What is Autism?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference that influences how some people experience the world. It is a natural variation of the many ways human brains function.
In England alone, there are around 700,000 people with an autism diagnosis, each with a unique combination of strengths, challenges and characteristics. Some studies estimate there could actually be as many as 1.2 million autistic individuals with autism as many people have not been formally diagnosed, amounting to somewhere between 1-3% of the total population.
One in every 100 children has an autism diagnosis in the UK, of whom there are three times as many boys than girls. The average age of diagnosis in boys is also around 2 years younger than in girls. Differences in the way autism presents between genders are thought to account for these differences in diagnosis. For example, girls and women tend to engage more in "masking" (suppressing or hiding their autistic traits to blend in socially), which can make traits less visible therefore hindering or delaying diagnosis.
Our understanding of autism continues to evolve in line with developments in research. It is clear that autistic people are all different from each other, however they may share some traits that they don’t share with non-autistic people:
The intensity of these traits varies from person to person. They can also vary for a single person at different points in time or in different situations.
Understanding the Autism Spectrum
Autism is often misunderstood as a straight line, with “mild” at one end and “severe” at the other:
In reality, autism is much more complex and it may be more helpful to think of it as a wheel made up of a range of strengths, differences and support needs:
An autistic person’s needs vary across different areas due to neurocognitive processes such as sensory processing, executive functioning, memory, social cognition and understanding the deeper meanings behind what people say, as illustrated in the wheel above. These processes play a significant role in how autistic individuals experience and perceive the world: one area of life, such as school work or routine tasks, may be easier to manage for some individuals, while other areas, like social interaction or emotional regulation, may require more support.
Common Questions and Concerns
Parenting a child with autism can be confusing and challenging, and full of uncertainty. Although our understanding of autism has improved significantly over the last 20 to 30 years, many parents understandably have a lot of questions and concerns about their child(ren). In this section, we address common questions Assembly parents have been asking us.
What causes autism?
Autism is primarily thought to be genetic and often runs in families. Although research is still trying to find the answer to this question, we do know that autism is not caused by parenting choices, nor is it linked to vaccines.
Is autism a mental health condition?
Autism is not a mental health condition or a learning disability, although it can co-occur with either. Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference meaning it is a lifelong difference in the way someone’s brain functions. There is often some confusion due to the involvement of services like CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in the diagnostic process. CAMHS primarily supports young people with mental health needs, however, many autistic children are referred to them because of associated difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, or emotional regulation.
How does my child get a diagnosis?
In the UK, the process of getting an autism diagnosis can vary depending on your child’s age and where you live, as different areas may have slightly different pathways. However, the overall process usually follows a similar structure.
Your child’s GP, health visitor, or school will be able to offer advice on the referral process and/or refer your child for an assessment. Depending on your child’s age this will be to the Paediatric Department/ Child Development Centre (for younger children), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or neurodevelopmental team (for older children and adolescents).
There is no single test for autism, the diagnosis is based on clinical judgement and considers the differences in social communication and interaction, sensory differences and restricted and repetitive behaviours exhibited by autistic young people. All assessments in the UK involve a multidisciplinary team which consists of a wide range of professionals such as a paediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, and/or speech and language therapist. Together they will consider your child's developmental history, information from home and school and their interactions with your child.
Waiting times can be very long in some areas (2 years or more), and this can understandably be frustrating. While diagnosis is often considered the key to unlocking access to support, there are an increasing number of private options that don’t require a diagnosis.
My child has ADHD - can they be autistic as well?
Yes, a child can have both ADHD and autism. In the past, ADHD and autism were thought to be mutually exclusive. Now there is a growing understanding that these conditions often overlap, and it’s common for children to be diagnosed with both. Because they can affect different areas of development - like attention, communication, and social interaction - it’s important to take a holistic approach to support.
When these conditions are treated in isolation, important aspects of a child’s needs can be missed, leading to gaps in care and support - a more integrated understanding helps ensure they receive the right strategies and interventions across all areas of their life.
Will my child get better?
Autism is not an illness, so it is not something that can be ‘cured’. It is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference, but the way it affects your child and their emotional wellbeing may change over time.
As children grow, particularly during adolescence, new challenges often arise. Hormonal, social, and emotional changes during this stage can sometimes intensify autistic traits or make co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, or depression more noticeable.
In adulthood, some autistic individuals may appear to have fewer or less noticeable traits. This doesn’t mean they’ve “been cured”, but rather that they’ve developed strategies to manage challenging situations. However, this doesn’t eliminate their differences - it simply means their needs might look different over time.
Does my child understand emotions?
It is often reported that autistic people don’t experience emotions or lack empathy, but this isn’t true. Many autistic children feel emotions deeply and care about others, but they may express their feelings in ways that are different from societal norms. Some children may be overly sensitive to emotions and may withdraw, ‘tune out’, or cut off to stop themselves picking up other people’s emotions and feeling overwhelmed.
Autistic children might also struggle to recognise or label emotions - both in themselves and others - which can make it seem like they don’t understand how someone is feeling.
Some children also find it difficult to read non-verbal cues like facial expressions, body language, or tone of voice, which can make social situations harder to navigate. But with support they can learn to understand and express emotions in their own way. Visual aids, co-regulation strategies, and consistent routines can all help your child develop emotional awareness and regulation skills.
It's important to remember that empathy doesn’t always look the same from person to person. Autistic children may show they care through actions, problem-solving, or simply by being present. Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Supporting Your Autistic Child
All children face challenges at various stages of their development, however, an autistic child is more likely to encounter additional challenges in their daily lives due to living in a world designed by and for non-autistic people. They may feel like they don’t fit in, or belong, and this can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and mental health as well as on other members of the family. However, for every challenge, there are options for supportive interventions, meaning despite there not being a “cure”, significant progress is entirely possible. For example, with targeted support in areas such as sensory, speech and language support, emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, autistic children can acquire new skills as well as strengthen existing ones. This is because of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s capacity to adapt and rewire. Neuroplasticity diminishes with age, however, so earlier intervention often results in better outcomes.
Sources:
https://www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/population-health/improving-the-health-of-specific-groups/autism-spectrum-disorder
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/under-diagnosis-of-autism-in-england
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Loomes, R., Hull, L., & Mandy, W. P. L. (2017). What Is the Male-to-Female Ratio in Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(6), 466–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2017.03.013
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, April 19). Vaccines do not cause autism. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/autism.html