Autism & IQ Assessments

  • Posted on: 24th October 2016

What is autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. These differences can affect the way a person interacts with others and the way they perceive the world. Approximately 1 in every 100 people has autism, which means there are around 700,000 autistic individuals in the UK.

Autism is a spectrum condition, which means it affects different people in different ways. 

Research has shown that individuals with autism often also experience mental health issues such as anxiety. Therefore, it can be very beneficial for autistic individuals to seek help to improve their well-being. At our private psychology clinic in London, our therapists help people with autism learn new coping techniques and strategies so that they find it easier to engage in the world.

Signs and symptoms of autism disorder

People with autism communicate and interact in a different way and display repetitive or restricted behaviours. This can result in difficulties with:

  • Interpreting gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice. Although some people with autism are unable to speak, others may have very good language skills but struggle to understand communication nuances like sarcasm.
  • Expressing and understanding emotions. It is common for autistic people to face challenges with understanding what other people are thinking and feeling. Sometimes, they may also struggle to identify emotions within themselves. 
  • Forming friendships. The extra communication challenges autistic people face sometimes mean they seem cold or insensitive to other people, which can make building relationships more difficult.
  • Attending social events. People with autism often experience anxiety before and during social events and may become overwhelmed in situations where they are surrounded by people.
  • Dealing with uncertainty, unfamiliar situations and changes to routine. People with autism may get upset or anxious before or during unfamiliar situations, whether this may be something big like moving home or something smaller like being directed onto a detour due to roadworks. 
  • Processing sensory information, including over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, light, smells, tastes, touch, temperature or colour. For example, some people with autism may become stressed or overwhelmed by what other people consider background noises and barely notice. They may find loud noises and bright lights overwhelming. Sensory overload can cause many autistic people to avoid busy public situations such as shops, schools and workplaces.
  • Regulating their emotions, including dealing with extreme anxiety. People with autism often find it difficult to manage their emotions, which can result in them becoming quickly overwhelmed when faced with a trigger. More than a third of autistic individuals have a serious mental health condition. 

However, autism does not just present challenges. Many autistic people have highly focused interests and hobbies, such as a passion for a certain game, sport, or collectable item. They are often experts in their area of interest and enjoy sharing their knowledge with others. Their intense focus can also enable them to excel at school or work. 

What causes autism?

Autism occurs as a result of differences in the brain. It is not known what causes autism (or if there even is a cause). Although, research suggests that autism may be linked to both genetic and environmental factors. 

Sometimes, autism occurs in the children of parents with autism, which suggests a genetic link. And sometimes, autism occurs in children who were born prematurely, had a low birth weight or have older parents, which suggests an environmental link. 

However, it is important to realise that just because these factors have been linked to autism, that does not mean they necessarily cause it. For example, most people who were born prematurely or had a low birth weight do not have autism. 

It is believed that autism occurs as a result of changes to a baby’s brain development that affects the way nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. Researchers continue to investigate these changes in the hopes of finding ways to help people with autism get better-quality support, but there is a lot about autism that scientists still do not know.

What scientists do know, however, is that autism is not caused by vaccines. Sometimes, children are diagnosed with autism around the same time they receive their first vaccinations; however, extensive research over the last 20 years has shown that there is no link between childhood vaccinations and autism. 

Autism treatment at the Blue Tree Clinic

At the Blue Tree Clinic, our goal is to help all our clients live happy and fulfilled lives, no matter what neurological or mental health challenges they face. 

Our team of highly-specialised doctors and therapists are trained to help you to find ways to handle overwhelming situations, manage your anxiety and improve your quality of life. If you believe you or a loved one may have autism, we have a very supportive and understanding team who are here to listen and help you get clarity with a diagnosis.

The Blue Tree Clinic offers private autism assessments in London. Our team of specialists will help you understand your diagnosis and teach you methods to overcome the challenges you have been facing. We will help you to learn strategies that enable you to feel confident and comfortable in situations that previously felt overwhelming.

We pride ourselves on being a private mental health clinic that will support you throughout your time with us and after you leave us. Please get in touch with us by completing our contact form. We can then discuss the best course of treatment to help get you on the road to a happier life.

Autism Assessments & Therapy

If you believe you are suffering from autism, we have a very supportive and understanding team who are here to listen to you and help you with your symptoms. We will help you to understand your autism, how to manage your symptoms and teach you techniques on how to deal with situations you find particularly difficult.

Here at The Blue Tree Clinic, we pride ourselves on being a private mental health clinic that will support you throughout your time with us and after you leave us. Please give our mental health specialists a call or complete our contact form. We can then discuss the best course of treatment to help get you on to the road to a happier life.

What is autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. These differences can affect the way a person interacts with others and the way they perceive the world. Approximately 1 in every 100 people has autism, which means there are around 700,000 autistic individuals in the UK.

Autism is a spectrum condition, which means it affects different people in different ways. 

Research has shown that individuals with autism often also experience mental health issues such as anxiety. Therefore, it can be very beneficial for autistic individuals to seek help to improve their well-being. At our private psychology clinic in London, our therapists help people with autism learn new coping techniques and strategies so that they find it easier to engage in the world.

Signs and symptoms of autism disorder

People with autism communicate and interact in a different way and display repetitive or restricted behaviours. This can result in difficulties with:

  • Interpreting gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice. Although some people with autism are unable to speak, others may have very good language skills but struggle to understand communication nuances like sarcasm.
  • Expressing and understanding emotions. It is common for autistic people to face challenges with understanding what other people are thinking and feeling. Sometimes, they may also struggle to identify emotions within themselves. 
  • Forming friendships. The extra communication challenges autistic people face sometimes mean they seem cold or insensitive to other people, which can make building relationships more difficult.
  • Attending social events. People with autism often experience anxiety before and during social events and may become overwhelmed in situations where they are surrounded by people.
  • Dealing with uncertainty, unfamiliar situations and changes to routine. People with autism may get upset or anxious before or during unfamiliar situations, whether this may be something big like moving home or something smaller like being directed onto a detour due to roadworks. 
  • Processing sensory information, including over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, light, smells, tastes, touch, temperature or colour. For example, some people with autism may become stressed or overwhelmed by what other people consider background noises and barely notice. They may find loud noises and bright lights overwhelming. Sensory overload can cause many autistic people to avoid busy public situations such as shops, schools and workplaces.
  • Regulating their emotions, including dealing with extreme anxiety. People with autism often find it difficult to manage their emotions, which can result in them becoming quickly overwhelmed when faced with a trigger. More than a third of autistic individuals have a serious mental health condition. 

However, autism does not just present challenges. Many autistic people have highly focused interests and hobbies, such as a passion for a certain game, sport, or collectable item. They are often experts in their area of interest and enjoy sharing their knowledge with others. Their intense focus can also enable them to excel at school or work. 

What causes autism?

Autism occurs as a result of differences in the brain. It is not known what causes autism (or if there even is a cause). Although, research suggests that autism may be linked to both genetic and environmental factors. 

Sometimes, autism occurs in the children of parents with autism, which suggests a genetic link. And sometimes, autism occurs in children who were born prematurely, had a low birth weight or have older parents, which suggests an environmental link. 

However, it is important to realise that just because these factors have been linked to autism, that does not mean they necessarily cause it. For example, most people who were born prematurely or had a low birth weight do not have autism. 

It is believed that autism occurs as a result of changes to a baby’s brain development that affects the way nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. Researchers continue to investigate these changes in the hopes of finding ways to help people with autism get better-quality support, but there is a lot about autism that scientists still do not know.

What scientists do know, however, is that autism is not caused by vaccines. Sometimes, children are diagnosed with autism around the same time they receive their first vaccinations; however, extensive research over the last 20 years has shown that there is no link between childhood vaccinations and autism. 

Autism treatment at the Blue Tree Clinic

At the Blue Tree Clinic, our goal is to help all our clients live happy and fulfilled lives, no matter what neurological or mental health challenges they face. 

Our team of highly-specialised doctors and therapists are trained to help you to find ways to handle overwhelming situations, manage your anxiety and improve your quality of life. If you believe you or a loved one may have autism, we have a very supportive and understanding team who are here to listen and help you get clarity with a diagnosis.

The Blue Tree Clinic offers private autism assessments in London. Our team of specialists will help you understand your diagnosis and teach you methods to overcome the challenges you have been facing. We will help you to learn strategies that enable you to feel confident and comfortable in situations that previously felt overwhelming.

We pride ourselves on being a private mental health clinic that will support you throughout your time with us and after you leave us. Please get in touch with us by completing our contact form. We can then discuss the best course of treatment to help get you on the road to a happier life.

Autism Assessments & Therapy

If you believe you are suffering from autism, we have a very supportive and understanding team who are here to listen to you and help you with your symptoms. We will help you to understand your autism, how to manage your symptoms and teach you techniques on how to deal with situations you find particularly difficult.

Here at The Blue Tree Clinic, we pride ourselves on being a private mental health clinic that will support you throughout your time with us and after you leave us. Please give our mental health specialists a call or complete our contact form. We can then discuss the best course of treatment to help get you on to the road to a happier life.

Contact our friendly team of private psychiatrists for a safe,comfortable conversation.

Related Conditions

FAQ

What challenges do you face when taking care of someone with autism?

Caring for an autistic child can be a mentally challenging experience. It is common for families and caregivers of children with autism to experience problems such as stress, depression, anxiety, increased strain on relationships, restrictions of activities and even diminished physical health.

Sometimes, people with autism have trouble eating, sleeping or speaking and, when overwhelmed, may experience meltdowns or shutdowns. These challenges can be emotionally and physically draining both for the person with autism and for those caring for them. People with severe autism may experience meltdowns daily, which can sometimes make it difficult to even leave the house. 

The important thing to know is that these challenges can be reduced with proper support and advice, including therapy.

Can autism go away without treatment?

Autism is not an illness or disease. When a person has autism, it simply means that their brain works differently from other people’s. Autism is a lifelong condition that individuals are born with, so it will never “go away” and treatments cannot “cure” it. However, many of the challenges and struggles that autistic people face can be overcome with the appropriate help and assistance. 

Being autistic does not stop a person from having a rich and fulfilling life. In fact, people with autism often have unexpected gifts, such as striking artistic or mathematical talent. With the proper support, autistic individuals can develop close relationships, pursue their passions and excel in their careers. 

However, in order to access this support, an accurate diagnosis is needed. If you are looking for a private autism assessment in London, get in touch with us here to find out how we can help.

What is the most common problem with autism?

People with autism often communicate, behave and learn in a very different way than their peers. These differences can create challenges when it comes to interacting with others, forming relationships and working as part of a team. Sadly, this means that autistic people often experience barriers that restrict their quality of life from childhood all the way into adulthood.

Children with autism often encounter problems at school and sometimes become socially isolated. In the classroom, autistic children can experience sensory overload, become overwhelmed and struggle to learn effectively. Teachers may not always be able (or know how) to accommodate an autistic child’s unique learning needs. 

The lack of accessibility and support in educational environments means that many autistic people do not continue with higher education. In addition, they may experience trouble finding and keeping a job. In fact, in the UK, only 22% of autistic adults are in any kind of employment. Social isolation can also continue into adulthood and research has shown that 40% of autistic teens and adults spend little or no time with friends.

How do you calm down an autistic child?

Children with autism often struggle to manage their behaviour. When an autistic child becomes extremely overwhelmed, they may experience a meltdown, where they lose control of their behaviour completely. During a meltdown, the child may shout, scream, cry, lash out or bite. 

Meltdowns can be stressful experiences for everyone involved. However, the best way to bring the situation back to calm is to stay calm yourself. Focus on keeping cool and making sure your child is safe. If you’re worried your child may hurt themselves or others, try to hold them if you can. If you don’t think they are in any danger, give them some space to calm down on their own and simply stay close by.

It is not always possible to prevent meltdowns; however, children with autism can be taught how to manage their emotions by learning to implement coping strategies during the early stages. Here are some examples of self-soothing tools that can help a child during a meltdown:

  • Wearing headphones playing calming music
  • Putting on a weighted blanket or vest
  • Playing with sensory toys such as fidget toys
  • Practising meditation
  • Doing physical exercise
  • Stroking a calm animal

It can be helpful to keep a diary or make note of any meltdown triggers you notice. Once you know what your child’s main triggers are, you can plan ahead if you know a trigger is going to occur (such as a change of route to or location of an activity) or you can take action to make changes early before a meltdown occurs (such as by turning down the lights or the volume of the music).

Is recovery from autism possible?

Autism is a lifelong condition that individuals are born with, so it is not something a person will ever “recover” from. However, there are lots of resources available to help a person with autism overcome the challenges they face, manage their emotions with greater ease and understand the world around them in a more helpful way.Getting an autism assessment is the first step needed in order to access the support and therapy available to help autistic people live calmer and happier lives. To book a private autism assessment in London, reach out to us using our contact form here.

Please contact us online here