Autism Parent Resources

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What is Autism?

  • Getting Started

Understanding Autism: A Starting Point for Families

When we first heard the words “Your child has Autism” it marked a significant shift in our lives, prompting a period of intense learning and adjustment. Like many parents, we began to navigate new information and understand what this diagnosis meant for our family. Our child, who is non-verbal, brought a specific lens to this experience, shaping our approach and understanding. This journey has involved continuous learning, and a constant evolution of our perspective. Our goal is to help you start putting the pieces together, not with fear, but with understanding and hope.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

At its heart, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition characterized by differences in social communication, interaction, and behavior. It’s called a “spectrum” for a reason – it’s not a single set of symptoms, but a vast and varied landscape of individual presentations. Rather than a simple progression from mild to severe, it’s more like a unique fingerprint, where each person’s pattern of strengths and challenges is distinct and deeply personal. It’s a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning it stems from differences in the brain’s development. 

Why “Spectrum”? Because Every Person is Unique

The word “spectrum” is incredibly important because no two autistic people are the same. Think of it like a sound equalizer or a control panel with many different sliders. Each slider represents a different trait or characteristic – like communication, sensory processing, social interaction, or specific interests. For each person with Autism, these sliders are set at their own different levels.

For some individuals, the “communication” slider might be very low, meaning they may struggle significantly with speaking or understanding others. For others, the “sensory processing” slider might be very high, meaning they are intensely sensitive to sounds, lights, or textures. Strengths and challenges also vary greatly. One child might be non-verbal, while another speaks readily but struggles with understanding social cues. One might have intense sensory sensitivities, while another seeks out certain sensory experiences. This is why each person with Autism is unique in their strengths and challenges.

Hence the saying: If you’ve met one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with Autism.

Key Areas Where Autism Shows Up

While every individual is different, there are common characteristics that define Autism. These generally fall into a few main areas:

  • Social Communication and Interaction: This is often one of the most recognized aspects of Autism. It’s not that individuals with Autism don’t want to connect; their brains just process social information differently. For our non-verbal child, communication extends far beyond spoken words. It’s found in his eye movements, his gestures, how he might lead us to what he wants, or the unique sounds he makes. Social interaction may also present differently, not always aligning with typical reciprocal conversations (back-and-forth exchanges) or conventional play. Often, it involves parallel engagement (playing or being near others without direct interaction) or a quiet, shared presence that speaks volumes. We have learned to interpret his cues and adapt our communication strategies, finding profound connections in these unique exchanges.Other examples of how this can look include:
    • Differences in eye contact: They might make less or no eye contact.
    • Challenges with back-and-forth conversation: They might struggle to initiate or maintain conversations, or they might talk extensively about a favorite topic, or they may not talk at all.
    • Difficulty understanding social cues: Things like body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice might be harder for them to interpret.
    • Differences in friendships: They might find it challenging to make friends, prefer solitary play, or have unique ways of interacting with peers.
    • Limited sharing of interests or emotions: They might not spontaneously share their joys, achievements, or concerns with others.
  • Repetitive Behaviors: This category includes patterns of behavior that can be calming, stimulating, or a way to cope with overwhelming sensory input. You might observe self- stimulatory behaviors, often called “stimming,” such as hand flapping, rocking, spinning, or repeating certain phrases or movements. While these behaviors can initially be a source of concern, it has become clear that they frequently serve a vital functional for our children. They can assist with sensory regulation – managing input that might be overwhelming or insufficient – or expressing strong emotional states like excitement or stress. For example, our son finds great enjoyment and calm in listening to the same musical toy or sound over and over. Unless these behaviors are disruptive or harmful, they are generally understood as part of how individuals with Autism navigate and manage their environment.
  • Routines and rituals: A strong need for sameness and predictability. Changes in routine can be very upsetting.
  • Intense, focused interests: Developing deep knowledge and passion about specific topics (e.g., trains, dinosaurs, space, specific characters). These “special interests” can be a great source of joy and expertise.
  • Sensitivity to sensory input: This means they might be over-sensitive or under-sensitive to sounds, lights, textures, tastes, or smells. For example, a loud noise might be painful, or they might seek out strong flavors, they may only eat certain foods due to it’s texture or shy away from bright lights or dislike certain fabrics.

As mentioned above, these are just some common examples, there can be more ways Autism shows up that are not mentioned.

When Does Autism Typically Appear?

Observable indicators often emerge during early childhood. While some signs might be present in infancy, Autism is most often diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 3 years old, when developmental differences become more noticeable.

However, some individuals are not diagnosed until later in childhood or even adulthood. In our experience, signs such as a lack of pointing, delayed vocalizations, reduced eye contact, and a preference for solitary activities were noted around our child’s second birthday. Acknowledging these differences can be challenging, but early identification and professional assessment can open doors to invaluable early intervention services. These interventions, while not a “cure” for Autism, provide crucial strategies and support that can significantly aid a child’s development and a family’s journey.

What Causes Autism?

This is a question many parents ask, and it’s important to know that Autism is not caused by parenting styles or bad choices. Scientific research points to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

  • Genetics: Many studies show that Autism tends to run in families, suggesting a strong genetic component. There isn’t one single “Autism gene,” but rather a complex interplay of many.
  • Environment: While genetics play a major role, environmental factors are also thought to contribute, though research is ongoing to pinpoint specific influences.

The truth is, there isn’t one single “cause” for autism that applies to everyone. Just as autism shows up differently in each person, the factors that contribute to it are also believed to be unique for each individual. It’s a highly complex area, and scientific research is still very much ongoing to fully understand all the contributing causes and factors.

As covered in Additional Resources on this site, there is genetic testing and other blood and similar testing that can be done to help narrow down the cause of autism for your child or loved one, though the answer is not guaranteed, these tests can sometimes help provide some answers.

Moving Forward with Understanding:

Receiving a diagnosis or even suspecting Autism can bring a mix of emotions – confusion, worry, relief, or even sadness. All of these feelings are valid. Please remember this: a diagnosis does not define your loved one’s future. It is a key that unlocks understanding. Your child is the same amazing person they were the day before you got the report. Now, you just have a better language to understand their world and advocate for them.

A diagnosis isn’t an end; it’s a beginning. It’s a key that unlocks understanding and opens doors to support, resources, and a community that can help your child (and your family) thrive. Learning about Autism means learning about your child’s unique strengths and how best to support their challenges. There’s a vast world of information and support out there, and taking this first step to understand “what is Autism” is a great first one.

Disclaimer: This blog post shares general information and personal experiences about Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is not intended to be medical advice, and you should always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for diagnosis, personalized understanding, and guidance regarding your child’s specific needs.

Next blog in this series: What does it mean to be “On the Spectrum”? Is it a scale?