what is

Autism Spectrum Disorder ?

 

Autism is a developmental condition that affects neurotypical development of the brain. It hampers the child’s communication, social interaction, cognition, and behaviour.  In most cases it manifests in the first three years of life. A W.H.O. study estimated that 1 in 160 children worldwide suffer from autism. The problem seems to be more acute in developed countries, for example, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1 in 59 people are on the autism spectrum, a number that used to be lower than 1 in 600 just 40 years ago.  It has also come to light that autism is 4 times more prevalent amongst boys than girls.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is termed a spectrum because its symptoms manifest in multiple combinations that affect different children in different ways. It is often said that “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism”. The Spectrum covers children who possess extremely rich vocabulary at one end and some that are hardly vocal or are non vocal at the other, socially withdrawn children at one end and socially active at the other. This spectrum now covers conditions which were previously independently diagnosed and treated including Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger syndrome and Autistic disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is marked by problems in the following three areas :

1. Undeveloped or Underdeveloped Speech and Language

2. Sensory Processing Disorders

3. Social Skills

A large number of children on the spectrum also suffer from associated issues such as ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder), Learning disability, motor difficulties etc. Occasionally, some children may also suffer from Intellectual Disability, Seizures and Regression.

The warning signs of autism can be identified by the time a child turns three, In rare cases autism can be detected as early as 18 months. These symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe and differ for each child. However, in most cases the following common traits present themselves:

  • Difficulty with social interaction. This may include problems with eye contact, name response, talking/listening or playing with others. Often the child seems unusually shy.
  • Unusual way of playing with toys and objects, i.e. looking at the wheels of a toy car, staring at fingers etc.
  • The need for sameness. Changes in their surroundings, routines etc. may be very disconcerting.
  • Under or over reaction to the senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, or hearing, e.g. some children may be very disturbed by loud noises while some others may seek auditory inputs.
  • Repetitive movements. They may do this to calm themselves in a stressful environment or to engage themselves.
  • Unusual responses and reactions. They may seem prone to tantrums, unaware of their surroundings etc.
 
If you feel that your child exhibits the symptoms given above, we recommend that you take the screening tests and discuss the results with your paediatrician.
 

It is necessary to mention here that an early diagnosis of Autism can lead to very positive changes and with the right course of treatment Autistic children can lead fulfilling lives. However, the fact that there is very low awareness about autism delays parents’ ability to identify the early symptoms. Although there is no cure for autism, early intervention therapies have helped a lot of children on the spectrum overcome their problems and lead fulfilling lives. Click here to learn more about the success stories of those who have overcome Autism.

We also need to remember that just like every other child, children with autism have strengths and talents. Parents, caregivers and educators should nurture these positive aspects and encourage the child at every opportunity. Labels such as mild, moderate or severe do not paint a complete picture, each individual is differently abled in different areas. Parents should not lose hope and opt for the best course of treatment for their child.

An autistic child may possess one or more of these skills:

  • Good visual and spatial memory
  • Methodical and organized way of doing things
  • Ability to understand abstract concepts
  • Excellence in the area of their interest
  • Attention to detail
  • Interest in languages (among children who can speak well)

Guided with the right treatment and education, an autistic child can develop several of the above skills. It may not come easy and it may not come quick, but with enough time and effort many autistic children can lead an independent life.

What Causes Autism ?

The exact cause for autism is still not known but research indicates that it may occur due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The environmental factors could be a variety of conditions affecting brain development, which can occur before, during or soon after birth. It is also observed that any damage to the central nervous system during infancy can cause autism. 

As we researched Autism, we realized just much has been discovered about autism spectrum disorder from research in a wide variety of fields, including genetics, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology.

We also quickly realized just how many questions remain unanswered. We still don’t know exactly what causes autism; we haven’t yet been able to identify specific subtypes of autism; and we still have very few proven treatments for autism. Answers to these important questions will only come through research, research which requires data in which we seek your co-operation. If you would like to join us in this endeavor kindly get in touch with us.

Important note to parents: As a precaution, parents should request pediatricians to conduct routine developmental tests to check if the child has met developmental and language milestones. 

first medical records of

Autism

Brain

The first ever clinical account of Autism was published by Dr. Leo Kanner who described a group of 11 children as suffering from “autistic disturbances of affective contact”. An Austrian Pediatrician, Hans Asperger, also discovered a milder form of Autism which came to be known as Asperger Syndrome.

In 2013, American Psychiatrists revised the diagnostic manual and included Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder and Autism into the Autism Spectrum.

AUTISM MYTHS

Most people with Autism struggle with Social skills which makes them seem  shy or unfriendly. They do want to socialise, but  find it difficult to communicate this desire.

People on the spectrum have just as many feelings as a neurotypical person does. They just to tend to express them differently. They can sometimes struggle to understand the emotions of others through sarcasm or body language, but when directly communicated to them, people on the spectrum are more empathetic than their neurotypical counterparts.

Autism brings with it some unique abilities. The trick is to teach people on the spectrum to turn their need for perfection/ repetition/ single minded pursuit into their strength in talents which require practice such as music, arts and sports. Remember what Einstein said “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Absolute rubbish. Although parents often tend to blame themselves, nothing could be further from the truth. The “refrigerator mother hypothesis” has been debunked time and again.

More than half a dozen studies have failed to find a link between Vaccines and Autism. The doctor that proposed the link between vaccines and autism has since lost his license to practice medicine.