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What is autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterised by differences in social relating, communication styles and sensory processing. Autism is a “spectrum” condition meaning that every Autistic person is unique with the specific nature and extent of Autistic characteristics varying greatly from one person to another. At least 1 in 40 people are on the autism spectrum with more boys than girls (at a ratio of about 3 or 4 to 1) currently diagnosed with autism. In terms of causes, we know there is a strong genetic link to autism. We know this from twin studies and family studies e.g. if one identical twin is Autistic the likelihood that the other twin is Autistic is as high as 70 or 80%. We also know that a sibling of a child with autism is 9 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than a sibling of a non-Autistic child. We also know that genetics are not the only cause although the environmental factors are not well understood. We do know for certain that vaccines and parenting are not causes of autism.

Neurodiversity paradigm

Neurodiversity refers to the concept that variations in the human brain and cognition –such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences – are natural and valuable forms of diversity rather than deficits or disorders. It embraces the idea that there is no "normal" way for brains to function and that these differences should be recognised and respected as part of the broader spectrum of human experience.

The social model of disability aligns with neurodiversity by suggesting that people are disabled not by their neurological differences, but by societal barriers and attitudes that fail to accommodate these differences. According to this model, the focus should be on creating inclusive environments that reduce these barriers, enabling neurodivergent individuals to participate fully in society. This perspective shifts the responsibility from the individual to the broader society, emphasising the need for acceptance, accommodation, and support rather than attempting to "fix" or change the individual.

Until recently, the social difficulties Autistic people face were seen as stemming solely from their "Autistic" traits, leading to approaches that aimed to make them behave more like non-Autistic people – such as making eye contact or conforming to typical conversational norms. However, newer perspectives, like Dr Damian Milton's double empathy problem, suggest that these difficulties arise from differences in how Autistic and non-Autistic people experience and communicate with the world. This theory posits that both groups lack social insight into each other's ways of interacting, leading to misunderstandings. Since Autistic people are in the minority, they often bear the brunt of these communication mismatches, which can result in them camouflaging or masking their traits to fit in with non-Autistic norms.

Diagnosis of autism

To receive a formal diagnosis there must be evidence of difficulties/differences in two categories or domains: "Social Communication/Social Interaction" and “Restricted and repetitive interests, activities and behaviours.” These difficulties must have been present since early childhood and result in challenges for the person in their day-to-day functioning. When a person is diagnosed with autism the clinician usually assigns a severity level. This is based on the amount of support the person requires in each of the two domains. Terms like "mild" or "high functioning" autism are descriptive rather than diagnostic and lack specific definitions. These labels can be dismissive and fail to accurately represent an individual’s needs. Functioning labels can lead to misconceptions – some may not receive the support they need, while others may be underestimated. Since functioning can vary, it's more accurate to refer to each person’s unique support needs rather than using broad labels.

Characteristics of autism

Social differences
  • Discomfort in busy complex social situations
  • May be more comfortable socialising through technology such as video conferencing or online chats and games
  • Difficulties understanding how non-Autistic people think in some situations (just as non-Autistic people have difficulty understanding Autistic people)
  • Might prefer to play alone or alongside others
  • May find it hard to form and/or maintain friendships

Communication differences
  • Communicate honestly and directly
  • Take extra time to understand spoken information
  • A dislike of, or difficulty engaging in, small talk, sarcasm or humour
  • Repeat words or phrases in a way that can seem unusual or out of context
  • Have difficulty reading or using non-verbal forms of communication such as gestures, facial expression or eye contact

Watch a video of Autistic young people explain autism and communication in their own words.

Sensory differences
  • Heightened awareness of some sensations (e.g. sounds, smells, tastes, touch etc)
  • Feeling distressed or overwhelmed by sensory stimuli (e.g. loud noises, feel of certain fabrics, haircuts, bright lights etc)
  • Working hard to avoid distress by covering ears, hiding in quiet places, to block out or cope with sensations; may repeat body movements (like hand flapping) when stressed
  • Seeking sensory experiences such as flicking fingers in front of eyes, running hands along certain textures, sniffing objects
  • Less aware of internal sensations like hunger or pain
  • Repeating movements such as flapping hands or pacing around to show excitement or to help cope with stress (stimming)

Watch a video of Autistic young people explaining stimming in their own words.

Strengths and interests
  • Areas of strength vary but can include logical or visual thinking, persistence, eye for detail, good skills with technology, memory for facts and figures
  • Autistic people often display character strengths such as honesty, loyalty, reliability, fairness and kindness
  • Very strong focus and deep interest in specific topics or activities
  • Many Autistic people have relative strengths or above average skills in one or more areas such as reading, maths, art, mechanics, music and memory

Autism in women and girls

There are gender differences in how autism presents. Autistic women and girls may:

  • be more likely than men and boys to “mask” or “hide their autism” in order to fit in and use strategies to "blend" socially such as observing others and initiating, using social scripts and roleplaying
  • engage in more “people pleasing” and be more compliant
  • have higher levels of social interest but difficulties with the subtleties of managing relationships e.g. resolving conflict
  • be overly dependent on 1:1 friendships and can be possessive of friends
  • be particularly sensitive to negative emotions of others
  • not conform to gender roles (e.g. ultra-feminine or tomboy)
  • have interests that are similar to same-aged peers
  • be more likely to engage in imaginative play compared to males.

Read more about autism in women and girls.

This TED talk by Kate Kahle talks about the unique way that autism can present in women and girls, her experience of masking, being diagnosed as a teenager and how this helped her to better understand herself:

Co-occurring conditions

Co-occurring conditions are common among Autistic people:

  • About 30% of Autistic people also have an intellectual disability.
  • Many Autistic people have expressive and receptive language delays. Some Autistic people are non-verbal or minimally verbal and rely on alternative communication methods, including sign language, the use of pictures or symbols on devices like iPads, or other forms of alternative communication.
  • ADHD is common among Autistic people.
  • Up to 80% of Autistic people will be diagnosed with a mental health condition during their lifetime. Common co-occurring mental health conditions include anxiety, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Read more about autism and mental health.

Additional resources

Read a more detailed description of autism written by Ainslie Robinson, Aspect's Senior Working in Partnership Officer: Introduction to autism

Read more on autism from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective: Reframing Autism – About autism

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