Understanding autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability - find out more about the condition that affects over half a million people in the UK

Autism is much more common than most people think, affecting one in 100 people in the UK.

Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition, and without the right support it can have a profound and sometimes devastating impact on individuals and their families.

What is autism?

Autism affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

Who is affected by autism?

Autism is much more common than most people think. There are over half a million people in the UK with autism - that's around 1 in 100 people.

People from all nationalities and cultural, religious and social backgrounds can have autism, although it appears to affect more men than women. It is a lifelong condition: children with autism grow up to become adults with autism.

What causes autism?

The exact cause of autism is still being investigated. However, research suggests that a combination of factors - genetic and environmental - may account for changes in brain development.

Autism is not caused by a person's upbringing, their social circumstances and is not the fault of the individual with the condition.

Is there a cure?

At present, there is no 'cure' for autism. However, there is a range of interventions - methods of enabling learning and development - which people may find to be helpful.

More support

The National Autistic Society say thousands of children with autism in England are needlessly facing a future of mental health problems, because the NHS does not know how to help them.

They've launched a new campaign called You Need to Know which aims to tackle the unfit mental health system.

Over 70% of children with autism have a mental health problem, such as depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other anxiety disorders, despite the fact that many of these problems are preventable.

The NAS has developed an information guide about mental health and children with autism to empower families and help them access the support they so desperately need. Click here to download the guide..

If you have any worries about autism, phone the National Autistic Society's helpline on 0845 070 4004 (open 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday) or click on the links above

You can also email autism@dh.gsi.gov.uk if you have any questions about autism