Psychiatry, conditions

Autism: understanding needs and finding support

Autism is a difference in how a person communicates, connects with others and takes in the world through the senses. It is not an illness to cure. Good care looks at support, access needs and the goals the person chooses.

In short

  • Autism is a difference to understand and support, not something to fix.
  • Changes to light, noise, words and pace can make care easier to use.
  • Other conditions that come with autism, such as anxiety, can be treated.

Need help now?

Get emergency medical care now for a sudden, serious change. This includes:

  • sudden confusion, or being much less aware or responsive than usual
  • hardly moving, or not able to eat or drink
  • thoughts of suicide, or of harming yourself
  • any immediate danger

Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department. See crisis lines.

What is autism?

Autism involves differences in how the brain develops and works, beginning in childhood. It shapes communication, social connection, routines, interests and how the senses work. Sound, light or touch may feel too strong, or too faint.

Autistic people differ a lot from one another. Some need little support. Others need a great deal. Both deserve respect for what they want.

Some adults learn to hide the signs of autism. This is called masking. It can make daily life and time with people feel tiring.

An adult adjusting their own lighting and sensory setup.
Communication and sensory needs deserve respect. Ask which changes would make care easier to use.

Is autism something to cure?

No. Good care aims to make life easier on the person's own terms, not to make someone seem less autistic. NICE guidance advises against many treatments that claim to change the core features of autism. That includes several medicines.

Some other conditions often come with autism. Examples are anxiety, low mood, OCD, ADHD and epilepsy. These can be assessed and treated in their own right.

What can an assessment help explain?

An assessment can help explain how you think, sense and connect, and what support would help. It looks at your early development and your life now. Where possible, it uses someone who knew you as a child, or old school reports.

It also checks for other conditions. At the start, you can ask what the assessment is for and how you will hear the result.

At Weave, a full assessment for autism, ADHD and development is two 50-minute sessions. It includes a written summary.

A person explaining what matters to them while a clinician listens.
Bring your questions and preferences into the discussion. Ask for an explanation you can use.

What does helpful support look like?

Helpful support fits the person's needs, not other people's comfort. It might mean softer light, less noise, clear written information or plans that do not change without warning. It might mean help with work, study or daily tasks.

For young children, guidance suggests play-based communication support with parents and teachers. For adults, changes at work can help. The goals should be ones the person wants.

A person reading with headphones and space around them.
Communication and sensory preferences matter. Ask what can make the setting easier to use.

Is there a medicine for autism?

No medicine is recommended for the core features of autism. Guidance advises against using medicines such as antipsychotics or antidepressants for that purpose.

Medicine may still help a separate condition, such as anxiety or depression. Ask for the reason and when it will be reviewed.

When someone is very distressed, pain, illness, noise and other surroundings should be checked first. Distress is not just a "behaviour" to treat.

A change in eating, sleep or behaviour can be a sign of pain or illness that is hard to put into words. Ask for a medical check soon.

Can I ask for changes in a consultation?

Yes. You can ask for changes that make the appointment easier to use. For example: plain words, written questions, less light or noise, breaks, more time to answer, or a support person you choose.

Ask before the visit which changes are possible. Needing help to communicate is not the same as being unable to decide. Under section 4 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, a person can share a decision by speech, gesture or other means.

An adult talking with family members who are listening.
Bring a support person you choose. Agree beforehand what they will do.

How can family support choice?

Family can offer real choices and talk in ways that work for the person. For an adult, the person decides if and how family is involved. They also decide what is shared, within the limits of the law.

For a child, parents or guardians are part of decisions. The child's own wishes still count. A person who needs a lot of support still has wishes that matter.

A child choosing an activity while an adult listens.
Include the child's voice. Ask which support fits their age and needs.

What if I disagree with the result?

You can ask for the reasons and for time to think. Guidance suggests a second opinion when the result is unclear, or when the person or family disagrees with it. You can ask about that.

You can also ask what support might help whether or not the result says autism. Your rights in care page explains more.

Questions to bring

  • Which changes would make this appointment easier for me?
  • What support can we work on whether or not the result says autism?
  • What other conditions did you check for?
  • Who chose these goals, and do they matter to me?

How can I ask about care at Weave?

You can reach Weave through the contact page. The adult autism assessment page and the developmental assessment page explain what each covers. Fees are on the services page.

Before you book, check the clinician, format, fee and whether the service fits your needs.

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