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Autism - Understanding the ‘Spectrum’

October 7, 2025

For people with autism, recognizing a smile or enjoying a touch is often not possible. More and more people, especially children, are being diagnosed with "autism spectrum disorder”, a complex neurological condition.

Autism - Understanding the ‘Spectrum’
Image: Bremedia
17-year-old Jakob Hofmann works in a shop selling outdoor and trekking equipment.The fact that he is different from most people is not noticeable here.Image: Bremedia

Despite an increase in the number of people diagnosed with autism, many autistic people still remain undiagnosed. This is because autism is highly complex and can manifest in many different ways. Some of those affected can live lives similar to people without autism, while others require lifelong care.

In Austria, stem cell research is bringing us closer to understanding the genes that cause disease. Here, the effects of different gene mutations can be studied simultaneously in individual cells.Image: Bremedia

The causes of autism are also a mystery. Scientists around the world are working to find out why the brains of people on the autism spectrum develop differently. This would help medical practitioners to establish reliable methods of diagnosis and effective therapies.

Heike Klüsener is the mother of two autistic children: “We have a weekly schedule for Henry because he needs a lot of structure.”Image: Bremedia

The documentary explores what "living on the autism spectrum” means for those affected, accompanying autistic people in their daily lives and showing the challenges they face. It also follows two renowned autism researchers, Tony Attwood and Professor Ludger Tebartz van Elst, dispelling prejudices that many people have about autistic people. Because, as experts remind us, autism is a very diverse condition.
 

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

FRI 10.10.2025 – 01:15 UTC
FRI 10.10.2025 – 04:15 UTC
SAT 11.10.2025 – 13:15 UTC
SUN 12.10.2025 – 19:15 UTC
MON 13.10.2025 – 09:15 UTC
MON 13.10.2025 – 16:15 UTC
MON 13.10.2025 – 21:15 UTC
WED 15.10.2025 – 12:15 UTC

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Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
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San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4

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