What is autism?
Autism is a brain development disorder. It affects your social, behavioral and communication skills. People with autism begin to show signs at an early age. The degree of autism varies from person to person. Because of this, doctors often refer to autism as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People with mild symptoms can be considered “highly functional”.
What was once known as Asperger’s syndrome (AS) is the most common ASD. It is a form of “high functioning” autism. Usually, people formerly known as AS have a normal to high IQ. They may demonstrate a particular skill or area of interest. Their verbal language development is considered normal. However, people with AS may have difficulty using language correctly in social situations. They often have difficulty with nonverbal communication, such as making eye contact, reading facial expressions, and using body gestures. General social skills, such as developing relationships and adjusting to change, may also be affected. People with AS can learn these skills through behavioral and communication therapy.
Symptoms:
People with autism can have a wide range of symptoms. Some are common, and some depend on the severity of the disorder. Your child can:
- Avoid body contact or eye contact
- Does not respond to voices or other sounds
- Don’t answer when someone calls their name
- Keep silent
- Doesn’t understand hand gestures or body language
- Kicking back and forth, spinning or banging your head
- Staring at a part of an object, such as a wheel of a toy car
- Fixed on certain topics or things
- Don’t pretend or play fake games
- Concerned with order, routine or ritual and becomes upset if it is disturbed or changed
- Has a flat facial expression and/or uses a monotone voice
- Not afraid of danger and accidental injury
- Doesn’t seem to like playing with other people
About 20% of children with autism develop normally in the first 1 to 2 years of life. Then they experience what doctors call regression. This means they lose skills they had before, such as the ability to talk.
However, some children with autism acquire special skills. For example, they can solve complex math problems in their heads. Possibilities like these are less common.;
What causes autism?
Doctors aren’t sure what causes autism. Some studies suggest it’s genetic (runs in families). Some health problems or things in your child’s environment may play a role. Children born to older parents have a higher risk of autism. Boys are more likely to have autism than girls. In most cases, the cause of autism in children is not known. As doctors continue to study autism, they may learn more about what causes it.
Vaccines do not cause autism. This includes the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Vaccines are an important part of your child’s health. If you are concerned about the safety of a vaccine, talk to your doctor.
How is autism diagnosed?
There is no laboratory test that can detect autism. Talk to your doctor if your child is not behaving as expected for their age. If your doctor suspects autism, they may recommend seeing a child psychologist or other pediatric specialist. A professional may observe your child to look for signs of autism.
Some children with autism also have less brain. This means that their intellectual abilities work well below average. For example, it causes developmental delays in reading, writing, and math. This can make it difficult to diagnose autism. Children with autism do not answer the same questions as other children. A specialist may have your child do special tests to learn more about your child’s condition.
Can autism be prevented or avoided?
Many children are being diagnosed with autism. It is not clear if this means more children yes autism. That could mean parents, doctors and teachers better recognize the signs of autism.
Treatment:
Children do not “grow up” with autism and there is no cure. Medicine alone cannot treat autism. It can help control some symptoms, such as aggression or insomnia. Research shows that some children benefit from strong speech and behavior therapy. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome. With therapy, your child’s symptoms may improve as they get older. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for your child.
Living with it.
People with autism can live normal, healthy lives. They may see and react to things in different ways. They may have more difficulty paying attention. As a parent, you may need to find other ways to teach and connect with your child. Work with a doctor or specialist to improve your child’s lifestyle. This may mean creating routines or routines so your child feels safe and comfortable. It is important to do this at a young age. It can help your child cope better as they become adults.
Ask your doctor to recommend a counselor or support group. This can help you, your child and the whole family.