Just what exactly do we know about autism?
So much is written and spoken about autism, but in this feature published in the Sunday Post newspaper, I spoke to two experts in an effort to find out where we are in our quest for knowledge.
And in discovering that, as yet, there are no proven dietary or medical interventions, I felt more at peace with my situation as the mother of a child with the condition, than I have in many years.
There are many within the autism community – parents, autistic adults, doctors and scientists – who question whether we should even be talking about treatment.
And that’s where the thinking around this condition gets really muddy.
An ‘enormous’ spectrum
Autism is an umbrella term for individuals who have difficulty with communication and social interaction, demonstrate repetitive behaviours and have sensory issues.
But the spectrum is enormous. There are those with autism for whom the condition brings brilliance, they may be intellectually or musically gifted, or have other significantly enhanced abilities.
Then there are those who are profoundly disabled, unable to communicate and seemingly trapped within their bodies. Sometimes an individual can be both gifted and profoundly disabled.
And in this feature I take a look at where we are as far as our understanding of the condition goes and what that means for treatment.
