SENDhelp
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting how people communicate, interact socially and experience the world. Around 1 in 100 people in the UK are autistic. This guide explains what autism is, how it presents and what life with autism involves.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others and experience the world around them. The NHS estimates that around 1 in 100 people in the UK are autistic, though research suggests the true figure may be higher as awareness has improved and more people are being identified. The National Autistic Society confirms that over 700,000 autistic people live in the UK today. Autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be cured: it is a fundamental part of how a person’s brain is wired and shapes their experience of the world in profound and wide-ranging ways.
Autism is described as a spectrum condition because it presents very differently from person to person. Some autistic people are highly independent, work in demanding professions and require little or no day-to-day support. Others have significant support needs that affect all areas of daily life. Some autistic people have an intellectual disability; many do not. Some are non-speaking or minimally verbal; others are highly articulate. What unites autistic people is a shared neurological profile that involves differences in social communication, sensory processing and ways of thinking, but the way these differences manifest is unique to each individual.
Understanding of autism has evolved enormously over the past eighty years. The shift from viewing autism as a disorder caused by bad parenting to understanding it as a neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic basis has transformed both research and practice. The neurodiversity movement, which frames autism and other neurological differences as natural human variation rather than deficits to be corrected, has significantly influenced how many autistic people, their families and practitioners understand and talk about autism. Language matters: many autistic people in the UK prefer identity-first language such as “autistic person” rather than “person with autism”, though individual preferences vary.
The autism spectrum: The term spectrum does not mean a linear scale from mild to severe. The autism spectrum is better understood as multidimensional, with each autistic person having their own unique profile of strengths, challenges and support needs across different areas of life. An autistic person may have high support needs in one area, such as sensory processing, while being highly capable in another, such as focused work on topics of deep interest. Support needs also vary across contexts and across the lifespan.
Language preferences: Surveys of autistic adults in the UK suggest a general preference for identity-first language such as “autistic person” rather than “person with autism”, though individual preferences vary and both forms are used. The most important thing is to follow the preference of the individual concerned. The National Autistic Society provides guidance on language and terminology for those who want to communicate respectfully about autism.
Autism affects several areas of development and daily life. The features below are common across the autism spectrum, though they present very differently between individuals.
Autistic people often experience differences in the way they communicate and interpret social information. This can include finding it harder to read non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and body language, preferring direct and literal communication, finding small talk difficult, interpreting language more literally than intended and having a different understanding of social rules and conventions. These differences do not reflect a lack of interest in other people: many autistic people have strong relationships and enjoy social connection, but on their own terms.
Most autistic people have areas of intense interest and preferred routines or ways of doing things. Special interests, which may be deeply focused and provide significant pleasure and meaning, are a core part of the autistic experience. Repetitive behaviours, sometimes called stimming, serve important regulatory functions and should not be suppressed without understanding their purpose. Routines and predictability help many autistic people manage anxiety and navigate daily life effectively.
Sensory differences are one of the most significant features of autism for many people. Autistic people may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sensory input across any or all of the sensory channels: vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste, proprioception and interoception. These sensory differences affect daily life profoundly and can explain many behaviours that might otherwise seem unusual. Understanding and accommodating sensory needs significantly improves the wellbeing and functioning of autistic people.
Many autistic people have a distinctive cognitive profile including strengths in pattern recognition, attention to detail, systemising thinking and deep focus on areas of interest, alongside challenges with executive function, flexible thinking and processing unpredictable information. These cognitive differences mean that many autistic people excel in environments that match their cognitive strengths while struggling in environments that demand the kinds of flexibility and social interpretation they find harder.
Many autistic people experience emotions intensely and may have differences in how they identify and express their emotional states. Alexithymia, difficulty identifying and describing one’s own emotions, affects a significant proportion of autistic people and can make emotional regulation more challenging. Autistic people may also experience meltdowns or shutdowns, which are responses to overwhelming sensory or emotional input rather than deliberate behavioural choices, and which are not within the person’s voluntary control.
Autism frequently co-occurs with other conditions. ADHD, anxiety, depression, dyslexia, dyspraxia, epilepsy, sleep disorders, eating difficulties and intellectual disability are all significantly more common in autistic people than in the general population. These co-occurring conditions affect support needs and should be identified and addressed alongside autism. Many autistic people are diagnosed with co-occurring conditions before their autism is recognised, which can delay appropriate support.
SENDhelp places specialist SEN teachers, teaching assistants and support staff in schools and provisions across North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. If your school needs staff experienced with autism, we can help.
For information on the main features of autism, see our article on 3 Main Symptoms of Autism. For information on how autism is diagnosed, see our article on Autism Diagnosis Process.
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact socially and experience the world. It is a spectrum condition presenting very differently between individuals. The NHS estimates around 1 in 100 people in the UK are autistic. It is not an illness and cannot be cured: it is a fundamental part of how a person’s brain works.
Asperger’s syndrome was previously a separate diagnosis for autistic people without a language delay or intellectual disability. Since DSM-5 in 2013, it has been incorporated into the broader autism spectrum disorder category in most diagnostic frameworks. People who received an Asperger’s diagnosis retain a valid diagnosis. Many now identify simply as autistic.
No. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, not an illness. It cannot be cured. The National Autistic Society is clear that autism is not something to be fixed or cured: it is a part of who a person is. Support, therapy and appropriate adjustments can significantly improve quality of life and help autistic people thrive, but the aim of support should be wellbeing and independence rather than making someone appear less autistic.
Visit our Understanding Autism hub for more guides on signs, diagnosis, causes, sensory needs, masking and co-occurring conditions.
The information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. If you have concerns about autism or any neurodevelopmental condition, speak to a qualified healthcare professional. SENDhelp Education Limited accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content. Any links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only and do not constitute endorsement of their content.
To stop receiving marketing emails or SMS’s from SENDhelp, kindly complete the form below. We strive to promptly remove your information, aiming to complete the process as soon as we receive your submission.