One in 100 people are on autism spectrum

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.

One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and, in Scotland, there are 6500 autistic children of school age.

Autistic people may find it hard to communicate and interact with others, or have difficulty understanding how others think or feel.

Bright lights or loud noises can be overwhelming or stressful, and autistic people may get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events.

They may also do or think the same things repeatedly and take longer to compute information.

Signs of autism in young children include not responding to their name, avoiding eye contact, not smiling when you smile at them, or getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound.

Other indicators may include repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body, not talking as much as other children, and repeating the same phrases.

With autism in older children, indicators include:

Not seeming to understand what others are thinking or feeling; Finding it hard to express how they feel;

Liking a strict daily routine and getting very upset if it changes; Having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities;

Getting distressed if you ask them to do something;

Finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on their own.

Autism can sometimes differ in girls and boys. Autistic girls may be quieter, may hide their feelings and may appear to cope better with social situations – which means autism can be harder to spot in girls.

If you think your child might be autistic, you can speak to a health visitor if your child is aged under five, a GP, any other health professional your child sees, such as another doctor or therapist, and additional support needs (ASN) staff at your child’s school.

Getting diagnosed can help your child get any extra support they might need.

There is a range of services and therapeutic treatments available for children and adults who have autism.

The National Autistic Society provides support and advice for people with autism and their families.

The Autism Helpline service is on 0808 800 4104. Opening hours are 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

www.autism.org.uk