Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a
developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. The term
“spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of
impairment or disability that children with ASD can have.
One in every 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There
is usually nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from
other people, but they may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that
are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving
abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged.
Autistic disorder, Pervasive
developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome
are all referred to as autism spectrum disorders.
Early Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) vary from one child to
another, but in general, they fall into two areas:
- Social
impairment, including difficulties with social communication
- Repetitive
and stereotyped behaviors
Children with ASD do not follow typical patterns when developing
social and communication skills. Parents are usually the first ones to notice
unusual behaviors in their child. Often, certain behaviors become more
noticeable when comparing children of the same age.
In some cases, babies with ASD may seem different very early in
their development. Even before their first birthday, some babies become overly
focused on certain objects, rarely make eye contact, and fail to engage in
typical back-and-forth play and babbling with their parents. Other children may
develop normally until the second or even third year of life, but then start to
lose interest in others and become silent, withdrawn, or indifferent to social
signals. Loss or reversal of normal development (regression) may also occur in
some children with ASD.
Children
or adults with ASD might also:
·
Not point at objects to show interest (for
example, not point at an airplane flying over)
·
Not look at objects when another person points
at them
·
Have trouble relating to others or not have an
interest in other people at all
·
Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
·
Have trouble understanding other people’s
feelings or talking about their own feelings
·
Prefer not to be held or cuddled, or might
cuddle only when they want to
·
Appear to be unaware when people talk to them,
but respond to other sounds
·
Be very interested in people, but not know how
to talk, play, or relate to them
·
Repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or
repeat words or phrases in place of normal language
·
Have trouble expressing their needs using
typical words or motions
·
Not play “pretend” games (for example, not
pretend to “feed” a doll)
·
Repeat actions over and over again
·
Have trouble adapting when a routine changes
·
Have unusual reactions to the way things smell,
taste, look, feel, or sound.
Diagnosis
Doctors or other medical professionals
such as psychiatrists look at the child’s behavior and development to make a
diagnosis. ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger. By the age of
2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered very reliable.
Treatment
Research shows that early intervention
treatment services can improve a child’s development. Early intervention
services help children from birth up to about 3 years to learn important
skills. Services can include therapy to help the child talk, walk, and interact
with others. Therefore, it is important to talk to a doctor or a medical
professional as soon as possible if you think your child has ASD or any other
developmental problem. Treating ASD early, using school-based programs, and
getting proper medical care can greatly reduce ASD symptoms and increase a
child's ability to grow and learn new skills.
Information sources:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/110450/1/WHO_MSD_MER_14.1_eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
No comments:
Post a Comment