Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way people act across a broad spectrum.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autistic people may have problems with social, emotional, and communication skills.
Others may find bright lights or loud noises overwhelming and stressful, or display repetitive behaviors.
Autism is not a disease or illness.
How common is it?
It is estimated that around 700,000 people, including adults and children, in the UK have a diagnosis of autism.
According to a Newcastle University study published in 2021, around one in 57 (1.76 per cent) children in the UK are on the spectrum.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5.4 million adults, about 2.2 percent of the population, are autistic.
People of all nationalities and cultural, religious and social backgrounds can have autism.
However, rates are up to five times higher in men and boys.
The exact reason is still unclear, but some studies suggest that children are at increased risk for the various genetic causes of autism.
Researchers also believe that many girls may be “falling through the cracks,” struggling to get a diagnosis, receiving a diagnosis late in life, or being misdiagnosed with conditions other than autism.
There are different types?
Previously, autism was divided into different diagnoses, including Asperger syndrome, autistic disorder, Kanner syndrome, childhood autism, atypical autism, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
Because each diagnosis shared characteristics of autism, they were replaced by autism spectrum disorder, which is now the general term for the group.
However, some people with an Asperger’s diagnosis still choose to use the term.
According to the National Autism Society, people with Asperger’s do not have the learning difficulties that many autistic people have. The NHS says some people call this “high-functioning autism.”
What causes it?
Despite years of research, scientists don’t know what causes autism.
Instead, studies have suggested that it may develop from a combination of genetic and environmental influences.
Concerns arose in the late 1990s about a possible link between MMR vaccines and autism.
But numerous scientific studies have since shown that there is no link between vaccines (or any of their ingredients) and autism.
Bad parenting is not a cause either.