2 days agoViral XComments Off on Two men, 30s, arrested after €2.2m of cannabis seized in joint Donegal sting operation targeting organised crime
TWO men have been arrested after €2.2 million worth of cannabis was seized in Co Donegal.
Revenue officers led a joint intelligence-led sting in Lifford, Co Donegal yesterday.
Alongside the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Revenue seized approximately 112kgs of herbal cannabis.
Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue’s Custom Service aided in the seizure, which came to an estimated value of €2.2 million.
Gardai arrested two men, both in their 30s, following the discovery.
They are currently being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996 at a Garda Station in the north west region.
Gardai confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
A statement said: “This seizure was made as a result of a joint operation conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit.
“Two men in their 30s were arrested by An Garda Síochána and is currently detained at a Garda Station in Donegal under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996.
“This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing joint investigations involving organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs.
“If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on phone number 1800 295 295.”
AIRPORT DRUG ARREST
Separately, a woman in her 20s was arrested following a seizure of cannabis at Dublin Airport on Monday.
She was stopped following a risk profiling where Revenue officers discovered 19kg of herbal cannabis.
The drugs had an estimated value of €380,000.
The cannabis was found concealed in vacuum packed packages within the baggage of the passenger.
She had arrived to Dublin from a flight from Thailand.
Gardai said in a statement: “An Garda Siochana and Revenue arrested a woman and seized €380,000 of herbal cannabis at Dublin Airport today, Monday 31st March, 2025.
“As a result of risk profiling, Revenue officers seize 19kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €380,000. The cannabis was discovered concealed in vacuum packed packages within the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight from Thailand.
“A woman, aged in her 20’s was arrested by Gardaí in relation to the seizure, and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Dublin Garda Station.
Elite Security Products Limited is recalling its Sangamo Powersaver heating control products.
Three products are being recalled, with a range of model and barcode numbers.
The brand is Sangamo, and there are three colour variants – white, black and silver.
MODEL AND BARCODE NUMBERS
There are three variants being recalled.
The first product being recalled has three model numbers and corresponding barcodes.
These are:
Model: PSPBF, Barcode: 5060654461706
Model: PSPBFB, Barcode: 5060654464080
Model: PSPBFS, Barcode: 5060654464233
The next variant also has three model numbers and barcodes.
These are:
Model: PSPSF24, Barcode: 5060654461720
Model: PSPSF24B, Barcode: 5060654464103
Model: PSPSF24S, Barcode: 5060654464257
The final product also has three model numbers and corresponding barcodes.
These are:
Model: PSPSF247, Barcode: 5060654461737
Model: PSPSF247B, Barcode: 5060654464110
Model: PSPSF247S, Barcode: 5060654464264
RANGE OF RISKS
Customers are being warned not to use the product and have it replaced by a registered electrical contractor immediately.
A range of risks have been reported to the CCPC after using the product.
The risks reported include electric shock, burns and smoke inhalation.
This is as a result of the housing of the fused timer becoming distorted and exposing the consumer to live parts.
The customer may then use the product and touch the live part.
This in turn could result in potential electrocution.
Or, the housing of the fused timer could overheat and melt, which could result in potential burns or smoke inhalation.
It is believed that there are around 2,240 affected products in the Republic of Ireland.
For more information on how to obtain the replacement product, shoppers should contact the ESP Customer Service Team on +44 (0) 1527 515150 or email sales@espuk.com.
The chocolate is being recalled due to the presence of small stonesTony's
2 days agoViral XComments Off on The secret Alexa hack that’s helping parents to get their kids to eat anything & it makes bedtimes loads easier too
PARENTS all over the world are racing to their Alexa devices after hearing about a new hack that’s predicted to make lives a whole lot easier.
Mum Tori took to her TikTok page to share the clever trick, after hearing it herself on the social media site.
Mum Tori has left people stunned after sharing a clever hack using your Amazon AlexaTikTok/tori.t.grahamYou can set up questions for the device to answer, based on your child’s favourite characterTikTok/tori.t.grahamGettyThe device will then reply with the set response when you ask the question[/caption]
ABCTori used her son’s favourite character Bluey to encourage him to eat his dinner[/caption]
And she said in the video that she reckons the hack will “change your life”.
Tori then demonstrated the hack in action as she asked: “Alexa, what’s Bluey having for dinner tonight?”
The Amazon device then replied: “Bluey is having sausage and mash with broccoli for dinner tonight.”
“You can use your Alexa app to create different questions and then change the answers,” Tori explained.
“So, Alexa, what’s Bluey doing tonight?” she asked.
“Bluey is having a bath and and getting ready for bed because she has school in the morning,” Alexa replied
“He’s not going to listen to me, but he’s going to listen to Bluey!” Tori laughed.
“I cannot wait to see if this actually works.
“But I just know that it’s going to, because obviously he’s going to listen to Bluey and not his mum!”
She also asked a third question: “Alexa, what’s Bluey doing this morning?”
“Bluey is brushing her teeth and getting ready for school,” Alexa responded.
In another video on her page, Tori showed her little boy responding to Alexa answering the dinner question.
And when she asked him if they should have sausage, mash and broccoli for their dinner like cartoon dog Bluey, he was quick to agree.
Other parents were quick to comment on the video, with hundreds desperate to try it out themselves.
“Off to set 100 questions about what Spiderman is up to,” one mum wrote.
“He’s about to be one very well behaved Spidey!”
How do I do this on my Alexa app?
MUM Tori has explained how you can set up similar actions on your Alexa app. And remember, it doesn't have to be Bluey - you can use any character you want, and get Alexa to reply with anything you want!
In the app, go down to ‘More’. You then click on ‘Routines’, and ‘Create a new routine’
Go into ‘when’ and select ‘Voice’- this is the question you’re going to ask
Then select ‘Alexa will’, or ‘Alexa says’
And then ‘Customised’, you type in whatever you want them to say
Click ‘Next’ and then you’ll hear it from the device you speak to
Click ‘Save’
It takes about a minute to update and then it’s ready to go!
“OMG this is genius!” another gushed.
“Omg! My son is going to love this,” a third raved.
As someone else said: “You have just saved my little bit of remaining sanity, thank you!”
“I’ve had Alexa for years and I never knew this!” another marvelled.
2 days agoViral XComments Off on How to Complete All Fortnite April Fool’s Quests
With the arrival of April 1st, Fortnite has brought back the traditional April Fools’ Day quests. This time, they are freshly baked out of the oven and ready to take you on a quirky and unconventional ride. They are here to give you a break from your usual Battle Royale routine. These quick missions are […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
2 days agoViral XComments Off on Seth Rollins Net Worth in 2025: Salary and Contract Details Revealed
WrestleMania season is here, and WWE is cooking up pure chaos in the best possible way. The top dogs, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins, are all heading into a triple-threat showdown at WrestleMania 41, and let’s be honest, it’s the kind of drama that deserves popcorn and a championship belt. The live SmackDown […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
2 days agoViral XComments Off on Ranking Every Season of “Stranger Things’ Ahead of Season 5, Worst to Best
Ever since Stranger Things burst onto Netflix in 2016, it’s been a wild ride through monsters, mind powers, and enough ‘80s nostalgia to make you want to dust off a cassette tape. With four seasons packed full of Demogorgons, shady government experiments, and a bunch of kids who are way braver than most adults, the […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
2 days agoViral XComments Off on How Jada Pinkett Smith Has Recovered From Infidelity With Will Smith and the Infamous Oscar Slap?
Jada Pinkett Smith has kept up a steady flow of controversies for the last few years. Be it the strange anecdotes in interviews, exposing shocking scandals, or her explosive memoir, the actress has made it a mission to continue making headlines at all costs. Her tumultuous marriage with Will Smith and its consequences not only […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
2 days agoViral XComments Off on Val Kilmer was the prickly Hollywood playboy who rattled Tom Cruise & seduced A-list stars… before an emotional comeback
HE was the prickly Hollywood playboy who charmed some of the world’s most beautiful stars – and drove producers to despair.
Hollywood star Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65, his family has announcedRexIn one of his most iconic roles, he played Tom Kazansky in Top Gun opposite Tom CruiseKobal Collection - ShutterstockHe shocked fans when he reprised his role in Top Gun as Tom Kazansky, which was the last time he was pictured
The legendary actor died yesterday in Los Angeles due to complications from pneumonia, marking the end of a decades-long battle with health challenges that began in 2014 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer.
After undergoing aggressive treatment, which included a tracheotomy, chemotherapy and radiation, Kilmer was left with a permanent change to his voice, but his spirit remained unbroken.
And in 2022, he treated fans to the most heart-tugging reunion when he made a near-miraculous comeback in Top Gun: Maverick alongside his old sparring partner, Tom Cruise.
Grown men were left in tears watching the American star return to the role of cocksure Tom “Iceman” Kazansky that first made him famous in 1986.
The original transformed the then-unknown Kilmer into Hollywood’s hottest hunk, whose high-profile flings included Cher, Cindy Crawford, Daryl Hannah, Ellen Barkin, and Angelina Jolie.
But a reputation for being difficult to work with, financial woes and a brush with death appeared to wreck all hopes of ever seeing Kilmer in a blockbuster again.
Thanks, though, due to radical new artificial voice technology the actor was able to talk again.
PA:Press AssociationHe dated Angelina Jolie after meeting on the set of Alexander in 2004[/caption]
GettyVal dated Cher in the 1980s although he was initially skeptical about meeting her[/caption]
Cindy Crawford and Val Kilmer in MoscowGettyGettyVal and Daryl Hannah arrive at the premiere of ‘Wonderland’[/caption]
Despite that, convincing the sequel’s producers that he was fit to return to active duty was a tough task for the never-say-die movie veteran.
Kilmer insisted, rightly, that there was no Top Gun without Iceman.
He stated: “Tom was Maverick, but Maverick’s nemesis was Iceman. The two went together like salt and pepper.
“It didn’t matter that the producers didn’t contact me. As the Temptations sang in the heyday of Motown soul, ‘ain’t too proud to beg.'”
Thought Top Gun was ‘silly’
That certainly wasn’t Kilmer’s attitude when he read the script for the original.
He thought it was “silly” and had to accept the role because he was under contract with the studio.
At that point Kilmer had only appeared in two comedies, Top Secret! And Real Genius.
The precocious, then 26-year-old, newcomer didn’t play it safe, choosing to ad-lib lines and deliberately create off-screen tension with Cruise.
He reportedly formed a team Iceman camp to rival anyone on the Maverick side and went off partying while Cruise diligently learned his script.
Kilmer said: “Tom refrained from our revelry, with good reason. From day one, he was laser-focused on a singular goal – to become the greatest action hero in the history of film.”
Reluctantly taking the role proved to be a fortuitous break because Top Gun was the biggest box office hit of 1986 and Kilmer’s line “you can be my wingman any time” is part of pop culture.
‘I have behaved poorly’
Corbis - GettyHe is said to have deliberately caused tensions with Cruise when he adlibbed his lines in Top Gun[/caption]
Bridgeman ImagesBatman Forever director Joel Schumacher described him as ‘psychotic’[/caption]
GettyVal’s insistence on staying in character landed him in trouble at home with his ex wife Joanne Whalley and on set[/caption]
Two years later the ladies’ man met his future wife, British actress Joanne Whalley, on the set of Willow and they had two children, Mercedes and Jack.
His insistence on staying in character caused problems both for his marriage and his co-stars.
For the whole year he played tragic rocker Jim Morrison in The Doors he didn’t break out of the part on set or at home or prize himself out of the same leather trousers.
During an audition for the 1991 film with actress Caitlin O’Heaney he allegedly got so caught up in the moment that he slapped her, which resulted in a financial settlement.
Batman Forever director Joel Schumacher described Kilmer, who only played the caped crusader once, as “psychotic” and The Island of Dr Moreau director John Frankenheimer said: “There are two things I will never ever do in my whole life: I will never climb Mt. Everest and I will never work with Val Kilmer ever again.”
Kilmer acknowledged that, perhaps, he overstepped the mark now and again.
He said in a recent documentary: “I have behaved poorly, I have behaved bravely, I have behaved bizarrely to some”.
Left playboy life behind
The women in his life have seen a different side to the troubled actor.
His actress daughter Mercedes, who was so close to her dad that she lived next door to him in California, said: “I think he has the reputation of being difficult, which is deserved and undeserved.”
Kilmer told how he was in love with former girlfriends, such as supermodel Crawford, and many of them remained close friends.
While his split from Whalley in 1996 proved to be acrimonious, tensions eventually cooled and they remained in regular contact.
Val's Hollywood loves
Cher – In the early 1980s, Kilmer was introduced to singer and actress Cher. Initially skeptical about meeting her, he soon discovered her to be “the funniest person you’ll ever meet.” Their relationship blossomed, leading Kilmer to move into Cher’s residence at Caesars Palace during her Las Vegas residency. He reflected, “Cher trafficked an intoxicating glamour and I, a Valley boy, fell under her spell.” Despite parting ways romantically, they maintained a lifelong friendship.
Michelle Pfeiffer – Kilmer’s connection with actress Michelle Pfeiffer began in 1985 on the set of “One Too Many.” Although brief, their relationship was significant during that period.
Joanne Whalley – While filming “Willow” in 1987, Kilmer met British actress Joanne Whalley. Their on-set chemistry led to marriage in 1988. The couple had two children: daughter Mercedes, born in 1991, and son Jack, born in 1995. Despite their shared experiences, the marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
Cindy Crawford – Following his divorce, Kilmer was linked to supermodel Cindy Crawford. He admired her deeply, expressing: “I thought I could have died from her love because its delight was simply too much to bear.” However, their demanding careers made sustaining the relationship challenging.
Angelina Jolie – In 2004, on the set of “Alexander,” Kilmer met actress Angelina Jolie. He described her as “perhaps the most soulful and serious of them all,” noting: “She’s like other women and other superstars but just more. More gorgeous. More wise. More tragic. More magic. More grounded.” Their relationship was brief but left a lasting impression on Kilmer.
Daryl Hannah – Kilmer’s relationship with actress Daryl Hannah in 2001 was particularly impactful. He confessed: “Lord knows I’ve suffered heartache. But Daryl was by far the most painful of all.” He continued: “I knew I would love her with my whole heart forever and that love has lost none of its strength. I am still in love with Daryl.” The breakup was so devastating that Kilmer admitted, “I cried every single day for half a year.”
Kilmer only learned that she had left him via the news and she sued him over alleged non-payment of child support in 2011.
In later years, though, he said: “Joanne and I have a tremendous respect for one another and she was and is a huge part of my life.”
The man who claimed to prefer the company of women to men remained, surprisingly, single in his last couple of decades.
In an interview in 2020 he said: “I haven’t had a girlfriend in 20 years. The truth is, part of every day I’m alone.”
Saved by Cher
It was singer Cher, who dated him in 1981, whose lasting devotion proved to be crucial to his survival.
Around 2015 Kilmer was living alone in a cottage in Malibu, Los Angeles, short of funds because a property deal in New Mexico had cost him millions in the property crash seven years earlier.
A lump in his throat that was making it difficult to swallow grew into a deadly tumour that could no longer go untreated.
I haven’t had a girlfriend in 20 years. The truth is, part of every day I’m alone
Val Kilmer
That became clear to Kilmer on the day he awakened in a pool of the blood he had coughed up.
“I presumed this was the day of my death”, he wrote in his autobiography I’m Your Huckleberry.
After calling an ambulance he crawled up the stairs of his home to the road so that the paramedics could find him.
In order to save his life he was given an emergency tracheotomy at nearby Santa Monica hospital.
But he needed ongoing care if he was going to beat the cancer and it was Cher who organised for him to be transferred to David Geffen’s School of Medicine at UCLA.
For the next two months he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment before leaving to convalesce at Cher’s Malibu guest house
He wrote: “Once Cher works her way inside your head and heart, she never leaves.”
When fellow star Michael Douglas revealed in 2016 that Kilmer had cancer he denied it, before revealing the truth a year later.
And he became more open about his struggles.
In a documentary titled Val there was footage of him throwing up after signing autographs while sitting in a wheelchair at the fan convention Comic-Con.
But the religious actor wouldn’t credit medicine with his renewed state of well-being.
He believed that by praying to God his cancer had healed “much faster than any of the doctors predicted.”
What can’t be denied is that technology gave him the ability for his voice to be heard once more.
A company called Sonantic took old voice recordings of Kilmer and used artificial intelligence to turn them into words played through a speaker.
He said: “I was struck by throat cancer. After being treated, my voice as I knew it was taken away from me.
“People around me struggle to understand me when I’m talking. But despite all that I still feel I’m the exact same person.”
Kilmer, who wore scarves to cover up his tracheotomy, insisted he felt far healthier than he looked.
That allowed him to play an older, wiser Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick.
He concluded: “The characters never really go away. They live on, in deep freeze. If you’ll pardon the pun.”
Val pictured as a young boyReutersVal admitted he was challenging to work with in his heyday[/caption]
2 days agoViral XComments Off on Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic: UK start time, live stream, TV channel, full undercard for massive heavyweight clash
JOE JOYCE returns to the ring this weekend to take on late-notice opponent Filip Hrgovic.
After difficult losses against Derek Chisora and Zhilei Zhang, this may be the 39-year-old star’s last run at having a chance to fight for a world title.
Joe Joyce is back in action against Filip Hrgovic after his fight with Dillian Whyte fell throughHrgovic was unbeaten before he was KOd by Daniel Dubois last year
Originally, the bout was set to see the Juggernaut take on British rival Dillian Whyte.
A replacement was quickly found in Croatian Hrgovic, who steps in to headline this weekend’s main event on just a month’s notice.
Hrgovic is coming into this fight after almost a year out of the ring – when he suffered the first defeat of his pro career to a brilliant KO performance from Daniel Dubois.
The 32-year-old star will be hoping to bounce back after this loss as he had gained lots of hype for his impressive 17-0 record (at the time) – with 14 of those wins coming by KO.
As for Joyce, retirement appears to be staring him in the face should he lose after three defeats in his last four and his only win coming against Kash Ali.
When is Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic?
Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic meet live from the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester on Saturday, April 5.
The main card is expected to get underway from 7pm GMT.
The ring walk for the main event is expected to take place at approximately 10.30pm GMT.
This is subject to change.
What TV channel is Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic on and can it be streamed?
The Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic main card will be broadcast and streamed LIVE on DAZN.
This is Queensberry promotion’s first-ever DAZN Show.
Viewers can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £14.99-a-month, which commits you to an entire year of action.
A flexible pass, worth £24.99-a-month (minimum three-month contract), is also available, and you can cancel at any time.
You can also pay £119.99 for the year upfront, which is the lowest cost option.
Alternatively, SunSport will blog every fight from the card.
Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic FULL fight card
Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic
Jack Rafferty vs Cory O’Regan – for Commonwealth super-lightweight title
David Adeleye vs Jeamie TKV – for vacant British heavyweight title
2 days agoViral XComments Off on From hating crowds to needing routine and masking – are you autistic like Christine McGuiness and The Last of Us star?
MODEL Christine McGuinness was a “recluse” for eight years and only left the house at 3am.
GettyModel Christine McGuinness has been open about her struggles with autism[/caption]
PASpringwatch Chris Packham has described how autism makes him a ‘task-centric workaholic’[/caption]
SplashBella Ramsey says she was diagnosed after a crew member spotted signs on set for The Last of Us[/caption]
And recently, Bella Ramsey revealed they were diagnosed after struggling to wear thermals on the set of The Last of Us.
But what exactly is autism and why does it seem so different in everyone?
Leanne Cooper-Brown, neurodevelopmental lead at Clinical Partners, tells Sun Health: “Autism is considered a spectrum, so not all people share the same traits.
“Whereas we used to think of autism as a linear line, we have come to realise that terms such as ‘high’ and ‘low’ functioning or definitions of ‘mild’, ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ aren’t helpful and can be misleading.
“Nowadays, we think of autism in terms of the strengths and needs of the individual, which can change over time depending on their environment and support network.”
About 700,000 people in the UK are thought to have autism – that’s one in 100.
But research by University College London suggests that number could be twice as high, as many people remain undiagnosed.
Cases are on the rise though. Figures released last year showed a 175 per cent increase from 2011 to 2022.
Dr Selina Warlow, clinical psychologist and owner of The Nook Neurodevelopmental Clinic, says: “Conversation around neurodiversity is becoming normalised, and that’s so positive to see. But more awareness is needed.
“Receiving a diagnosis can open access to expert resources that support autistic people to thrive in society.”
WHAT IS AUTISM?
AUTISM is not an illness or disease. It’s a lifelong disability that means your brain works in a different way, also called neurodivergence, which influences how you experience and interact with the world, Leanne says.
Crucially, autism is a spectrum, so everybody with it is different.
THE CORE CHARACTERISTICS
IT’S long been associated with social difficulties, like problems maintaining conversations and forming relationships.
But research published this week in the journal Cell Press suggested that repetitive behaviours – like rocking or finger-flicking – and special interests – whether it’s TV shows or specific animals – are more indicative of an autism diagnosis.
AUTISTIC people can be much more or less sensitive to sights, sounds, textures, tastes and smells.
For example, they find bright lights or crowded spaces overwhelming, Leanne says.
They may also stand too close to others or need to move their whole body to look at something.
STIMMING
TO manage this sensory overload, some people use repetitive movements or sounds.
“This is called stimming, and includes rocking, tapping and hand-flapping,” Dr Warlow says.
“Though it’s something everyone does to some extent, those with autism are likely to engage with it as a form of self-regulation.”
GettySome autistic people are over-sensitive to sights, sounds, textures, tastes and smells[/caption]
MASKING
MASKING is a strategy used by some autistic people, consciously or not, to match neurotypical people, Dr Warlow says.
“It’s a way of hiding your true characteristics, and could involve copying facial expressions, planning conversations in advance, or holding in ‘stimming’ – swapping hand clapping with playing with a pen, for example,” she adds.
BURNOUT
BURNOUT is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion and is a common feature in autism.
“Being extremely tired, both mentally and physically, can be associated with the act of masking for a long period of time, or sensory or social overload,” Dr Warlow says.
“Symptoms of autistic burnout include social withdrawal, reduced performance and increased sensitivity.”
SOCIAL STRUGGLES
SOCIALISING can be confusing or tiring for autistic people.
They often find it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling, making it challenging to make friends.
Leanne says: “In adults, autism may present as difficulties with interpreting social cues such as understanding body language or sarcasm, struggling to express emotions or preferring to be alone. This can impact relationships and work.”
GettyAutism can make social situations difficult[/caption]
ROUTINE
MANY of us have a fairly regular daily schedule.
But for autistic people, this becomes a “very strong preference for routine”, Leanne says.
This could be needing a daily timetable to know what is going to happen and when, or having rigid preferences about foods or clothing.
LITERAL THINKING
SOME autistic people have a literal view of language – like believing it’s actually “raining cats and dogs” or that someone really wants you to “break a leg”.
Dr Warlow says: “This can result in confusion with figures of speech, irony or indirect requests.
“For instance, being told to ‘pull your socks up’ might be understood literally, not as a motivational phrase.”
HYPERFOCUS
OFTEN associated with ADHD, hyperfocusing is also common in autistic people.
“It’s where you’re able to focus intensely on an activity and become absorbed to the point of forgetting about time,” Dr Warlow says.
“This is useful in work or hobbies but can result in neglect of other aspects of life, such as food or rest.”
GettyIt’s common for autistic people to need routine, and dislike changes to plans[/caption]
SPECIAL INTERESTS
WE all have hobbies and interests. But for autistic people, these are so compelling they often want to spend all their time learning about, thinking about or doing them.
“Special interests could include anything from dinosaurs to superheroes, and gardening to music,” Dr Warlow says.
“These usually begin in childhood, but can also form as an adult.
“Chris Packham is an example of an autistic person who turned his childhood special interest in animals into a successful career, becoming one of the UK’s best-loved natural world TV presenters.”
HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
IF you think you or your child might be autistic, speak to your GP.
You may be referred for an assessment, which involves interviews, questionnaires and behavioural observations.
NHS waiting lists are long, so you can choose to pay privately.
Because autism isn’t an illness or disease, it cannot be treated or cured.
However, certain interventions, such as talking therapies and practical adjustments at school or work, can help.
GettyModel and TV presenter Melanie Sykes was diagnosed with autism aged 51[/caption]
GettyLove Island’s Niall Aslam is an ambassador for the National Autistic Society[/caption]
