Autism spectrum disorders

These sections refer to high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Issues affecting children with autism who have more profound communication difficulties are covered in that section.

Sensory processing issues are included in the autism sections because they are often linked to Asperger’s syndrome.

The main challenges for children with Asperger’s syndrome are:

• Communication (both listening and expressing themselves)
• Understanding their emotions and even the most basic emotions of others. Being unable to empathise with another person, either in real life or in a story
• Responding to requests
• Coping with noise, whether from people, machines or fire alarms
• Making eye contact
• Being close to other children, for example in a line or working at a table
• Responding to praise
• Coping with change in their routine or work area, including school trips and changes of staff
• Focusing on work they do not see as relevant
• Literality of speech (not understanding idioms or expressions)
• Taking turns
• Working as part of a team
• Understanding the difference between fact and fiction, in stories and in reality
• Using advanced vocabulary but often without the understanding of the words or context
• Having obsessions about particular things (cars, toys or characters from a book)
• Hurting someone, often just to get a reaction, without understanding what this feels like for the other person
• A dislike of physical contact
• A dislike of clutter, too much bright colour and a dislike of florescent lights
• A child with Asperger’s syndrome will find the change to secondary school stressful. They will not find it easy to cope with new teachers and pupils

Click on the subject below to find out tips on teaching children with autism who are at a particular P level or key stage: