights, smells, touch, tastes, and sounds).

Autism Strenghts

People with autism also possess many strengths and assets that enable them to thrive and make outstanding contributions to society, including: 

• Learning to read at a very early age (known as hyperlexia)
• Memorising and learning information quickly
• Thinking and learning in a visual way
• Logical thinking ability
• Self-motivated, independent learners
• Being precise and detail orientated
• Being honest and reliable
• Some people may show a strong aptitude for a particular field of study or topic
• Being dependable in regards to schedules and routines
• Tendency to be unconventional, open-minded, and tolerant
• Strong adherence to rules
• A drive for perfection and order
• Ability/preference for spending time alone
• Detail-oriented
• Propensity to think outside the box and generate novel solutions to problems
• Unique humour
• Advocate when made aware of injustice
• Propensity to express caring in non-traditional ways
• Desire to connect – are a good friend
• And so many more…

Autism Services at EBTC

If you are interested in exploring Autism assessment or therapy, please call us on 091 727777 or contact us here