Mickey Mayhew went through school without a formal autism diagnosis, leaving with no qualifications. Eventually, he received a diagnosis and accessed support, enabling him to return to education, gaining an undergraduate degree and three master’s degrees, followed by a PhD. This article will take a closer look at autism, a spectrum condition that affects different people in different ways.
For autistic people, the world can seem a very confusing and unpredictable place. People with autism tend to prefer routine rather than spontaneity, knowing what is going to happen when. Change of routine can be overwhelming for autistic people, resulting in anxiety. Changing schools, facing uncertainty at work, adjusting to events like Christmas or even something simple like a bus detour can trigger their anxiety.
Chris Packham, CBE, is an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, having been diagnosed with the condition. He suggests that social situations can be particularly uncomfortable for autistic people, pointing out that he was confused by the way people behave.
Autistic people can find interpreting both non-verbal and verbal language difficult. Some autistic people have limited speech or are unable to speak at all, while others may enjoy excellent language skills but struggle to decipher tone of voice or sarcasm. Other challenges often experienced by autistic people include taking things literally, failing to understand abstract concepts, and requiring extra time to answer questions or process information.
Autistic people can be hypersensitive to taste, textures, light or sound. For example, they might find background music in a restaurant unbearably distracting or loud, to the point where it causes anxiety and, in some cases, even physical pain. Many autistic people find hugging overwhelming and therefore avoid it, which can be misconstrued as aloofness by non-neurodivergent individuals. Workplaces, shopping centres and schools can be particularly overwhelming, potentially culminating in sensory overload.
For autistic adults, anxiety can be an acute difficulty, particularly when facing change or in social situations. It can affect them both psychologically and physically, impacting both their own quality of life and that of their family. It is therefore incredibly important for autistic people to learn to recognise their triggers and find coping mechanisms. However, many people with autism struggle to recognise and regulate their emotions. With over a third of autistic people affected by serious mental health issues, too many people on the spectrum are being failed by mental health services.
Many autistic people have highly focused interests that often start at a young age, which may change over time or be lifelong. People with autism often like to share their knowledge, becoming experts in their special interest. Like everyone, autistic people gain a huge amount of pleasure from practising their favourite activities, and this is fundamental to their happiness and wellbeing.
Autistic people can experience a meltdown or shutdown when a situation becomes too overwhelming, both of which are intense, exhausting experiences. A meltdown occurs where an individual experiences a temporary loss of behavioural control, and may be verbal, physical or both. A shutdown, on the other hand, may appear less intense to the outside world but can be just as debilitating.
Like everyone, autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses. Autism is not an illness or disease but merely a difference in the way that the brain operates when compared with a non-neurodivergent person. It is something that a person is born with and may be picked up early or in later life. Autism is not a medical condition that requires treatments or a cure, although some autistic people do require support to help them with certain things. While some people with autism require daily assistance, others require little to no support, making friends, having relationships, getting a job and living a full, independent life.
