Autism Spectrum Disorder is a set of developmental disorders in the neurons of a person’s brain. It can cause a delay in the development of a variety of basic skills such as socialization and communication. Conditions that can be categorized within it are Asperger’s Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) in an unspecified form. Since 2013, the American Psychiatric Association has established the term Autism Spectrum Disorder as the more appropriate one to use instead of PDD.
How the kids must be diagnosed
The diagnosis for ASD revolves around certain factors like gender and age of a person. Since it usually manifests during childhood, immediate actions should be taken already. Boys are often diagnosed more likely than girls and would last a lifetime. As of 2015, there has been a recorded estimated number of 62.2 million autistic people in the world. The exact causes of autism are still unknown up to these days though factors such as genetics and environmental influences are also ruled out.
Certain factors that contribute to a higher risk of the development of ASD may include a family history of the condition. When one of the parents of the child has an autistic somewhere in their bloodline, there is a higher chance of their offspring becoming autistic themselves.
Some genetic conditions could also contribute to the development of ASD such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Rett Syndrome. Having older parents, especially the mother, is also a major factor. Older wombs tend to lead to the creation of babies that are more prone to autism tendencies. Babies that are born before the standard 26 weeks of conception should be treated with special care since they could end up being autistic as they grow.
Early traces of the condition
About the symptoms of ASD, experts declare that 2-year old children or below could already show signs of being autistic. Kids having this condition may show a unique pattern of behavior which could range from being mild to extreme. Children, as well as full-grown adults with ASD, generally have problems with social interaction, communication, and reaction to certain stimuli. Major indications of socialization problems for such people include poor eye contact, lack of facial expression, and failing to respond immediately when someone calls their name.
In terms of behavior, children with ASD would often resist cuddling, being hugged, or being held by the hands. Whenever they play, they prefer to do it alone as if they have their own world to attend to. Whenever they deliver their words, they may find it hard to construct even the simplest statements and may have difficulty understanding the common language they are hearing. Even with non-verbal communication such as body language and gestures, autistic kids may have a hard time absorbing them.
Autistic kids may also appear to be more aggressive than others. They may even have difficulty in expressing their own emotions inasmuch as they fail to interpret the emotional gestures of others. When they do express their emotions through words, they may appear to sound very melodic as if singing a song or may blurt out their thoughts in very unusual voicing patterns.
Repetitive movements are also a major indication of ASD. Kids diagnosed with the condition often resort to rocking their bodies back and forth, flapping their hands, and spinning their fingers, often when they are doing nothing at the moment. Whenever they are presented with even very simple objects, they might show some over fixation on the thing, or may even spend on playing with it for extended periods and may get irritated when they are interrupted.
The risks and dangers involved
Even though the above-mentioned facts are seemingly harmless to the child and to the people around him, an autistic may end up doing very harmful things to himself such as head-banging to walls or floors. Other extremes include the child biting his arms or fingers, or pulling the hair off the scalp.
Such a dangerous manifestation could be triggered by even the lightest stimulants such as light, noise, or other forms of sensory inputs. At the slightest change of the surrounding elements of stimulation, certain routines or rituals could be developed by the child. In terms of eating habits, a person with ASD may only eat certain kinds of food based on texture, color, or form.
To truly address or treat a child with ASD, a physician may recommend genetic testing. This is necessary to identify if the child has a genetic disorder such as Fragile X Syndrome, Down Syndrome, or Rett Syndrome. Another method is by observing the child and by asking the parents how the child’s social skills, communication, and behavior have developed over the course of time.
Furthermore, the child could be also allowed to undergo some tests that include drills that cover hearing, speech, language, and developmental/behavioral issues. Following the criteria stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychological Association could also be helpful as it is a product of thorough research on the subject of autism.
Conclusion
Experts declare ASD cannot be totally treated. However, with careful doses of some medications, it can be regulated which allows the patient to live a life that is as close to normalcy as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment of a child with the disorder can make a huge difference in the quality of life that the child may have as he or she grows up.
Even though the available treatment processes cannot fully cure a patient, they can still greatly improve the ability of the child to function in the real world by reducing the symptoms and supporting development and learning. Should the parents resort to treating the child, the options to choose from include behavioral and communication therapy, educational therapy, family therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Depending on the child’s specific needs, any or all of the options could be applied.
Although some forms of drugs can be used to control anxiety and severe behavioral manifestations of autistic people, the core symptoms of ASD cannot be really dealt with using any form of medication. The best way to deal with the condition is to come up with a very strategic approach that goes beyond what typical science can provide such as unparalleled care and unconditional affection for the patients.
