Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder which effects approximately 1 in 166 people in the UK and Ireland. It leads to problems in the development of socialisation, communication and imaginative play and results in severe difficulties for people in forming relationships with others, in developing language and in understaning and using abstract concepts. As autism is a pervasive disorder, these difficulties are often multiplied the longer they go untreated.

Autism is categorised as a spectrum disorder in that the symptoms can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, ranging from mild to severe. The complexity of autism and the range of symptoms means that every individual with autism has a unique presentation of autism.

Characteristics include repetitive and limited patterns of behaviour and obsessive resistance to tiny changes in familiar surroundings or routines.

For further information check out * Irish Autism Action .