To me it is having a mind that works for you and against you at the same time. I can retain loads of random things but it affects my senses.

@LottieBarker123

Autism is a spectrum of developmental conditions,  including Asperger’s Syndrome, which change the way people communicate and experience the world around them.

Some autistic people are able to learn, live and work independently but many have learning differences or co-occurring health conditions that require specialist support.

Our research has found signs of autism in babies as young as 4–6 months old but most children will be diagnosed when they are 4½ years old. Just 15% of autistic adults are in full time employment.

Key symptoms

Autism can be diagnosed at any age and affects males and females. Common symptoms of autism are:

Read more

Delayed or absent speech

Problems listening, concentrating and understanding

Frequent repetition of words and phrases

Taking things literally

Difficulty sensing and interpreting people’s feelings

Difficulty expressing feelings

Over or under sensitivity to sound, touch, taste, smell or light

Rituals or repetetive behaviours

Disliking changes to routine

Difficulty making friends and socialising

Find out more about signs and symptoms of autism and co-occurring conditions:

Co-occuring conditions
Signs and symptoms

Diagnosing a child

If you think that your child may be autistic, find out more about getting a diagnosis.

Find out more

Diagnosing a teenager or adult

If you think that you or someone you know might be autistic, find out more about getting a diagnosis as a teenager or adult.

Find out more

Six facts about autism

  1. 1 in 100 people are autistic, but many adults have never been diagnosed
  2. autism affects both males and females
  3. 1 in 3 autistic people has a learning disability
  4. 70% of autistic people have a mental health problem
  5. Epilepsy is more common in autistic people
  6. Autism causes are both genetic and environmental

More facts and myths

Autism is often misunderstood. See more facts and myths.

Find out more

Research is helping us to:

Understand the autistic brain

Spotting the very first signs of autism in 6 month old babies means we can offer early support and diagnosis

Educate society to adapt to and embrace autistic people

Understanding that each autistic person is different helps identify diverse challenges and strengths

Develop services that can help autistic people to live long, healthy, happy lives

Focusing on the key challenges of mental health, physical health, language and epilepsy to make a difference to the lives of autistic people

Our achievements

We’ve invested over £10 million in life-changing and life-saving science

We kickstarted a global response to appalling rates of premature death in autism

We were one of the first organisations in the world to carry out adulthood research

We’ve invested over £10 million in life-changing and life-saving science

We kickstarted a global response to appalling rates of premature death in autism

We were one of the first organisations in the world to carry out adulthood research

Josh was diagnosed when he was 5. He embraces that it's part of who he is. It's his anxiety and OCD that he struggles with.

Josh and Nicky

Read our story
I didn't need to know how to fix my son, I needed to learn how to help him

Katie and Samuel

Read our story

Everyone with autism is different

Rhi, an autistic woman diagnosed late in life, offers some communication tips:

  1. Don’t be offended “We might react honestly or may avoid shaking your hand, but we're not being rude.”
  2. Don’t expect eye contact “It can be really hard for some of us. I can listen to you much more easily if I look away.”
  3. Do be patient and understanding “We may take longer to process the meaning of your words, give us a little time if we need it.”
  4. Do treat autistic people with respect “If we are quiet or behave differently, don’t speak down to us, treat us as equals.”
  5. Don't be sad that I'm autistic “It's just the way I process the world, it can give me challenges, but it gives me great joy too. I wouldn't be me without it!”