Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

People who have an autism spectrum disorder experience difficulties in the development of three key areas,
which are commonly described as “the triad of impairments”.  These areas of difficulty are:

• Communication -  difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, including learning to talk, understand others and expressing their needs
• Social interaction - difficulty with social relationships, including not fully understanding the meaning of gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice.
• Imagination – difficulty in the development of interpersonal play and imagination, often accompanied by insistence on set routines and repetitive behaviours is a lifelong, complex difficulty. People with an autism spectrum disorder may also experience sensory issues such as an over- or under-reaction to sounds, smells, touch, sight and taste.  They may also have an impaired sense of balance and sense of self in space.