Autism spectrum disorder: how to help children and families

Abstract 

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a social communication disorder with rigid or repetitive behaviours and poor imagination. They vary in intellectual ability, but they all have learning difficulties because of their ASD. We should be working toward the standards for diagnosis and support set in the National Autism Plan for Children (NAPC). All health professionals need a level of understanding of ASD in order to identify difficulties that may be due to ASD and refer appropriately. There is also a need to tailor care to children with ASD who may find interfaces with healthcare services for any reason extremely stressful. Understanding the child or young person with ASD depends on a basic knowledge of the spectrum and taking time to ask questions about the individual child. This article sets out to give some guidance to health professionals about ASD and what may be useful to ask and why.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder