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General Overview
The way people think about Autism has changed in recent years.
It is best described as a group of disorders with a similar pattern
of behaviour in three key areas - communication, social interaction and imaginative thought.

The currently favoured term is Autism Spectrum Disorder, with
the word 'spectrum' used because no two people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder are exactly alike.

Autism is a Spectrum Disorder, which means that the degree of impairment can vary from mild to severe. A person with Autism
may have limited or unusual use of speech, and in some cases
may not develop speech at all. Many may have great difficulty in playing games and/or making friends, can be unusually sensitive
to sound, taste, smell, touch and sight, and could display a range
of unusual, often repetitive behaviours.

A person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is affected in
four major ways:

	difficulties with talking to and understanding other people;
	trouble with friendships, relationships and other social interactions;
	unusual behaviours, frequent tantrums and a great need for routine and sameness;
	poorly developed sensory integration – their environment is a confusing place

An Australian Prevalence Study released in 2007 (Wray et al, Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders – www.autismaus.com.au) estimates that Autism Spectrum Disorder affects one in 166 primary aged children. A person with Autism, if they have received specialist intervention, are able to partly overcome these difficulties, but continue to require sensitive and sustained lifelong support, usually from their families.

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