ABSTRACT
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how individuals communicate and interact with others and their environment. The autism spectrum includes a wide range of intellectual abilities from those who are exceptionally talented to those who find learning extremely challenging. It is often hard for autistic infants to communicate their feelings and needs, and so they may physically demonstrate their distress through crying, screaming, physical aggression, becoming withdrawn or fleeing a situation. The criteria for diagnosing autism have been widely analysed and reviewed over recent decades. However, it has been argued that autism provides a different perspective or way of functioning compared with neurotypical people and that this has the potential to be advantageous. Many autistic children experience sensations in a different way, and so some situations may feel uncomfortably intense, or they may seek additional sensation, such as by spinning or rocking.
