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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 which has a profound and sometimes devastating impact on individuals and their families.
What is autism?
Autism is a life-long brain disorder that is normally diagnosed in early childhood.
People who have autism have trouble communicating and have emotional problems. They find it hard to pick up social skills. To autistic people the world can appear chaotic with no clear order or meaning. People suffer from it in varying degrees and this is called the autistic spectrum.
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.
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
