Also available in: العربية | Tiếng Việt | മലയാളം
What is autism?
Autism is about how the brain develops and works.
Autism affects how a person talks with others.
Autism affects how a person understands the world around them.
Every autistic person is different.
Autistic people can be of any age.
Autistic people can be from any culture.
Signs of autism
Autistic people may find it hard to talk with others.
Autistic people may find it hard to understand others. A person may really like one topic and want to learn a lot about it.
Autistic people may:
move their body in special ways
like doing the same thing many times
have one topic they love a lot
react in a different way to sounds, lights, smells, touch or taste
like having the same routine every day
not like change
be very sensitive to noise, light or touch
What causes autism?
No one knows the exact cause of autism.
Autism happens because of the changes in the brain.
This can be because of genes. Genes are passed down from parents to children.
This can also be because of things around us. This is called environment.
Other conditions
Some autistic people also have other conditions. This affects each person in a different way.
Trouble with talking and language
Intellectual disability (this means learning takes more time)
Trouble sleeping
Trouble paying attention
Feeling very energetic (this is called hyperactivity)
Epilepsy (a condition that affects the brain)
Feeling very worried (anxiety) or very sad (depression)
Trouble moving the body (this is called a motor skill problem)
Getting a diagnosis
A diagnosis means finding out if a person is autistic.
A team of doctors checks for autism.
This team may have a paediatrician (a doctor for children), a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and a speech pathologist.
Parents and carers can talk to their doctor (GP) or paediatrician first.
The doctor can help you find government funded supports.
Who to contact for support
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) — support for people with disability.
Commonwealth Carer Gateway — Call 1800 422 737. They can help carers get a short break. This is called respite care.
Autism Connect — Call 1300 308 699. This is a free helpline. You can call, email, or webchat.
Autism — Myths and Facts
✗ There is a cure for autism.
✓ There is no cure for autism. Many autistic people do not want a cure. Be careful of treatments that say they can cure autism. These treatments can cause harm.
✗ Vaccines cause autism.
✓ Vaccines do not cause autism. There is no proof for this. Autism comes from genes and the environment.
✗ Autistic children cannot learn.
✓ Autistic children can learn. Learning may take more time for some. The right support helps a child learn well.
✗ Bad parenting causes autism.
✓ Parenting does not cause autism. Autism comes from genes and the brain.
✗ Autistic people do not want friends.
✓ Most autistic people want friends and good relationships. Making friends can be hard. Autistic people may need extra support with this.
✗ All autistic people have special skills.
✓ Not all autistic people have special skills. Some know a lot about one topic. This is not the same as having a superpower.
Also available in: العربية | Tiếng Việt | മലയാളം
