This is the third and final in a Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome Series of blog posts. The first covered what they are, signs/symptoms, diagnosis and treatment approaches and can be read here. The second covered Wonderful Websites and can be read here.
Below is a list of famous people (in alphabetical order) with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome:
It was difficult to find many famous people who report that they are on the autistic spectrum. This might be because it is only relatively recently that we have begun diagnosing people with autism.
This is the eleventh and final blog post in a series titled Wonderful Websites. The first focused on general health and can be read here. The second focused on mental health and mental illness and can be read here.
The third post focused on shopping and can be read here. The fourth focused on money and can be read here.
The fifth focused on gigs, shows and theatres and can be read here. The sixth focused on paganism and can be read here.
The seventh focused on gay culture and society and can be read here. The eighth focused on TV, Online Streaming & Films and can be read here.
The ninth focused on music & radio and can be read here. The tenth focused on technology and can be read here.
Here’s Wonderful Websites for autism and Asperger’s syndrome:
1. The National Autistic Society – A great online resource. It covers autism and Asperger’s syndrome for all ages and people in all circumstances.
2. NHS Choices – Autism Spectrum Disorder a great website for understanding the basics of autism and Asperger’s syndrome. It includes sections on: overview, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and adults with autism.
3. Scope: Autism – A fantastic website for all things disability. Their website has sections for people whom are disabled, a section for families and a section for professionals. They also have a telephone helpline.
4. Child Autism UK – A useful website if you have a child who has or you suspect has autism.
6. Asperger-Syndrome.me.uk – This website has some great content, but you can’t copy/paste the information as the information is saved as images rather than text. This means it’s usefulness for research purposes is limited.
Are there any websites around autism or Asperger’s syndrome that you think are useful that aren’t on the list? If so leave a comment below and let me know.
During my working and personal life I have met people who have told me that they are on the autistic spectrum or have been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. But I’ll be honest, I don’t know that much about autism or Asperger’s syndrome.
So I’m writing this Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome Series to educate myself and others.
What is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a range of similar conditions, including Asperger syndrome, that affect a person’s social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour.
In children with ASD, the symptoms are present before three years of age, although a diagnosis can sometimes be made after the age of three.
It’s estimated that about 1 in every 100 people in the UK has ASD. More boys are diagnosed with the condition than girls.
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What is Asperger’s Syndrome?
Asperger’s Syndrome is a Pervasive Developmental Disorder that falls within the autistic spectrum. It is a life-long condition, which affects about 1 in 200 people, more commonly in men than women. Those with Asperger’s Syndrome are usually of average or above average intelligence.
The condition is characterised by difficulties with Social Interaction, Social Communication and Flexibility of Thinking or Imagination. In addition, there may be sensory, motor and organisational difficulties.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms include difficulties interacting with others and unusual thinking patterns. Behaviour is likely to be affected, as explained below:
Examples of Autism Spectrum Behaviours:
Communication
Echoing words/phrases without context
Taking an adult to the biscuit tin rather than asking or pointing
Taking language too literally
Social Interactions
Preference to play alone
Difficulty relating to other people
Not understanding other’s thoughts and emotions
Repetitive behaviours
Hand flapping
Toe walking
Spinning wheels
Lining up cars
Restrictive behaviour
Eating only yellow food
Insisting on walking the same route
Only watching Thomas the Tank Engine
…
People with autism may or may not have the following:
Exceptional attention to detail
Sensory differences, this is most noticeable when children are over-sensitive to stimuli e.g. distress at loud noises
Trouble with co-ordination
Unusual eating behaviour such as only eating certain foods
Additional learning disabilities
A very small percentage have unusual abilities for example with music or memory
People with autism and Asperger’s syndrome are at higher risk of developing or have these other conditions: learning disabilities, ADHD, epilepsy, dyspraxia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, OCD, depression, anxiety, bipolar, sleeping problems, Tourette’s syndrome or other tick disorders.
Diagnosis
People get diagnosed with autism or Asperger’s syndrome by their GP referring them to a Specialist Team. These days people are often diagnosed as children. The specialist team usually includes a Paediatrician, a Psychologist, a Psychiatrist, a Speech & Language Therapist and a Occupational Therapist.
Treatment Approaches
As every person with autism or Asperger’s syndrome is different, the treatment for each person is different; depending on the individual’s needs. However treatment includes interventions around developing communication skills, interaction skills, the ability to imagine and traditional academic skills.
It is also useful for parents/carers and other family members to go on a parenting and autism course. This is because these courses are packed with strategies to best support a child with autism.
Parents/carers and other family members can also get peer support which will help them feel less isolated and give them opportunities to learn from others at a local support group. If there isn’t a group locally, there’s lots of message boards online.
In the next post in this Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome Series I’ll be listing useful websites around autism and Asperger’s syndrome.
Write soon,
Antony
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Wednesday 18 July 2018
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Antony Simpson - Author, Blogger, Nurse & Witch.
Author of eight books.
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