What is autism (ASD or ASC)?

Many people start looking into autism after years of feeling that ordinary life takes more effort than it should. Perhaps you’re an adult who’s always felt slightly out of step, or a parent who’s noticed something in your child. It’s a reasonable thing to wonder about, and nobody is to blame for it. It’s fine to start by simply understanding what autism is, and to decide on anything else later.

What does autistic mean?

Being autistic means your brain develops differently, shaping how you experience the world [1]. Doctors class autism as a neurodevelopmental condition, and many autistic people describe themselves as neurodivergent. The medical name for the diagnosis is autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some people and services prefer autism spectrum condition (ASC), a term NICE guidance also recognises [5]. Autism can affect how you communicate, think, learn and pay attention. It can also change how you respond to light, sound, smell, taste and touch. You’re born autistic, and it isn’t an illness [1].

The word “spectrum” is there because autistic people differ widely from one another [2]. They still share core differences in how they think, feel and communicate, and those are the core signs of autism. The National Autistic Society calls autism “a lifelong neurodivergence and disability” [2]. Some autistic people have a learning disability, and others have average or above-average intelligence [1].

What causes autism?

Genetics plays the largest part in autism, though nobody knows exactly what causes it [1]. Most autistic people are autistic because of genes passed down from their parents [3]. That’s why autism often runs in families [3].

Some things in pregnancy and birth make autism slightly more likely, mostly in babies who already carry those genes [3]. They include an older father or mother, serious infections with a fever in pregnancy, premature birth and low birth weight [3]. Only two factors are known to cause autism without those genes: rubella in early pregnancy, and the epilepsy medicine valproate [3]. Both are now rare in the UK [3].

Vaccines don’t cause autism, and that includes the MMR vaccine [1]. A 2014 review of ten studies, covering more than 1.2 million children, found no link [16]. The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, says there’s no evidence that paracetamol in pregnancy causes autism [17]. How someone was raised doesn’t cause it either, so there’s no one to blame [15].

Autism in adult life: where to start

In adults, autism often looks much like it does in children [4]. Many adults learn to hide or adapt their differences, so the signs aren’t always obvious to other people. Hiding your differences like this is called masking, and it can make everyday life and social contact exhausting [4].

Signs in adults include finding facial expressions or tone of voice hard to read, and taking things literally [4]. Changes to routine can leave you anxious or upset. Sensory processing differs too: some adults are very sensitive, or not sensitive at all, to light, sound, smell, taste or texture [4]. Signs are harder to spot when you also have anxiety, depression or ADHD [4].

At AuDHD Psychiatry, an assessment draws on your life history, not only on how you present on the day. NICE has separate guidance on diagnosing autism in adults [5]. If you recognise yourself here, Autism in adults goes through the signs in more depth.

Autism in childhood: where to start

Some children show signs very young, and others not until much later [6]. Autistic children can start speaking later, not respond to their name, or focus intensely on one interest [6]. Children can mask too, and that can make school and everyday activities exhausting [6]. NICE has separate guidance on recognising and diagnosing autism in under 19s [7]. For a child, the NHS referral sometimes has to come from the school or a health visitor [8].

AuDHD Psychiatry assesses children aged 6 to 17 through our child autism assessment, and a parent can be present during it. You can start with our free child autism test for ages 12 to 15. Our guide to autism in children covers the early signs in more depth.

Why is autism often missed in women and girls?

Masking makes autism harder to spot in many women and girls [4]. The NHS lists signs that tend to show more in autistic women, such as:

• Copying how other people behave.
• Seeming to cope well in social situations.
• Being quiet and hiding their feelings.
• Showing fewer repetitive behaviours than autistic men.
• Having anxiety, depression or an eating disorder.

Men and boys can mask too, so masking isn’t only a female experience [4]. More women and girls than ever are now finding out they’re autistic [2]. Many were missed or misdiagnosed because of outdated stereotypes about what autism looks like [2]. Our female autism checklist goes through these traits one by one, with examples from everyday life.

What do the autism levels and older labels mean?

Level 1 describes support needs, not a lighter form of autism. The levels come from the DSM-5, an American diagnostic manual that describes three levels by the support each person needs. Level 1 is the first of the three and means needing some support. In the UK, a diagnosis is based on DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria, as NICE guidance recommends [9]. Our Autism level 1 page explains the levels in more depth, and our guide to the types of autism covers each one.

Asperger syndrome is no longer given as a diagnosis [10]. Both current manuals have folded it into autism spectrum disorder [10]. Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and PDD-NOS, short for “not otherwise specified”, are older labels now covered by autism too [5]. Some people diagnosed with Asperger’s years ago still use the term for themselves, and that’s their choice to make. Our page on Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism explains what those terms meant.

How do I find out if I’m autistic?

You can be assessed on the NHS through your GP, or privately.

An assessment is worth considering if:

• You or your child have long-standing differences in communication, routine or senses.
• Masking has left you worn out.
• You want a written clinical view.

It might not be right today if:

• You need urgent help now: call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. In Northern Ireland, call Lifeline free on 0808 808 8000, any time. In an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E.
• You’re looking for medication for autism itself. None exists, though conditions that come with it, such as ADHD, can be treated.

On the NHS, you start with a GP, who can refer you or your child to a local autism team [8]. In England, Right to Choose for autism lets you choose which NHS service assesses you [8].

AuDHD Psychiatry assesses adults and children online, anywhere in the UK, with no GP referral. For autistic traits alone, the Adult autism assessment is the usual route. If ADHD traits show up too, our AuDHD assessment covers both. Our free autism test is a screen, not a diagnosis. We also offer a free 15-minute information call, which isn’t an assessment.

Is there treatment or support for autism?

There’s no treatment or cure for autism itself, but there is support [1]. Autistic people are more likely to have epilepsy, anxiety, depression or an eating disorder [1]. ADHD is more common too, and each of these can be assessed and treated in its own right. NICE guidance on autism in adults sets out the support and interventions services should offer [5].

The Equality Act 2010 makes disability a protected characteristic in England, Scotland and Wales [11]. It protects autistic people from discrimination, and it underpins support at work and in education [2]. Our autism benefits guide explains when autism counts as a disability, and which benefits you can claim. After an assessment, AuDHD Psychiatry gives you a written report with practical recommendations for work, study and daily life. Adults can also book coaching, with or without a diagnosis.

Questions people ask

In short

Autism is a different way of developing and experiencing the world, and no two autistic people are quite alike. Some people see the signs early in life, while others recognise themselves only as adults. Support means understanding, fair adjustments and care for anything that comes alongside autism. If you’re wondering about yourself or your child, start small. A short online test or a talk with your GP is a gentle first step.