Information About Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)

What is Autistic Spectrum Condition?

ASC is a lifelong development condition that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. Children and adults with ASC have difficulties with everyday social interaction. Their ability to develop friendships is generally limited as is their capacity to understand other peoples emotional expression.

What are the characteristics of ASC?

People with ASC generally experience three main areas of difficulty. These are known as the triad of impairments:

• Social interaction (difficulty with social relationships, for example appearing aloof and indifferent to other people).
• Social communication (difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, for example not fully understanding the meaning of common gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice).
• Imagination (for example having a limited range of imaginative activities, possibly copied and pursued rigidly and repetitively).

In addition to this triad, repetitive behaviour patterns and resistance to change in routine are often characteristic.

What is Asperger's Syndrome?

Asperger's Syndrome is a form of ASC, a condition that affects the way a person communicates and relates to others.

People with Asperger's Syndrome often find it more difficult to read non verbal signals which most of us take for granted. As a result they may find it more difficult to communicate and interact with others.

However, people with Asperger's Syndrome usually have fewer problems with language, often speaking fluently, though their words can sometimes sound formal or stilted.

Those within the Autistic Spectrum can access mainstream education and, with the right support and encouragement, can make good progress and go on to developing opportunities within further education and employment.

Key characteristics are:

Difficulty with social relationships. Unlike the person with ‘classic’ ASC, who often appears withdrawn and uninterested in the world around them, many people with Asperger's Syndrome want to be sociable and enjoy human contact. They do still find it hard to understand non-verbal signals, including facial expressions, which makes it more difficult for them to form and maintain social relationships with people unaware of their needs.

Difficulty with communication. People with Asperger's Syndrome may speak fluently but they may not take much notice of the reaction of people listening to them; they may talk on and on regardless of the listener’s interest or they may appear insensitive to their feelings.

Despite having good language skills, people with Asperger's Syndrome may sound over-precise or over-literal; jokes can cause problems as can exaggerated language, turns of phrase and metaphors. A person with Asperger's Syndrome may be confused or frightened by a statement like ‘she bit my head off’. In order to help a person with Asperger Syndrome to understand you, keep your sentences short – be clear and concise.

Lack of imagination. While they often excel at learning facts and figures, people with Asperger's Syndrome find it hard to think in abstract ways. This can cause problems for children in school where they may have difficulty with certain subjects, such as literature or religious studies.

Special interests. People with Asperger's Syndrome often develop an almost obsessive interest in a hobby. Usually their interest involves arranging or memorising facts about a special subject, such as train timetables, Derby winners or the dimensions of cathedrals.

With encouragement, interests can be developed so that people with Asperger's Syndrome go on to study or work in their favourite subjects.

Love of routines. People with Asperger's Syndrome often find change upsetting. They often prefer to order their day according to a set pattern. If they work set hours then any unexpected delay, such as a traffic hold-up, or a late train, can make them anxious or upset.