Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism is a condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, interacts with others, and experiences their environment. It is estimated that 1 in 70 people are on the autism spectrum.

Autism is one of the conditions that come under the umbrella term ‘neurodiversity’.

Neurodiversity means that some people’s brains handle information differently from others. This leads to differences in the way that people learn, manage their emotions and get along with others.

ASD begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.