ASD/Autism

Men are four times more likely to have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) than women, regardless of race or socioeconomic factors.  According to the CDC (Center Of Disease Control And Prevention), “ASD is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.” 

Some symptoms of ASD according to the CDC include: “delayed language skills, delayed movement skills, delayed cognitive or learning skills, hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior, epilepsy or seizure disorder, unusual eating and sleeping habits, gastrointestinal issues, unusual mood or emotional reactions and more.” 

Autism can also cause sensory issues. “A person with autism may experience difficulties interpreting and organising input from what they see, taste, touch, hear and smell,” according to autism tasmania.  “Sensory perceptions can become frightening or even painful and can lead to high anxiety and meltdowns.”

A person with ASD can be prone to having meltdowns, but there are ways to help reduce the severity of them. “Give them some time, it can take a while to recover from information or sensory overload,” according to www.autsim.org. “Calmly ask them (or a parent/friend) if they’re OK. Bear in mind, they’ll need more time to respond than you might expect. Make space - try to create a quiet, safe space as best you can. Ask people to move along and not to stare. Turn off loud music and turn down bright lights – whatever you can think of to reduce the information overload.” 

A person with ASD can a have some accommodations made for them. According to washington.edu these are some accommodations that can be beneficial to individuals with ASD:

• Clearly established and ordered routines 

• Warning and preparation when changes are anticipated 

• Planning and practicing of communication strategies and social routine 

• Earplugs or noise-canceling headsets in hallways or lunchroom 

• A quiet area where the student can take a time-out if necessary 

• Visual schedules and graphic organizers visual or written rather than auditory instructions 

• Computer use, especially word processing for writing 

• Note taker 

There are things a person should not do if someone with ASD is struggling according to www.App2vox.com: 

• Let them think that autism is bad

• Try to “cure” them

• Blame every problem on their autism

• Punish them for stimming or meltdowns

• Pretend they can't hear you talking about them

Autism is not curable, but it can be managed with these tools.

For more information visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html

https://www.washington.edu/doit/what-are-typical-challenges-and-accommodations-students-autism-spectrum-disorder

https://www.autismtas.org.au/about-autism/key-areas-of-difference/sensory-differences/#:~:text=A%20person%20with%20autism%20may,to%20high%20 anxiety%20and%20 meltdowns

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2021/autistic-people-find-it-harder-to-identify-anger

-in-facial-expressions-new-study#:~:text=expressions%20new%20study-,Autistic%20pe

ople%20find%20it%20harder%20to%20identify%20anger%20in%20facial,at%20the%2

0University%20of%20Birmingham.

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/meltdowns/all-audiences

https://app2vox.com/resources/what-not-to-do-with-an-autistic-child/