Information Module – Autism

Autism – Some facts

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder with symptoms that appear within the first three years of life. Most children with autism look like other kids but they act and interact in ways that feel different from the behaviours of other children. When interacting with others, they may respond in unexpected ways, or they may not interact at all.

Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that it appears in a range of forms and levels of severity. Some individuals develop typical capabilities in terms of speech and language and develop exceptional skills, but struggle with lifelong social and behavioural differences. Others may have challenges in communication, sensory sensitivities, and behavioural issues, such as excessive tantrums, repetitive behaviours and aggression. The good news is that appropriate interventions and programs can improve outcomes for many, if not most, people diagnosed with ASD.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ASD now affects 0.62% of the global population, as the prevalence of the disorder has increased at a rapid pace in recent years.

It is also worth noting that in some developed countries and areas (such as Hong Kong, South Korea and the US), the disorder is diagnosed at a much higher rate, while the lack of resources in many less developed countries means that the disorder tends to be under diagnosed. All of this indicates that ASD is a growing global public health concern.

It has been shown that physical exercise and participation in athletic programs can lead to substantial improvements in the lives of people with ASD. Researchers have found that people with ASD who take part in these programs, achieve physical health benefits such as weight control, improved physical skills and enhanced cardiovascular health. Other studies have focused on the psychosocial benefits that these athletics programs offer, finding improvements in social and communication skills.

People with ASD are often not very physically active, in part because of their tendency to engage in highly sedentary activities that do not involve significant energy expenditure. Meanwhile, members of this population frequently have fewer opportunities to take part in sports programs due to their social behaviours and to the lack of sports activities aimed at them. All of these factors point to an urgent need to create adapted sporting programs for children with ASD.  Autism is a lifelong neuro-developmental disability that affects the development of the brain in areas of social interaction and communication.  People with autism have difficulties in communicating and forming relationships with people and in developing language.  It also impacts on their ability to make sense of the world around them.

Autism is described as a ‘spectrum’ disorder. This means that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations and can range from mild to severe. Two people with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another and have varying skills.

Autism is often referred to as the ‘hidden’ disability because people who are on the autistic spectrum show no significant physical difference to their peers, rather it is their behaviours that mark them out as different.  The 3 main areas of difficulty for people with autism are referred to as the ‘triad of impairments’.

♦  Social communication

♦  Social interaction

♦  Social imagination

There is a fourth area which has been identified as presenting people with autism with significant difficulties and that is the area of sensory processing. Sensory processing difficulties are indicated by either an over or under sensitivity across any or all of the senses.

Some Simple Guidelines

The following guidelines refer to people with a mild or moderate diagnose of autism. These are guidelines only and should be treated as such. Remember each individual may have traits uncommon to others with the same condition.

♦  Eye Contact: People with ASD often make poor eye contact and might look away, giving the impression that they are not listening or are uninterested in what the person may be saying.

♦  Clear Language: People with ASD have a tendency to interpret things literally and may have a problem understanding the humour in jokes, puns etc. This can sometimes cause a problem for coaches and teammates alike. The rule is to keep it simple and to use direct commands.

♦  There may be a difficulty for some people with ASD in turn taking and some take losing badly. This can cause difficulty for teachers or coaches who might not be aware of this. Understanding this problem is half the battle.

♦  People with ASD generally dislike loud noises, crowds and strangers and value their own personal space.

♦  Some people with ASD react negatively to change – they often function best when working to a routine. It is important to remember that any little change can upset that routine.

♦  Some people with ASD can lack social skills and tend not to mix very well, thus need encouragement to become part of a team. Some may prefer solitary sports.

♦  People with ASD can have a very high pain threshold. This is vital to know in relation to sports injuries, they might try to continue a game or particular sport instead of seeking medical attention.

♦  Some people with ASD are persistent talkers and may irritate teammates or coaches but this is something people eventually get used to.

♦  Some have poor motor skills and may appear clumsy or awkward when participating in games or sports and may be easily discouraged if others make fun of them. Sports and games can help with their hand eye coordination, motor skills and general fitness and boost their morale and self-esteem.

What causes Autism?

Scientists are not certain what causes autism but research into autism and genetics has shown that it is likely autism is genetically pre- determined.   However research is on-going to determine which genes may be relevant and to what degree environmental ‘triggers’ may be involved in the increase in incidence.

It is possible that there is not one cause for autism but that there are several factors involved.