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Autism
Autismisapuzzlingdisorder.Itisdifficulttounderstandthebehaviourofpeoplewithautism,and theworldisconfusingforthechildwhosuffersfromit.Autismaffectsapproximatelyonein1,000 Australians.Boysaremorelikelytobeaffectedthangirls. Autismisadevelopmentaldisabilitythoughttobeabraindisorder.Apersonwithautismhas difficultiesinsomeareasoftheirdevelopment,butotherareasmaybeunaffected.Theareasmost affectedarecommunication,socialinteractionandbehaviour. Signs of autism Communicationisdifficult.Peoplewithautismoftenhavedifficultyunderstandingthemeaningand purposeofbodylanguageandthespokenandwrittenword.Theymaymisunderstandwords, interpretthemliterallyornotunderstoodatall.Otherpeoplesfeelingsandemotionscanalsobe difficulttounderstand. Social interaction is confusing Socialinteractionisanessentialpartoflifeformostpeople.Peoplewithautismfindbeingsociable difficult,scaryandconfusing.Somepeopleappeartowithdrawandbecomeisolated;otherstry veryhardtobesociablebutneverseemtogetitright.Peoplewithautismcanfindfriendships difficult. Behaviours linked with autism Difficultieswithcommunicationandsocialinteractionproducearangeofbehavioursthathave becomelinkedwithautism.Thesemayinclude: Speech-absent,delayedorabnormalpatterns. Play-isolated,repetitive,unimaginative,destructiveandobsessive. Body movements-stereotypicalbehaviour(suchasflappingandtoewalking)andother behavioursthatmaycauseself-injury(suchashandbiting). Obsessional behaviour-withfavouritetopics,objects,places,peopleoractivities. Rituals-ritualsandroutinesbringsomeordertochaosandconfusion.Achangeto routinecanbeverydifficulttocopewith. Tantrums-canbeawaytoexpressextremeconfusionand/orfrustration. Sensory sensitivities-tocertainsounds,colours,tastes,smellsandtextures.

Ima ge des crip

Type of help available Assessment-adetailed,multidisciplinaryassessmentshouldensureaproperdiagnosis. Somechildrenshowsignsofautismbytheageoftwo,butafirmdiagnosismaynotbe possibleuntilthreeorolder. Education programs-theeducationalneedsofeachchildvary.Intensive,specialised programsmaybedesirableforsomechildrenwithautismwhiletheneedsofotherchildren maybemetbynon-specialistearlyinterventionormainstreamservicesdependingonthe childsleveloffunctioningandneed.Childrenmaybenefitgreatlyfrombeingwiththeir peers,andparentswillneedtochoosebetweenregularorspecialistschoolsfortheirchild toattend. Parent support-thefamilyislikelytoneedsomesupport.Parentsmayneedspecialised services,suchasrespiteandresidentialcare(childcarehelp),socialskillstrainingand livingskillstraining.

Where to get help Yourfamilydoctor SpecialistChildrensServicesTeams,DepartmentofHumanServices.Tel.1800783783 (askforSpecialistChildrensServices)

Autism

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AutismVictoria-Tel.(03)98850533

Things to remember

Peoplewithautismfindcommunicationandsocialisingdifficult. Afirmdiagnosismaynotbepossibleunderthreeyearsofage. Parentsmayneedregularbreaks.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

DHS-ChildrenYouth&Families

Copyight 1999/2009StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission. ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

Autism

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