What is autism?

Autism is a difference in how your brain develops that affects how you see and experience the world. It is often called a type of neurodivergence.

• You might also hear autism called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is the medical term for a diagnosis of autism.
• Being autistic can affect how you communicate with people and understand them, and how people understand you.
• It can also affect how you think, learn and pay attention to things and how you respond to light, sounds, smells, tastes and touch.
• Some autistic people have a learning disability. Some have average intelligence or above average intelligence.
• Autistic people are more likely to have some physical and mental health conditions, such as epilepsy, anxiety, eating disorders or depression.
• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is also more common in autistic people.
• Autism is something you’re born with. It’s not an illness and there is no treatment or cure, but there are ways of managing it and getting support.
• It’s not known what causes autism, but it can sometimes affect people in the same family. It is not caused by vaccines or medicines.

Page last reviewed: 6 May 2026
Next review due: 6 May 2029