ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Autism Is a World

Autism is like living in a different world. Imagine you are in a fun and exciting carnival with lots of bright colors, loud sounds, and many people running around. Most people feel happy and quite comfortable in this world because they know how to play the games and interact with others around them.

But for some people with autism, this world can feel overwhelming and confusing. They might see and hear things differently than others, making it hard to understand what's going on around them.

In their world, they might have a hard time with communication and expressing themselves. For example, they might not be able to make eye contact when people talk to them or have difficulty understanding social cues.

They might also have very strong interests in specific things, like numbers or animals, and spend a lot of time thinking and talking about those things. This is called having obsessions or fixations.

So, in summary, autism is like living in a different world than most people. It can be a little confusing and overwhelming, but with help and understanding, people with autism can still enjoy their world and the people in it.
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