Autism : Decoding The Spectrum of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Siddharth, aged 4, had been displaying restless behavior for quite some time. He was the second child of his parents and they had never seen anything like this before. Worried, his parents finally decided to consult a doctor. While waiting for their turn at the doctor’s clinic and even while going inside the doctor’s chamber, the poor child was loudly wailing. It took considerable time and effort by the distressed parents to calm their child, after which Siddharth started showing very restless behavior. He started running around the room, pulling down cushions, throwing things and causing chaos in general. His mother struggled to control him. Siddharth was later diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Around the globe, research suggests that there are around 75 million people suffering with the problems of Autism spectrum disorder.  The autism disorder is majorly seen in young children. That comes up to about 1 in every 100 children has autism globally. 

Is your child exhibiting similar traits like Siddharth and you suspect that perhaps they might be suffering from this condition? Read on to know more about Autism.

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental and neurological issue that hampers the ability to communicate and in major cases the person feels difficult to express or interact.

On a larger scale, not just the nervous system, autism syndrome hampers cognitive, emotional, social and physical health.

In certain cases, there could be situations or indication of development disorders in both psychological or physical. Often people dealing with autism or the parents get confused on handling such conditions, taking professional help will work wonders in nurturing autistic patients around us with great care.

It’s a sad feeling that autistic people are bullied, only fewer have that empathy to understand such cases. People dealing with autism disorders have a huge impact on nervous systems, cognitive behavior, emotional and social health of the affected individuals.

Autism Causes

The sad part is that there is no particular reason that could lead to autism. The signs of autism start showing up when the child is less than 3 years of age. Autism can happen to any set of people. To mark on the diagnosis, here there are some autism causes that are as follows:-

1. If the Parents are older and have planned baby late,
2. Autism is more likely to happen to boys as compared to girls.
3. If a sibling is autistic.

For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome.

1. If the birth weight is too low

Autism Symptoms

The cases of autism vary from mild to severe. Some start showing symptoms right from birth. Being aware of the symptoms will help you get treatment at an early stage. Here are the signs to watch out for :-

1. If the child avoids eye contact. Even after you pacify the young child, they avoid eye contact.
2. A low interest or more interests only on a particular topic.
3. Patients display a kind of repetitive behavioral pattern i.e. they will repeatedly do the same things again and again.
4. They avoid looking at or listening to other people.
5. They are very sensitive to touch, sounds, smells, sight which are otherwise normal for others
6. They hate being held or cuddled.
7. Such kids feel more paranoid when they are out for social activities.
8. Other than these symptoms, different children might display different symptoms like not responding to their name or showing any facial expressions till they reach 9 months of age.

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Autism Diagnosis

Case to case, the behavioral pattern of autism could be different. 

Your child’s doctor will look for signs of developmental delays at regular checkups. If your child shows any symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, you’ll likely be referred to a specialist who treats children with autism spectrum disorder, such as a child psychiatrist or psychologist, pediatric neurologist, or developmental pediatrician, for an evaluation. 

Doctors will prepare a certain set of questionnaires and may ask parents to fill it. There is a modified checklist for toddlers. There is even comprehensive diagnosis evaluation in which review of medical history is done. There are speech language assessments, cognitive and development testing etc. Based on the results, the further line of action is suggested to parents.

Autism Treatment

No cure exists for autism spectrum disorder, and there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. The goal of treatment is to maximize your child’s ability to function by reducing autism spectrum disorder symptoms and supporting development and learning. Early intervention during the preschool years can help your child learn critical social, communication, functional and behavioral skills.

1. Behavioral Treatment – Many programs address the range of social, language and behavioral difficulties associated with autism spectrum disorder. Some programs focus on reducing problem behaviors and teaching new skills. 
2. Autism Therapy – Pertaining to the autistic stage, the doctors may advise you to go for certain therapies. Many autistic patients often get confused in communicating their feelings. To improvise on such problems, the doctors advise for speech therapy. In fewer cases, to improve the motor skills and flexibility doctor advice for physical therapy. To gain the art of basic etiquettes, doctors will recommend you to go for occupational therapy. The professionals do help in getting the correct autism treatment.
3. Autism Medications – No medication can improve the core signs of autism spectrum disorder, but specific medications can help control symptoms.  These medications can help alleviate symptoms of ASD, such as attention issues, hyperactivity, and anxiety.

Down syndrome and Autism : What’s The Difference

It’s easy to differentiate down syndrome with facial traits in the events like flattened face, upward- slanting eyes and neck length is shorter. People with down syndrome sadly also have to face problems related to the heart.

Unlike the down syndrome the physical characteristics are not easily distinguished in autism. Mostly the behavioral patterns are taken into consideration by the consulting specialists.

Individuals with Down syndrome often mimic and engage in play with others. In contrast, autistic individuals may experience language development challenges, leading to delayed language skills.

Children with Down syndrome typically develop language skills more slowly than children without Down syndrome. They may have difficulty with expressive language, which is the ability to speak, but have an easier time with receptive language, which is the ability to understand what they hear.

There is a thick line of difference between autism and down syndrome. Down syndrome is characterized as a genetic disorder whereas Autism is seen as a biological, genetic and environmental disorder.

Autism : When To See A Doctor

It is essential that we do screening of autism as early as possible preferably before the child reaches twelve months of age. Like any other disease or disorder, it is always better to know the symptoms beforehand and be on the lookout so that a diagnosis can be made in time. 

Also Read : Everything about Epilepsy

Autism : Bottomline

Autism is not the end of the world. Great care, affection and early diagnosis can help a lot in treatment. Consult a doctor for diagnosis and better care.

Kids with Autism too have wishes like a normal child. Don’t disconnect them from the world. Have patience and allow them the opportunity to express and share their feelings and thoughts. Appreciate even their smallest gestures and improvements if they respond to the treatments.

All they need is a little confidence and a lot of your support to develop their abilities. Autism is challenging but showing up with your little support will make all the difference. You can even take help from the counselors or special therapist.  There are various types of autism spectrum disorders and to diagnose the right one, timely screening is important.

References:

1. What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?. American Psychiatric Association[Internet].

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder. Accessed Oct. 04, 2024.

2. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism Speaks [Internet].

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism. Accessed Oct. 03, 2024.

3. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[Internet]. 

https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html. Accessed Oct. 05, 2024.

4. What is autism?. National Autistic Society[Internet]. 

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism. Accessed Oct. 06, 2024.

5. 
   What Is Autism?. PsychologyToday[Internet].

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/autism. Accessed Oct. 05, 2024