Autism Spectrum Condition/Disorder- ASC/ASD - Getting help from Health Services for children and young people

Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Having an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) means that the person has a different way of understanding other people and the world around them. Children with Autism are likely    to have difficulties with social interaction. They may also experience difficulties with language, communication, and imagination, which can impact on how they relate to others.

The Autistic Society defines Autism as ‘A lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world’.

Children with Autism may experience:

• Difficulties interpreting both verbal and non-verbal language like gestures or tone of voice.
• Difficulties 'reading' other people - recognising or understanding others' feelings and intentions - and expressing their own emotions. This can make it very hard to navigate the social world.
• Extreme anxiety, meltdowns, or shutdowns. A meltdown happens when someone becomes completely overwhelmed by their current situation and temporarily loses behavioural control. A shutdown appears less intense to the outside world but can be equally debilitating. Shutdowns are also a response to being overwhelmed, but may appear more passive e.g., a child goes quiet or ‘switches off.’
• Over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light, colours, temperatures, or pain. They may find certain background sounds which other children can ignore or block out, unbearably loud or distracting. This can cause anxiety or even physical pain. 

• Highly focused interests or hobbies from an early age. These can change over time or be lifelong. They can become experts in their special interests and often like to share their knowledge. The need for motivators, fiddle toys and low distraction (colourful classrooms and displays can be a challenge).

  Autism - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

  Autism

• Autism can be difficult to diagnose, as every autistic person has different needs and displays different characteristics. These might include:
• speech and language
• interacting with others
• behaviour

• Find out about possible signs of autism on the TEWV.NHS.UK site

  Community support

• There is support available in the community, such as support groups as well as activities suitable for people with autism and ADHD.

  Assessments for those aged 17 and under

  You need to get a referral from a professional such as a GP or Health Visitor, a teacher or a social worker. In Redcar and Cleveland, our professionals must call the Neuro Consultation Line prior to submitting a referral. The professional can be the person who knows the child best. They will need to call the Neuro Consultation line and book an appointment slot. They can then discuss your child's presentation and your concerns with the Neuro team. If the Neuro team believe there is enough evidence to go ahead with a referral they will request that the professional making the call complete a referral and submit this along with parent/carers views.

• Community paediatricians are child health doctors.
• They can help assess and support children with a range of special needs and disabilities.
• Things they can help with include:
• autism
• ADHD
• cerebral palsy
• developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia)
• special educational needs
• learning disabilities
• social communication difficulties
• Link to directory services for Autism and ADHD