Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
As per the latest version of the Diagnostic of Statistical Manual of Mental Health (DSM-V), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered:
- having persistent deficits in social communication and interactions across contexts;
- having restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviours, interests or activities
Essentially, it is a neurological and developmental disorder where symptoms usually appear after the first 2 years of life but can be diagnosed at any age. It is said to be on a spectrum because of the wide range of variety in which it can present itself. ASD tends to be genetic which means that if you are on the spectrum, chances are that one of your parents is also on the spectrum, and that your children may be on the spectrum.
There is a lot of misunderstanding surrounding what autism looks like, due to inaccurate representations of it in the media. What is most important to note is that autism can look vastly different from person to person, and it is most impactful in how that person processes information and interacts with others.
Some common symptoms of ASD are:
- Lack of or inconsistent eye contact
- Being slow to respond during a conversation
- Spending a lot of time talking about a specific topic/having a lot of passion towards a topic
- Being hypersensitive or hyposensitive to certain sensory input such as sounds, touch, temperature, lights, etc.
- And more.
Masking and Stimming
Masking: the process of suppressing or hiding symptoms, behaviours, or emotions to conform to social pressures.
- This is common in ASD as many children who go undiagnosed learn to mimic the behaviours of those around them when they understand that it will make them appear more like the others around them.
- Masking is one of the reasons why diagnosis in adulthood becomes harder as they have developed so many ways to hide their autistic tendencies.
Stimming: repetitive movements that are used to help cope with emotions.
- Example: picking at your fingernails when you talk to others.
- Stimming is important for autistic people as it allows them to feel more comfortable when in an uncomfortable situation. From a young age, most people are taught not to fidget or pick at their skins or hair, play with their pens, etc. which can harm autistic people.
- Allowing autistic people to fidget, even if it can be unpleasant for those who are neurotypical, is a small way of making the world more comfortable for them.
Resources
It’s one thing to be told you may be autistic, but it’s another thing to feel like you can relate to the diagnosis or relate to others in the autistic/neurodivergent population. Here are some books, articles, and self-assessment tools that can allow you to explore this for yourself and grasp a deeper understanding of what it means to be autistic.
Books:
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price
Websites:
ADDitudemag.com
https://therapyforpetpeople.com/resources-for-neurodivergence
https://neurodivergentinsights.com/
https://reframingautism.org.au/
Podcasts:
Uniquely Human: The Podcast
If you are seeking a diagnosis, please contact your general practitioner and discuss it with them in order to be given a referral from them. If you are curious about your neurodiversity, how to work with someone who is neurodivergent, or want a neurodivergent therapist, call 647-267-9853 and book a free consultation with one of our amazing therapists, such as Charmin, Jessica, or Sam.