How autistic and non-autistic people can understand each other better: Autistic people often experience difficulties with social communication. It’s so common, in fact, that it’s one of the central criteria for an autism diagnosis. For as long as we have been diagnosing autism, doctors and researchers have regarded social communication difficulties as autistic “impairments”. But …
Autistic people experience loneliness far more acutely than neurotypical people – new research: New research debunks the stereotype that autistic people lack the motivation to form meaningful social connections. KieferPix/Shutterstock Autistic people are up to four times more likely to experience loneliness than non-autistic people. Despite enduring stereotypes that autistic people lack the desire for …
How autistic parents feel about breastfeeding and the support they receive – new research: Almost half the study's respondents found breastfeeding to be a positive experience most or all of the time. Lolostock/Shutterstock Surprisingly little is still known about autism and breastfeeding. A few years ago, we reviewed all of the research evidence and found …
Like many women, I didn’t know I was autistic until adulthood – how late diagnosis can hurt mental health and self image: Dagerotip/Shutterstock For many women, adult diagnoses of autism are “a light in the darkness”, an epiphany of self-understanding. My “lightbulb moment” came in my late 20s. “They thought you were autistic,” my mum …
Is Hercule Poirot autistic? Here are seven clues that he might be: Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective with the flamboyant moustache and keen eye for detail, is one of the most beloved characters in crime fiction. He was created by British writer Agatha Christie and first arrived on our bookshelves in 1920. He has since …
How the tourism industry – and other travellers – can help families of autistic children get the break they deserve: Tom Wang/Shutterstock Going on a family holiday is not always a relaxing experience. It can involve traffic jams, airport queues and stress. Even so, most of us look forward to going away for the change …
‘Dehumanising policies’ leave autistic people struggling to access health, education and housing – new review: Autistic people often don't receive the correct healthcare to meet their needs. toodtuphoto/Shutterstock Around 3% of people are estimated to be autistic and it is a lifelong disability. Most autistic people experience the sensory world differently, such as places being …
How to create better homes for autistic people with significant additional needs: A designated space to pursue hobbies and creative activities can be really important. Andres Barrionuevo Lopez/Shutterstock Our homes are becoming smaller, darker and noisier. Access to outside space is at a premium, and housing trends are leading to lower square meterage, smaller windows …
Elon Musk: how being autistic may make him think differently: Daniel Oberhaus (2018)/Flickr, CC BY-SA The business magnate and new owner of Twitter Elon Musk revealed a while ago that he is autistic. Musk, the wealthiest person in the world, is autistic. Musk, a fellow of the prestigious Royal Society and Time’s 2021 Person of …
Wearable technology can change autistic people’s lives – if they’re involved in designing it: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock Many autistic people experience difficulties in expressing their emotions. This can result in increased anxiety, depression, anger and physical health problems. Research shows autistic adults are significantly more likely to experience depression an anxiety than their peers. Imagine a future, …
Autistic people are six times more likely to attempt suicide – poor mental health support may be to blame: Young autistic women are around 13 times more likely to attempt suicide than women who aren't autistic. SB Arts Media/ Shutterstock One person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. Some of those most at risk include …
Being autistic in an open organization: After a long and complex diagnostic process, I recently came to the realization that I am autistic (I write more about that on LinkedIn). This knowledge is providing me with new insights—into my life, memorable episodes from my past, and the ways I navigate the world. To me, one …
Neurodiversity at work benefits everyone – why companies are hiring autistic people: Diversity takes different forms. Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock Some of my favourite fictional characters include Spock and Seven of Nine from Star Trek, Dr Martin Ellingham from Doc Martin and Shaun Murphy from The Good Doctor. Apart from being brilliant at their jobs, they are …
Transgender and gender diverse people up to six times more likely to be autistic – new study: Transgender and gender diverse people are more likely to be autistic. Sandra van der Steen/Shutterstock There is a lot of evidence to suggest that men are more likely to be autistic than women. For every woman who is …
Autistic doctors – we’re not exactly as portrayed on TV: Orion Production/Shutterstock When I open up about my referral for an autism spectrum disorder assessment, I draw on examples from the only popular reference I have for an autistic doctor – what’s portrayed on TV. You have probably seen these medical dramas – The Good …
Are autistic personality tests reliable?: Shutterstock/jannoon028 Autism has been a subject of ever increasing interest over the last 20 years. It has been the subject of popular TV shows, novels and numerous studies looking at everything from sensory experiences to mental health in autism. As a result, there is a growing need for efficient and …
Extreme male brain theory of autism confirmed in large new study – and no, it doesn’t mean autistic people lack empathy or are more ‘male’: shutterstock Jolygon/Shutterstock Two long-standing psychological theories – the empathising-systemising theory of sex differences and the extreme male brain theory of autism – have been confirmed by our new study, the …
Can you raise an autistic child to be bilingual – and should you try?: Choosing which languages to teach children in a multilingual family is a tough question. Chz_mhOng/Shutterstock Diagnosed with autism and delayed language development, five-year-old Jose lives with his bilingual English-Spanish family in the UK. In addition to all the important decisions that …