What is Autism
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability. It is part of a spectrum that is often referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The word 'spectrum' is used to describe the varying degrees of autism. People with autism share three main areas of difficulty, however, their condition can affect them differently. Some people are able to live relatively 'normal everyday' lives, while others require continuing specialist support.
The three main areas of difficulty are commonly referred to as the 'triad of impairments'. These include difficulty with:
It is recognised that people with autism may display some form of sensory sensitivity. This can occur in one or more of the five senses; sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. A person's senses can either be heightened (hypersensitive) or lowered (hypo-sensitive).
