Autism is a type of learning and social disability where individuals have difficulties in three specific areas of development, known as the ‘Triad of Impairments’ (National Autistic Society, 2010):

Social Interaction

Individuals with autism will find it difficult to interact with others socially, usually preferring to spend time by themselves. They may struggle to understand the social importance of ‘small talk’ and may have difficulty choosing appropriate topics of conversation. They may also take conversation very literally, missing the subtleties of figurative language such as irony, sarcasm and idioms.

Social Communication

Individuals with autism will also have difficulty understanding facial expression, body language and gesture. They may struggle to make eye-contact and express themselves when talking about their feelings. They may be ‘stuck’ on favourite topics of conversation and may be very reluctant to discuss anything else. They may use inappropriate language and not realise why it is not appropriate – and as a result they may have anxiety about talking.

Social Imagination

This involves rigidity and repetitive behaviours – individuals with autism often have their favourite objects, toys and topics of conversation. Moving away from these can be very distressing for the individual. This obsession with routine can make the practicalities of everyday life very difficult as it is not always possible to plan for the unexpected (NAS, 2010).

Some individuals are mildly affected and can be described as ‘high-functioning’.  Others are more severely affected and require considerable support in day-to-day life.

 Adults in the UK currently receive a diagnosis of autism after assessment from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, usually after referral from their GP.

Assessment can often be a long process and involves careful observation of the individual’s behaviours, specifically looking for difficulties with the aforementioned interaction, communication and imagination.

The National Autistic Society emphasises that it is not possible to test for autism by a simple blood test. Individuals with autism are a heterogeneous population – signs, symptoms and severity of the condition will vary hugely from person to person, despite the shared diagnosis. Although scientists are discovering more about autism every day, it is still not clear why it occurs.

This makes the possibility of using brain scans for diagnosis of adults very intriguing. The researchers are suggesting that instead of making behavioural observations to assess autism, they are able to identify biological ‘markers’ in the brain via a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan (MRI). They are also stating that the scan has a 90%+ rate of accuracy. Although it is still in the early stages of research, it is a promising line of study for the future.

Although many people feel that having a diagnosis or ‘label’ can act as a social stigma, many also feel that it can help the individual gain access to local support from statutory services and improve their quality of life.

Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London – http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/

National Autistic Society – http://www.autism.org.uk/About-autism/All-about-diagnosis/Diagnosis-the-process-for-adults.aspx

Sarah Bennington – August 2010

Written on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services. ITS is a private Speech and Language Therapy service based in Leicestershire and the East Midlands. It specialises in providing highly-skilled Speech and Language Therapists, but also associates with other therapeutic professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists and Arts Therapists