The term autism describes qualitative differences and impairments in reciprocal social interaction and social communication, combined with restricted interests and rigid and repetitive behaviours. Autism can vary a great deal in its severity and in its character, people with ASD can have very different sets of abilities and difficulties.
Autism is a lifelong disorder that has a great impact on the child or young person and their family or carers. The core autism behaviours are typically present in early childhood, but features are not always apparent until the circumstances of the child or young person change, for example when the child goes to nursery or primary school or moves to secondary school.
Autism is strongly associated with a number of coexisting conditions. Recent studies have shown that approximately 70% of people with autism also meet diagnostic criteria for at least one other (often unrecognised) psychiatric disorder that is further impairing their psychosocial functioning. Intellectual disability occurs in approximately 50% of young people with autism.
Autism was once thought to be an uncommon developmental disorder, but recent studies have reported increased prevalence and the condition is now thought to occur in at least 1% of children. This rising prevalence has increased demand for diagnostic services for children and young people of all ages in the health service.
Understanding ASD in children who have had early developmental trauma (link) becomes more complicated. Many of the difficulties experiences by children with Autism are similar to those who have experienced early abuse and/or neglect. This is due to the highly experience dependent nature of the development of the frontal lobes of the brain. This is where our ability to control our impulses, understand social rules, feel empathy etc. exist in our brains. These are symptoms that are common to ASD and developmental trauma.
Caution should therefore be taken in assuming that such symptoms are indicative of ASD in fostered and adopted children. Difficulties that are caused by early trauma may be more amenable to change through therapy including therapeutic parenting.
Adapted from
NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence).
