Do you or your child struggle to communicate with others?

People with autism experience communication differences that vary in impact. Some children may meet early speech milestones but struggle with social communication as they grow. Others show clear communication differences early on. Characteristics include limited or excessive language use, flat tone, repetitive phrases, difficulty with back-and-forth conversation and challenges understanding non-verbal cues. Adults may also struggle with small talk and have a varied range of language abilities, from functional communication to non-verbal.

Do you or your child have intense interests and become fixated on tasks?

Both children and adults with Autism often exhibit restricted interests and engage in repetitive behaviours. These behaviours might include repetitive movements, adherence to specific routines and intense interests in particular topics. This hyper fixation can dominate their thoughts and conversations, providing a sense of comfort and predictability.

Are you or your child overly sensitive or under reactive to sensory stimuli?

Autism can impact sensory experiences in varied ways. People with autism may have difficulties regulating sensory information.  These sensory differences can also affect those around them, including family and loved ones.

They may experience:

• Hyposensitivity (under-sensitivity)
• Hypersensitivity (over-sensitivity)
• Fluctuating levels of sensitivity

Does a change in route cause anxiety for you or your child?

Individuals with autism often have special interests, routines, or rituals, which may include collecting objects, being fascinated by specific topics, or engaging in repetitive activities. These interests and behaviours help manage stress and anxiety, providing comfort and a sense of control. Established routines serve as coping mechanisms to manage the uncertainties of daily life.

Do you or your child posses exceptional attention to detail?

Autistic individuals have several positive traits that enhance their abilities, including:

1. Enhanced Attention to Detail: They can perceive and process information with remarkable precision and thoroughness.
2. Increased Focus and Concentration: They can immerse themselves in tasks of interest for extended periods
3. Exceptional Memory and Recall: They retain vast amounts of information, excelling in fields requiring accuracy and precision

These traits enable autistic individuals to achieve exceptional outcomes.

Do you suffer or your child suffer co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression?

Individuals with ASD, regardless of age, may also experience co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD or sensory processing disorders. A comprehensive assessment is crucial to understand the full spectrum of their experiences and provide effective support.

We offer personalised care and support

At Sanctum Healthcare, we are committed to providing personalised care and support for individuals with ASD. Whether addressing the needs of children or adults, our experienced team is here to help navigate the complexities of ASD with compassion and expertise.

Individuals with autism don't always lack empathy

People with autism can experience empathy in diverse ways. Some may have stronger emotional empathy than cognitive empathy, a concept known as empathic disequilibrium, especially in autistic women. Empathy may also be conditional, with ease in empathising with close individuals or animals. For others, empathising requires effort due to difficulty reading social cues, while some may experience hyper-empathy, becoming overwhelmed by others' emotions. A few may identify with low empathy. Empathy in autism is complex, varying widely across individuals.