Many people may experience difficulty fitting in in certain situations, find change hard to accept and not always find it easy understanding those around them. And many people may be especially interested in a particular subject for a time. If you have autism, your difficulties with social interaction are more challenging. And your interests may also be much more refined and specialized.
Autism is a congenital neurodevelopmental disorder (often abbreviated ND or NDD) and means that you function in a different way to what most people expect. It’s not a disease, but it can cause you various types of difficulties in daily life. The difficulties experienced and how they manifest themselves may vary over time. They can also vary depending on the situation. Major life events like becoming a parent, going through menopause, retiring or losing a loved one can worsen your difficulties. Not everyone with autism experiences the same difficulties. The autism spectrum is broad and can vary greatly from person to person. The way you perceive the world and solve problems, as well as your intellectual capacity, also come into play.
The exact cause of autism isn’t known, but hereditary factors do play a big part. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed than girls. Again, the exact reason for this isn’t known. Girls are also often diagnosed later than boys. Many people with autism are diagnosed with ADHD as well. It’s even common to have other functional impairments or conditions at the same time. These include cardiovascular and other stress-related diseases, diabetes, depression and anxiety disorders.
Sometimes, people talk about ASD instead of autism. ASD is an acronym for autism spectrum disorder. Previously, autistic syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome were also used.
You may have difficulties with social communication, reciprocity and interaction. For example, you may have difficulty knowing how to behave around others and how to start or end a conversation. You may also find things that aren’t said outright or that are conveyed by body language or facial expressions challenging. Having to think about how to behave can take a lot of your energy and tire you out. It can also make you feel anxious.
Changes, both big and small, can be difficult for you. As can switching between different activities. You may find it helpful to have routines and to know what’s going to happen. You may also be especially sensitive to sensory input, such as touch, sound and smell.
Having autism can also mean having special interests that you spend much time on. You may be more persistent and thorough than most people, and you may have an unusual ability to concentrate on something for a long time. These are strengths that can prove useful in many situations.
Your autism may also manifest itself in different ways at different times of life. How much your functional impairment hinders you in your daily life depends on your environment, the demands expected of you and the support you receive. Since you can’t control the way you are, it’s easy to be misunderstood by others. If your school or workplace or the public environments you encounter aren’t adapted to your needs, things can prove especially difficult for you. Awareness and understanding among those around you are extremely important.
If you think you have autism, contact a psychiatric clinic. They’ll help assess whether you might have autism. You’ll meet a doctor or a psychologist first for an initial assessment. Following this, you’ll undergo a thorough assessment to find out whether you have autism.
The support you receive should be centred on you and your needs. You can get, for example, help practising different social and communication skills, or cognitive aids and special support at school, at work and in everyday life. You can also get a contact person to do things with as well as help around the home. You can often attend courses to learn more about autism if you wish. And your family can attend too.
Reviewed by: Taina Lehtonen, PhD, registered psychologist, neuropsychologist.
Last edited 2024-01-15
More information can be found at Autism Sverige and Riksförbundet Attention – for people with neurodevelopmental disorders, family caregivers and healthcare professionals.