Both the labels "autism" and "Autism Spectrum Disorder" (ASD) are used medically to describe a collection of complicated brain disorders that cause delayed development of social interaction with verbal and nonverbal communication abilities.
Children with autism frequently have repetitive behaviours, such as rocking, jumping, etc.
Every person with an ASD diagnosis experiences the condition differently. The severity of the circumstance can range from mild to severe and chronic. Different symptoms appear in people with ASD at distinct developmental stages and varying degrees of severity.
Various Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) Categories
The phrase "autism spectrum disorder" is used to refer to one or more of the three subtypes listed below:
- People who have Asperger Syndrome are typically mildly autistic. These folks exhibit an odd attraction to particular routines and behaviours. They exhibit no symptoms of language or cognitive impairment, nevertheless.
- Autism spectrum disorder is commonly referred to as "classical autism." In addition to the kid's difficulty remembering facts and statistics, there are also significant delays in language development for this you should use speech and language assessment tools. There is a general hesitation in social interaction as well.
- Not Otherwise Specified Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS): Atypical autism is yet another name for this. This category often includes all who have been identified as having some, but not all, of the characteristics of Asperger syndrome and autism. Children with PDD-NOS display modest communicative impairment and social reluctance signs.
Autism Symptoms And Signs
Although a kid with autism is often diagnosed by the time they are three years old, improvements in detection and treatment have been made thanks to technology and medical science. Now, pediatricians and medical professionals can spot the early warning symptoms of autism in kids as young as one-year-old. Listed below are a few signs of autism:
- By the age of one, autistic children stop responding to their names.
- Such infants stop pointing at new things to show interest by the age of 14 months.
- They stop playing games, such as with dolls and toys, around the age of 18 months.
- They like to be left alone and often avoid eye contact.
Identification And Therapy
The responsibility for determining whether a child is autistic rests with the doctor, parents because there are no 100% accurate medical tests, such as blood tests and other examinations, to diagnose autism. Instead, it is up to them to constantly monitor the child's activities and look for behavioral indicators.
Autism has no known treatments. However, the severity of the autistic condition can be greatly reduced with early intervention and efficient treatment. Children with autism who show signs of linguistic and social impairment can be trained to improve their communication skills and act more politely in social situations. It is also feasible to teach such kids to develop their cognitive abilities and capacity for memory retention with prolonged therapy and training.
The Factors That Increase Risk And The Causes Of Autism
The precise aetiology of autism has not yet been identified by medical research. As potential causes of autism, the following environmental and chemical impacts have been identified:
- The chromosomal interactions in a person's genes can cause autism to develop.
- Children with specific chromosomal or genetic abnormalities are more likely to develop autism. For example, 10% of children with autism also have fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, or other genetic conditions.
- In general, children who have autistic parents or siblings are more likely to become autistic themselves.
- Prescriptive medication use during pregnancy, such as taking thalidomide or valproic acid, dramatically increases the risk of the unborn child developing autism.
Compared to girls, boys are five times more likely to develop autism. Autism affects 1 in every 88 children. Therefore doctors and parents must be on high alert because this chronic disorder can have devastating effects that can only be mitigated by early discovery and appropriate treatment. In this era virtual autism also spread in children at early age.