The Autism Spectrum
Danny didn’t know he was on the autism spectrum until he was nearly done with high school. What he did know was that he had always felt different. Conversations between friends seemed to go so fast and he often wasn’t sure what to say or how to respond to someone. How did others keep up with it? Eye contact was also difficult to make. It felt like the adults in his life were always wanting him to stare right at them, but for Danny, that felt uncomfortable and unnatural to do. Thankfully, after a school counselor met with his parents and recommended looking into it, Danny was formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Now he’ll be able to better understand himself and receive the support he needs.
What is autism? Formerly referred to as Aspergers, the organization Autism Speaks defines autism as “a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication.” Symptoms of autism generally appear in the first two years of life, and the diagnosis is attributed to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Autism can present itself in a shockingly wide variety of ways. According to the Centers for Disease Control, current estimates place 1 out of every 44 children in the U.S. on the autism spectrum (Autism Speaks). Because the spectrum is so wide, there are both individuals with an autism diagnosis who are high functioning or hard to recognize as being autistic and others who are severely challenged and may need daily support in their lives. One person on the spectrum may not be able to make eye contact at all and use a lot of repetitive motions (called stimming) to calm themselves. Another person may only need to glance away from others’ faces from time to time and find understanding body language more difficult.
Some of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder can include difficulties in communicating, rarely sharing enjoyment of activities with others, speaking for long periods of time about a favorite topic without the awareness that others aren’t interested or being given a chance to speak, and making facial expressions that don’t match what they are saying (NIH). Other indications include having a unique tone of voice that is either flat and robot like or sing-songy, trouble predicting others’ feelings or actions, intense interest in certain topics, lack of flexibility with changes to a routine, and heightened or lessened sensitivity to things such as light, sounds, textures, or temperature (NIH).
There are many famous individuals through history who although never diagnosed are now believed to have probably been on the autism spectrum. These include Emily Dickinson, Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, Michelangelo, Mozart, Sir Isaac Newton, Nicola Tesla, and many more. Simply put, an autistic brain sees the world differently than non-autistic brains and that can be an incredible gift! If you think you or someone you know may be dealing with undiagnosed autism, please speak to an adult or a therapist you trust.
References:
Autism Spectrum Disorder. NIH. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd.
What is autism? Autism Speaks. Retrieved from https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.
Challenges/Points:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered to be present in 1 out of every 44 American children.
Signs of autism include difficulty making eye contact, communication challenges, fixed interests, and sensitivity to various sensory experiences.
The American Pediatric Association recommends that all children be screened for autism as it is believed to be highly under diagnosed.
Questions:
Were you familiar with autism before reading this article?
Do you know anyone who is on the autism spectrum?
What was one thing you learned about autism here that surprised you?
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