Most people's idea of autism is usually that of a child that struggles to communicate, becomes distressed when they fail to be understood and have little willpower over their actions. But the medical spectrum of autistic disorders is varied and many. Every autistic person has a unique set of symptoms. In this article I am going to focus on high functioning autism, basically those people with autism but with the intelligence of an adult who can live an independent life. 

 Many high functioning autistics have very good carears and relationships. Their success can actually be attributed to their autistic tendencies in many cases. Their IQ level plays a major role in how their disorder affects them, as well as how quick they react to sensory stimulus. In many cases, they can solve difficult mathematical problems and memorize huge amounts of data and written information. They have an amazing eye for the smallest of details that many without the disorder would miss.  

Causes Of Autism – In many cases the roots are likely in the genetic make-up, although research does not confirm this for definite. However, scientists are absolutely convinced it does not have any connection with vaccinations. It is common for a child to be diagnosed with autism and have at least one parent with an autistic gene.  

Characteristics – People with autism have highly sensitive senses, which could manifest in the dislike of light or certain sounds. They find it difficult to interact in social situations, meaning they could be very quiet and withdrawn, not wanting to make eye contact, or appear very raucous and insensitive to others' feelings. These characteristics are inflated even further when meeting people for the first time. There are also physical symptoms such as seizures and difficulty sleeping. However, the capability of an autistic person to memorize swathes of vocabulary and information may be a match for the most intelligent conversationalists. Another trait of an autistic person is their incapability to show any kind of empathy for others. This is not limited to others, as they struggle to understand why certain situations upset them also. They take comments literally and cannot distinguish between sarcasm and humour or whether someone is being genuinely cruel. They hate meeting new people or experiencing new social situations as they feel they have lost a sense of control, so preparing then well beforehand is essential.  

Another behavioural trait to include could be their tendency to repeat certain physical actions such as tapping their feet or hands, nodding their heads or waving their hands. Not every autistic person has these behaviours, but some use them as a calming mechanism. One thing to remember is that an autistic person’s behaviour may seem uncaring and ignorant, and this could result in crossed wires or a bad first impression. They only show interest in subjects that engage them, and have no social filter that this may offend others. In the majority of cases, a person with autism is brutally honest, and do not understand the concept of lying to protect another person's feelings.  

If you really want to create an amazing character with autism, then I highly recommend watching the BBC documentary with wildlife expert Chris Packham, who discusses how his Asperger's affects him in his daily life.