Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)

Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) or other social communication difficulty

Autistic spectrum disorders are characterised by:

Social impairment which includes; qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction, inadequate appreciation of socio-emotional cues, lack of responses to other people’s emotions, lack of modulation of behaviour according to social context, poor use of social signals and lack of social emotional reciprocity.

Communication impairment which includes; lack of social usage of language skills, impairment in make-belief and social imitative play, lack of reciprocity in conversational interchange, poor flexibility in language expression, lack of creativity and fantasy and thought processes.

Restricted and repetitive activities and interests, which include: resistance to change, insistence on routines and rituals, hand flapping and other stereotypy’s, ordering play, attachment to unusual objects, fascination with unusual aspects of the world and consuming preoccupations with restricted subjects.

Initial intervention from other Tier 1/2 services (Universal and Targeted services) prior to specialist CAMHS involvement

Advice can be sought from specialist advisory teachers. Diagnosis of ASC is undertaken by a Multi Agency Assessment Team (MAAT) chaired by Community Paediatricians.

All age Autism service – Carlisle Mencap.

Online Support

Service provided by Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service – Tier 3

Where there is evidence of diagnosis of Autism (or MAAT pathway process initiated) then a referral to the Children’s Learning Disability and Behaviour Support Service can be made for children up to 11 years old (Over 11’s to be referred to Carlisle Mencap).

Where co-existing mental health difficulties are present, a CAMHS practitioner will undertake an assessment and formulate a care and treatment plan as a result, where appropriate to do so.