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• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Life on the Autism spectrum

Published: 13^th October 2008               Last updated: November 2010

Review date: November 2012

 

We interviewed 37 people who are on the autism spectrum and, in six cases, their partners.  The interviews include experiences across the life course as people were diagnosed during childhood and others had only recently been diagnosed relatively late in life. To share in their experiences and to find out more information about autism, click on the links below. 

 

See also... Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Life on the Autism spectrum

Published: 13^th October 2008               Last updated: November 2010

Review date: November 2012

 

We interviewed 37 people who are on the autism spectrum and, in six cases, their partners.  The interviews include experiences across the life course as people were diagnosed during childhood and others had only recently been diagnosed relatively late in life. To share in their experiences and to find out more information about autism, click on the links below. 

 

See also... Parents of children on the Autism Spectrum

• Topic
• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Autism diagnosis: the beginning >> Autism diagnosis: the beginning

Autism diagnosis: the beginning

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Autism diagnosis: the beginning >> Autism diagnosis: the beginning

Autism diagnosis: the beginning

• Clip
• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women in employment/education: >> Harriet - Interview 42 >> Harriet describes the rules and routines she needs are like a narrow straight line she walks along and she has to concentrate not to fall off.

Harriet was diagnosed with high functioning autism when she was 39 years old. She has aspects of her life which she finds difficult like changes in routine, sensory sensitivities and a dislike of social interaction.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Peter - Interview 50 >> Peter can leave dirty plates in his house but is obsessive about DVDs and videos being lined up in order.

Peter, aged 33, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome three years ago. He is seeing a psychologist regularly which helps him with depression and he is finding life is getting easier over time.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary worried about having a personality disorder and was relieved to be diagnosed with AS.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Sensory disorders, fears, anxieties and advanced skills. >> Sensory disorders, fears, anxieties and advanced skills.

Fears, anxieties and sensory disorders are common with autism. They vary with the severity of the autism and across people’s lives. People with autism may exhibit sensory hypersensitivity, being extremely sensitive to one or all stimuli, e.g. sight, sound, smell, touch or taste. Some parents told us that their children experienced fears, anxieties or sensory sensitivities; here we see that they were also significant in the lives of the adults we talked with.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Sensory disorders, fears, anxieties and advanced skills. >> Sensory disorders, fears, anxieties and advanced skills.

Fears, anxieties and sensory disorders are common with autism. They vary with the severity of the autism and across people’s lives. People with autism may exhibit sensory hypersensitivity, being extremely sensitive to one or all stimuli, e.g. sight, sound, smell, touch or taste. Some parents told us that their children experienced fears, anxieties or sensory sensitivities; here we see that they were also significant in the lives of the adults we talked with.