All You Need To Know

• How does autism affect you?

  Sometimes autism is called a hidden or invisible disability because you can’t see if someone is autistic just by looking at them and some people might not have been diagnosed when you meet them.
  
  Autism affects the way a person communicates and how they experience the world around them. It is considered a spectrum condition, which means that while autistic people share some similar characteristics, they are also all different from each other.
  
  Autism is life long, and many autistic people are able to live independent lives but others may face additional challenges and need a little extra support.

• Can autistic people struggle with friendships?

  Autistic people may find being around and interacting with other people more tricky. There are lots of unwritten rules that are used when talking to someone else, and these rules aren’t always the same.

  Autistic people can find these rules difficult to remember or confusing because they aren't always applied in the same way. For example sometimes autistic people can take instructions very literally and struggle to understand things like sarcasm or irony. This means autistic people often find it difficult to understand other people’s intentions and express their own feelings.

  Being social can be tiring for autistic people as it takes some extra work, plus difficulties ‘reading’ other people can lead to loneliness. It's important to remember that autistic people don’t lack the skills to interact with other people, some people just need more information and support to socialise with others.

• Do autistic people communicate differently?

  When you talk to another person, you listen to what they are saying, look at the actions they make with their face and body and think of what to say in response. Autistic people find it a lot harder to interpret both spoken language and body language, which can make communication more difficult.

  There are so many aspects of communication to take in at once, it can sometimes be too much for an autistic person to process all of this information and also respond.

  Some autistic people have little or no speech or delayed language development. Some may communicate in a different way - using pictures, sounds or gestures for example. This doesn't mean that they don't understand what is being said, often an autistic person can take in more information than they give out, this creates a difference in what someone understands and what they communicate to other people. 

• Does autism affect someone's imagination?

  Autistic people can find it harder to understand abstract concepts (imaginary or not straightforward ideas). For example, they can struggle to understand another person’s point of view – or if they know it in theory, they may still struggle to imagine what it might be.

  This difference with imagination can make it harder for autistic people to cope with new, unfamiliar or unexpected situations. As a result many autistic people like to know what is going to happen in advance and have set routines for the activities they do. They can also have routines and repetition around things they like such as clothes, food, hobbies and conversations. 

  Many autistic people also have intense and highly focused interests from an early age. These interests and hobbies often provide them with lots of enjoyment and can be a huge source of joy.

• Can autism affect your senses?

  Autistic people understand sensory information differently and this can have an affect on how they interact with the environment and other people.

  Some autistic people can be ‘under’ or ‘over’ sensitive in any of the senses – including sight, hearing and balance. This can mean that sounds, lights, touch and smells can be painful or very uncomfortable for some people.

  To reduce discomfort, some autistic people may wear sunglasses indoors or wear ear defenders – or prefer not to be touched or only eat specific foods.
  
  Autistic people can sometimes explore their senses in different ways and it may appear as a repetitive behaviour called stimming.
  
  Stimming can be barely noticeable in some autistic people, where as in others it might be more obvious. It's simply a way for the person to self regulate their emotions and their senses.

• What are meltdowns and shutdowns?

  A meltdown is a very intense response to an overwhelming situation.
  
  It can happen when you become completely overwhelmed by something that is happening and lose control of your behaviour for a short period of time.
  
  It's important that you and those around you remember that this change of behaviour isn't a temper tantrum and that you aren't able to control your response. 
  
  The loss of control can appear differently in different people and at different times. It could be verbally (like shouting, screaming, crying) or physically (like kicking, lashing out, biting) or in both ways.

  Advice to help during meltdowns or shutdowns
  
  Here are some young people explaining how they help themselves during a meltdown:

   

  A shutdown is a bit like a computer trying to turn on, but it can't because it doesn't have enough power to do so. It's been described as a quiet meltdown and can happen when you are so overwhelmed that all your energy shifts to your basic functions. 
  
  Autistic people having a shutdown may struggle to communicate as they normally do, which can mean they go silent, or have difficulty speaking like they usually would. 
  
  Here are some young people describing shutdowns and how they deal with them:

• Does autism show differently in males and females?

  You might have noticed more boys being diagnosed with autism in the past. But the truth is that it's common in both sexes.
  
  Autistic characteristics in girls and women may differ and seem to have less social difficulties than autistic boys and men, but this could be because they are more likely to 'mask' their autistic traits.
  
  Masking is the term used to hide your true self to try to fit in with certain situations. It can be very stressful and tiring, for example if young people are masking at school all day.

  Autistic girls may be more likely to be part of a friendship group and this could be a reason that teachers don't notice their differences.

• How does ADHD affect you?

  ADHD is another form of neurodivergence and the brain processing information differently. 
  
  It's not linked to intellect in any way, but the most common characteristics of ADHD can make it harder to concentrate, remember information, or keep focused. It can affect people differently with it's characteristics varying from one person to another.
  
  Some people with ADHD can have problems with:

  • Hyperactivity - constantly moving or fidgeting, tapping or talking at inappropriate times 
  • Impulsivity - taking risks
  • ‘Zoning out’ - Being unable to concentrate or daydreaming.

  Young people with ADHD can struggle with their emotions and keeping calm, for example bursts of anger that they can't control.
  
  If you think you may have ADHD it's a good idea to speak to your GP in the first instance.

• Where can I get help if I think I might be autistic or have ADHD?

  If you think you might be autistic, or have ADHD, it's best to speak to a trained professional or a trusted adult who can help you get support. 
  
  If you are at school, you can find a trusted adult like a teacher or the school SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator) who is an adult in every school who knows lots about additional needs like this. 
  
  If you have left school, it would be good to book an appointment with your GP to talk more about how you've been feeling so they can support you and give you advice. 
  
  Read NHS autism advice
  
  Read NHS ADHD advice