What Is Autism?
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person experiences the world around them. It influences how people communicate, interact socially, process information, and respond to their environment. Autism is not an illness or something that needs to be "cured"—it’s simply a different way of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
The term “spectrum” means that autism affects each person differently. Some autistic people need little or no support in daily life, while others may need more help, especially with communication, routines, or sensory sensitivities. No two autistic people are exactly the same.
Autism can range from subtle differences to more noticeable challenges, and abilities can vary widely even within the same individual. Autism is not linear and strengths and challenges vary which is the same as the ‘neurotypical’ population
How Autism Is Diagnosed in the UK
See Your GP
The first step is to visit your GP. They may refer you to a specialist team for assessment if you are an adult. Often, the school needs to refer to start the process of a diagnosis for a child.
You can also access support privately and find a trusted provider who can provide the relevant diagnosis criteria and assessment
Referral to a Specialist
Depending on age, referrals go to paediatricians (for children), CAMHS, psychiatrists, or autism assessment teams.
A team of professionals will gather information through: Developmental and medical history, Behavioural observations, standard tools like ADOS or ADI-R, Input from schools or family (for children)
If autism criteria are met (ICD-11 or DSM-5), a diagnosis is given along with a written report.
Signs of Autism
These signs are the more observable signs and do not present in everyone in the same way, which can make it harder to diagnose and spot. For example, girls often mask their Autism to fit into social norms and societal expectations and may learn how to suppress their difficulties.
In Children:
● Delayed speech or language skills or advanced language skills
● Avoiding eye contact or not responding to their name, or intense eye contact.
● Preferring to play alone or in repetitive ways (e.g., lining up toys)
● Sensitivity to lights, sounds, or textures or a range of different sensory needs
● Difficulty understanding others’ feelings or expressing their own.
(Or intense empathy for others, leading to burnout and difficulties naming what they are feeling)
In Adults:
● Challenges with social interactions or forming relationships
● Preference for routines and predictability (This can be difficult with conditions such as ADHD which also seek novelty and change)
● Difficulty interpreting tone of voice, body language, or jokes depending on how regulated an individual is.
● Feeling overwhelmed in noisy or busy environments
● Strong focus on specific interests or hobbies
(This is not always the case, again if you have ADHD aswell as Autism you may not be able to maintain hobbies and get bored easily)
While autism can come with challenges, it can also come with many strengths, including:
● Deep focus and attention to detail
● Strong memory, especially for facts or patterns
● Creative or unique ways of thinking
● Honesty and reliability
● Passion for specific subjects or activities
Every autistic person is different, and their strengths can shine in various areas of life, education, or work. Coaching can help to identify your strengths and leverage these. Again, everyone is different - exactly like the neurotypical population. Strengths vary from person to person.
Many people have both Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is called a co-occurring or dual diagnosis. While they are different conditions, they often overlap. Often individuals do not realise they have both conditions, as ADHD often masks Autism. Once the ADHD is managed individuals find they seem to be more ‘Autistic’ and notice signs of this more and pursue a diagnosis.
ADHD affects attention, impulse control, and energy levels. When combined with autism, a person might:
● Struggle to focus, daydream often, or find it hard to sit still
● Be very outwardly energetic/internally hyper but also highly sensitive to sensory input and overwhelm.
● Have big emotions and find it difficult to manage them.
● Switch quickly between interests or hyper-focus deeply on one topic, or struggle to maintain hobbies and interests.
● Experience more social difficulties due to both impulsiveness (from ADHD) and social communication challenges (from autism)
● Experience the need for novelty and get bored easily and the need for predictability to be able to function and regulate.
● Feel like these two conditions can be a tug of war internally as they both need different things to regulate.
● Be at high risk of burnout.
● Often experience anxiety or depression as a result of undiagnosed and unsupported neurodivergence
Understanding the combination of autism and ADHD is important for recognizing needs, offering support, and finding helpful strategies. Coaching/consulting sessions can help facilitate this and find what works for you. It can really help unpick your neurotype and how your neurodivergence interacts, creating bespoke routines, strategies and sensory supports to help you stay regulated day to day.
Autism is a different way of experiencing the world, not a problem to be fixed. With awareness, understanding, and acceptance, we can create environments where autistic and those with bo people of all ages feel valued and supported. If you or someone you know relates to these signs or experiences, consider speaking with a healthcare professional or specialist for assessment and guidance.
Autism and ADHD overlap (AuDHD)
ADHD can mask Autism due to the ADHD traits being often more prominent. Often, once the ADHD is treated, a person may find they notice more autistic traits come to the surface.
t's important to note that many autistic people mask their traits unintentionally, which can make diagnosis more difficult. It can also make diagnosis confusing when a co-occuring neurodivergent condition such as ADHD or Tourettes has not been identified so signs are not the ‘norm’, and strategies for one condition do not work for the other, often requiring bespoke customised strategies that support all neurotypes.