What Is Autism?

 Today we will discuss the concept of autism, its causes, treatment methods, and methods of dealing with the sufferer, so I ask everyone to pay attention and not to worry because in the beginning when you hear that a child with this is the end, but you should not be afraid in this article, we will explain what is dangerous and what is widespread and ways to deal with a beautiful life and a bright future.

What is Autism?

Let's start with the first question, what is autism?

• Autism or autonomic or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that leads to difficulties in interaction, communication, and social behavior in the individual, 

• autism disorder is referred to as "spectrum" because there is a wide difference in its types and severity.

• It is described as a disability or developmental disorder because its symptoms generally appear in the first two years of the patient's life, and this does not necessarily mean that it is diagnosed at that age, as an individual can be diagnosed with autism at any age. 

• However, it is a disorder Chronic, but treatments may improve the patient's condition and ability to interact.

• Based on the study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2017, it was found that for every three male children with autism, there is one child with autism.

• According to what was published by the World Health Organization, it was found that out of 160 children, there is a child with autism around the world, and this is an average estimate; 

• the prevalence rate reported in the studies, as well as the statistics were not complete or accurate in poor, low- or even middle-income countries, 

• and it is worth knowing that - according to the World Health Organization as well - it was found that autism disorder is increasing globally.

• This clear increase is explained in several ways, including the expansion of the scope of diagnosis and its standards, increasing the awareness of communities about the disease, and the development of diagnostic tools and specialized reports in this regard.

Causes of autism:

• So far, the causes of autism are still unknown, however, it has been noted that there are factors that may lead to an increase in the likelihood of a child developing autism,

Some of them are as follows:

1. Disorder or disorder of some genes, some inherited from parents, and some appear spontaneously during the individual's life.
2. Exposure of the expectant mother to medications and chemicals such as alcohol and anti-seizure drugs.
3. The pregnant woman suffers from changes or disorders in metabolic processes such as obesity or diabetes.
4. Parents age when having a child.
5. Having the problem of phenylketonuria (PKU) and not treated, it is defined as a metabolic disorder caused by the absence of a specific enzyme.
6. Rubella infection.
7. Vaccines, but there's no evidence that they cause autism yet.

Symptoms of Autism

Autism symptoms associated with communication skills and social interaction:

• A child avoids eye contact or does not maintain it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• The infant does not respond when called by his name at the age of 9 months.

• Absence of facial expressions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise in the 9-month-old baby.

• He does not play simple games by the age of 12 months.

• Uses few or no gestures by age 12 months (for example, no goodbyes waves).

• Does not share interests with others by the age of 15 months.

• He doesn't point to telling his parents about something that interests him at 18 months.

• Not noticed when others are hurt or upset by 24 months.

• Other babies are not noticed and do not join them in playing at 36 months.

• Don't pretend to be another character, such as pretending to be a teacher or superhero, while playing at 48 months.

• He does not act in a certain way to arouse parents' interest, such as singing, at the age of 60 months.

 

Autism symptoms associated with restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests:

• Children with autism have behaviors or interests that may seem unusual, such as:

• Arrange toys or other objects and get annoyed when changing their order.

• Repeat the same words or phrases frequently.

• He plays games the same way every time.

• It focuses on parts of objects (for example, wheels in a toy car).

• Disturbed by minor changes.

• Hands flutter or rotate in circles.

• It shows unusual reactions to how things look, smell, taste, appear, or texture.

 

Autism symptoms associated with language and mood:

• Delayed development of language skills.

• Delayed development of motor skills.

• Delayed cognitive or educational skills.

• Impulsive behavior.

• Epileptic disorder or seizures.

• Unusual eating and sleeping habits.

• Digestive problems (such as constipation).

• Unusual mood or emotional reactions.

• Anxiety or stress.

• There is no more fear than expected in such a situation.

• It is important to note that children with autism may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here.

 

Types of autism

The following are the types of autism arranged from the least severe to the most severe:

 1- Asperger's syndrome:

• It is a mild type of autism spectrum disorder. A person with Asperger syndrome may be very intelligent and able to cope in their daily life and may be able to focus on topics that interest them and discuss them non-stop, but they may face some social difficulties.

 

2- Pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS):

• This type includes most children who have autism more severe than Asperger's syndrome, but not as severe as autism.

 

 3- Autistic disorder:

• This type includes the same types of symptoms but at a more severe level.

 

 4- Childhood disintegrative disorder:

• This type is the rarest and most severe part of autism spectrum disorders, and affected children usually develop normally and then quickly lose many social, language, and mental skills, especially between the ages of 2 and 4.

 

5- Diagnosis of autism disorder:

•  Autism disorder is diagnosed by doctors based on the symptoms and signs approved according to the fifth diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, which was created by the American Psychiatric Association, 

• where children's examinations focus on examining any developmental delay, especially at the age of 18-24 months for the child through periodic reviews of it, and what is most noticeable on people with autism: difficulty interacting with others, 

• specific and repetitive behaviors, in addition to symptoms that make it difficult for a person to lead a normal life at school or work Or in various areas of life.

 

Autism Disorder Treatment

• So far, there is no standardized treatment for autism, but there are many ways to increase a child's ability to grow and acquire new skills, including behavior correction and communication, skills training, learning to make friends, accepting others, and medications used to control symptoms.

• According to the American Psychological Association, symptoms can decrease significantly with early diagnosis and treatment, and the effectiveness of early treatment and diagnosis can reach an effective stage where the child can attend appropriate schools for them.

 

The following are the most prominent treatments available to help an autistic child:

1- Behavioral therapy:

• Behavioral approaches focus on changing behaviors by understanding what happens before and after behavior. Behavioral therapy for people with autism is called applied behavior analysis (ABA).

 

2- Developmental Approaches:

• Developmental approaches focus on improving specific skills, such as language or physical skills, or a wide range of interrelated developmental abilities.

•  Developmental approaches are often combined with behavioral approaches.

• The most common developmental treatment for people with autism is speech and language therapy. 

• Speech and language therapy helps improve a person's understanding and use of speech and language. 

• Some people with autism spectrum disorder communicate orally. 

• Others may communicate through the use of signals, gestures, images, or an electronic communication device.

 

3- Educational Curriculum:

• Instructional therapies are offered in a classroom environment, providing teachers with ways to adjust their class order and improve academic and other results. For example, a daily routine can be written or drawn for a student.

 

4- Social Relations Curriculum:

• Social relationship therapies focus on improving social skills and building emotional connections.

 

5- Medications:

• There are no medications that address the underlying symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. 

• Some medications treat associated symptoms that can help people with autism spectrum disorder do their job better.

• For example, medications may help improve the ability to concentrate or prevent self-harming behavior, such as hitting the head or biting the hand. 

• Medications can also help manage comorbidities, such as anxiety or depression, as well as medical conditions such as seizures, sleep problems, stomach problems, or other digestive problems.

 

6- Psychotherapy:

• Psychological approaches can help people with autism deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychological technique that focuses on learning the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

• During cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist and the individual work together to set goals and then change the way the person thinks about the situation to change the way they react to the situation.

 

How to deal with autistic kids

• Parents and all family members should learn to share the responsibility of supporting an autistic child, as there are no strict and quick rules on how to communicate and deal with a child with autism.

 

These rules include the following:

1. Learn patience in dealing with a child with autism.
2. Teach the child how to express anger without being too aggressive.
3. Parents should show love and attention to their child.
4. Make sure to act positively, because autistic children respond better to positive behaviors.
5. Be careful to ignore the child's annoying behavior that aims to attract attention, as ignoring is one of the best ways to prevent it, and it is recommended to talk to the child about good behavior and reward it when applied.

 

In the end: I hope that I have explained to you the most important points of this topic in terms of the definition of autism ways to deal with it, how to diagnose the injury in terms of behaviors, and the best ways to deal with a kid with this disease, you must be patient because they deserve this support so do not lose hope as a parent or get tired of asking for advice from specialists around you,  Or if there is any inquiry leave it in the comment and I will be happy to answer you.

I Wish You a Happy Life and a Bright Future