Autism which is also known as an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech, and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors.
The effects of ASD and the severity of symptoms are different in each person. ASD is usually first diagnosed in childhood with many of the most obvious signs presenting around 2-3 years old, but some children with autism develop normally until toddlerhood when they stop acquiring or lose previously gained skills. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.
According to the CDC, one in 59 children is estimated to have autism. Autism spectrum disorder is also three to four times more common in boys than in girls, and many girls with ASD exhibit less obvious signs compared to boys.
Autism differs from person to person in severity and combinations of symptoms. There is a great range of abilities and characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder — no two children appear or behave the same way. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and often change over time.
Categories
Characteristics of autism spectrum disorder fall into two categories.
Social interaction and communication problems including difficulties in normal back-and-forth conversation, reduced sharing of interests or emotions, challenges in understanding or responding to social cues such as eye contact and facial expressions, deficits in developing/maintaining/understanding relationships (trouble making friends), and others.
Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities hand-flapping and toe-walking, playing with toys in an uncommon way (such as lining up cars or flipping objects), speaking in a unique way (such as using odd patterns or pitches in speaking or “scripting” from favorite shows), having a significant need for a predictable routine or structure, exhibiting intense interests in activities that are uncommon for a similarly aged child, experiencing the sensory aspects of the world unusually or extremely (such as indifference to pain/temperature, excessive smelling/touching of objects, fascination with lights and movement, being overwhelmed with loud noises, etc), and others.
Levels
According to those two characteristics, autism spectrum disorder is categorized into three main levels based on the severity of the disorder.
Level 1 - Requiring support
In social and communication there are deficits in social communication that cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful response to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who can speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to-and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.
In restricted and repetitive patterns there is the inflexibility of behavior that causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hampering.
Level 2 - Requiring substantial support
In social and communication there are marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others. For example, a person who speaks simple sentences, whose interaction is limited to narrow special interests, and how has markedly odd nonverbal communication.
In restricted and repetitive patterns behavior is Inflexible, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.
Level 3 - Requiring very substantial support
In social interaction and communication, there are Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills that cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches.
In restricted and repetitive patterns behavior is Inflexible, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/ repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action
Causes and risk factors
There is no clear understanding of the causes of autism spectrum disorder. Several factors probably contribute to autism, including genes a child is born with or environmental factors. A child is at greater risk of autism if there is a family member with autism. Research has shown that it is not caused by bad parenting, and it is not caused by vaccines.
Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and attention issues.
Possible red flags for ASD
Early diagnosis and treatment are important to reducing the symptoms of autism and improving the quality of life for people with autism and their families. There is no medical test for autism. It is diagnosed based on observing how the child talks and acts in comparison to other children of the same age. Trained professionals typically diagnose autism by talking with the child and asking questions of parents and other caregivers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified possible red flags for autism spectrum disorder in young children, including:
Not responding to his/her name by 12 months of age
Not pointing at objects to show interest by 14 months
Not playing "pretend" games by 18 months
Avoiding eye contact or preferring to be alone
Getting upset by minor changes
Flapping their hands, rocking their body, or spinning in circles
Having unusual and sometimes intense reactions to the way things smell, taste, feel, and/or look
If there is a strong concern that a child is showing possible signs of autism, then a diagnostic evaluation should be performed. This typically involves an interview and play-based testing with the child done by a health care provider.
There is no single treatment for autism. Treatments can include intensive skill-building and teaching educational sessions, known as applied behavior analysis (ABA), and many more interactive, child-centered versions of behavior treatments. In addition to treatment, regular and special education classrooms can be changed to help students with autism. Many students with autism can function better if the day is consistent and predictable.
However, many children diagnosed with ASD go on to live independent, productive, and fulfilling lives.
References:-
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism
Hasini De Silva
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