Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that manifests in many symptoms over the lifespan.
Children are impacted in two significant ways.
First, it may hinder their ability to interact normally with other people.
Second, it can lead to kids having limited interests and repeated habits.
Autistic traits typically appear early in the development of a child.
Until kids start having problems with peers, nobody gives it any thought.
The way autism is perceived and treated by psychiatrists has evolved. Pervasive developmental disorders were once used to classify a child’s health:
- Autism
- Asperger’s disorder
- Disintegrative Disorder in Children (CDD)
- Non-syndromic pervasive developmental disorder (PDD-NOS)
As of late, all these symptoms have been rolled into a single diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
Autism is not a single disorder but a spectrum because autistic children can display various signs and behaviors.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects one in every 59 kids.
Approximately three to four times as many boys as females receive an ASD diagnosis.
How Do You Recognize Autistic Spectrum Disorder?
Autistic children typically exhibit symptoms before the age of two.
Some kids start to “regress” or lose language and social skills at around one or two.
Autism manifests itself in various ways in each child who has it.
Some kids have more severe symptoms than others, while others don’t even display any signs.
Two distinct groups of symptoms characterize autism spectrum disorder:
Interpersonal Exchanges And Communal Activities
- dislikes physical contact of any kind, especially hugs and cuddles
- prefer spending time by yourselves
- avoids calling them by their name
- dislikes sharing, displaying, or giving away possessions
- does not express themselves through physical gestures
- ignorant of the feelings of others
- not be able to express their emotions
- doesn’t get the concept of love
- has problems understanding and responding to nonverbal cues
- expresses oneself later than usual
- after 18 months, they still haven’t said a word
- unable to string together more than one word by the age of two
- has a unique way of expressing themselves through language:
- talks and sounds like a robot
- uses a high-pitched voice when speaking
- uses the same sentence twice or switches around the order of words
- the ability to repeat material but not to apply it to new situations or in conversation indicates a deficit in cognitive abilities
- maintains minimal-to-no eye contact
- has problems keeping a conversation and listening to the other person
Habitual Actions
- acts in a cyclical fashion
- only cares about minor details
- struggles to adapt to new circumstances
- instead of playing with toys, he or she organizes them
- concentrates intensely on one or a few things
In addition, autistic children may have heightened sensitivity to sensory inputs, including those from the environment.
A sensory processing disorder describes this condition.
Extremely uncomfortable situations include those with, for instance, loud noises or bright lights.
Alternately, they may seek out novel sensory experiences by purposefully colliding with objects or smelling or touching anything in sight.
How Can Medical Professionals Determine If A Child Has Autism?
A youngster must exhibit both social difficulties and repetitive activities to receive a diagnosis of autism.
This child’s symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with regular activities.
The onset of symptoms must have occurred before the child turned two, even if they weren’t immediately noticeable.
Early children as young as two can receive a diagnosis of autism.
All signs and symptoms will be detailed when a child is diagnosed with autism.
The diagnosis will specify how much help is needed for each condition.
The severity of the symptoms will determine the intensity of the assistance provided. The three tiers of help are as follows:
- needing help
- needing significant help
- demanding massive help
Autistic children may have difficulties with both reasoning and learning. An intellectual disorder describes this condition.
Autism should only be diagnosed in children whose difficulties interacting with others cannot be attributed to a delay in cognitive growth.
Children who exhibit simply social difficulties and no repetitive activities are not diagnosed with autism. The term “social communication disorder” is commonly used to describe their condition.
Are There Any Known Causes Of Autism?
Some of the things that increase a child’s likelihood of developing autism are:
- Fetal Weight Limitation
- Birth defects have been linked to prenatal exposure to the drug valproate.
- Aging parents
- A higher percentage of boys than girls receive an ASD diagnosis.
- Evidence suggests no connection between vaccinations and autism.
How to Deal with Autism?
As of right now, autism treatment options are limited.
But with the right coaching, kids can learn new skills and reduce negative behaviors that may be causing them issues.
To help children with ASD, various effective therapies have been developed:
- Hundreds of research have shown that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is practical for children of all severities of autism.
- Children learn social skills and language through this experience.
- As a bonus, it educates kids to avoid dangerous activities like self-injury.
- Occupational therapy (OT) helps kids learn the abilities they’ll need to participate independently in everyday life.
- Motor abilities and the ability to integrate information from the senses of sight, sound, and touch are all part of the picture.
- Children may also benefit from speech or physical therapy if they have difficulty communicating or moving around.
- It has also been found that “Social Stories” can be an effective tool for many parents.
- These are creative approaches to helping young people develop social skills.
- The narratives are told from the perspective of the young reader.
- Children are prepared for what is to come through words, pictures, and drawings.
- Although there is currently no treatment for autism, people can manage some symptoms with medication.
- The medication also treats the various secondary symptoms accompanying autism in children.
A few examples are mania, panic attacks, and depression.
Despite widespread claims of effectiveness, there is no scientific evidence to check the efficacy of alternative medicines.
One such treatment, chelation, which uses chemicals, is hazardous.
Parents interested in alternative therapies must collaborate with a medical professional.
Possible Exposure to Other Disorders
Specific health issues are more common in children with autism.
- Epilepsy
- Disruptions in sleep patterns
- Allergies
- Issues with digestion
- Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Problems with thinking
