Relating to autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, the condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours: this can make a dental visit a very distressing experience.

People with autism can experience challenges when there are changes in their routine, and can find it difficult to cope with new or unfamiliar situations and people. A visit to the seemingly-alien environment of a dentist surgery can therefore be an entirely overwhelming experience. If a person with autism experiences sensory overload, they could go into meltdown; other people with the condition may become unable to communicate. This is known as ‘shutdown’.