9/4/2023 0 Comments Spectrum number![]() ![]() ![]() Most of them suggest autism prevalence is higher. Other surveys and international estimates have come up with different prevalence estimates. However, because these are estimates this is not definite. Government prevalence surveys last estimated that around one in 100 people are autistic. As autism understanding has grown, the estimated prevalence has also changed. ![]() It is not the same as the number of autistic people who have a diagnosis and many autistic people might not have been identified or even know yet themselves. It is an estimate of how many autistic people there are in the UK. It is important to know how many autistic people there are for several reasons, including helping to provide support, as well as showing the sheer number and diversity of autistic people. We will continue to fight to make society work for autistic people. We often find that autistic people and their families with different support needs share many of the same challenges, whether that’s getting enough support from mental health, education and social care services or being misunderstood by people close to them. The definition of autism has changed over the decades and could change in future years as we understand more. Some people feel the spectrum is too broad, arguing an autistic person with 24/7 support needs cannot be compared with a person who finds supermarket lights too bright. Get advice and guidance on meltdowns and shutdowns One autistic woman described having a shutdown as: 'just as frustrating as a meltdown, because of not being able to figure out how to react how I want to, or not being able to react at all there isn’t any ‘figuring out’ because the mind feels like it is past a state of being able to interpret.' Shutdowns are also a response to being overwhelmed, but may appear more passive - eg an autistic person going quiet or 'switching off'. This loss of control can be verbal (eg shouting, screaming, crying) or physical (eg kicking, lashing out, biting) or both. Meltdowns in children are often mistaken for temper tantrums and parents and their autistic children often experience hurtful comments and judgmental stares from less understanding members of the public.Ī shutdown appears less intense to the outside world but can be equally debilitating. These are very intense and exhausting experiences.Ī meltdown happens when someone becomes completely overwhelmed by their current situation and temporarily loses behavioural control. When everything becomes too much for an autistic person, they can go into meltdown or shutdown. Read more about repetitive behaviours and dealing with change here It could be having to adjust to big events like Christmas or changing schools, facing uncertainty at work, or something simpler like a bus detour that can trigger their anxiety. Autistic people often engage in these behaviours to help calm themselves when they are stressed or anxious, but many autistic people do it because they find it enjoyable.Ĭhange to routine can also be very distressing for autistic people and make them very anxious. They may want to travel the same way to and from school or work, wear the same clothes or eat exactly the same food for breakfast.Īutistic people may also repeat movements such as hand flapping, rocking or the repetitive use of an object such as twirling a pen or opening and closing a door. This is why they often prefer to have routines so that they know what is going to happen. With its unwritten rules, the world can seem a very unpredictable and confusing place to autistic people. Read more about social communication and social interaction challenges here
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