Today, approximately One in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (1)
The number of children suffering from ASD appears to be increasing every year all over the world.
The prevalence seems to be far more in the developed countries than the third world countries, probably because of increased awareness and the availability of advanced diagnostics techniques in developed countries.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
By Medical definition ,Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions characterized by some degree of impaired social behaviour, communication and language, and a narrow range of interests and activities that are both unique to the individual and carried out repetitively.
ASD is not really considered a disease and so it cannot be cured. People with ASD seem to have brains with different wiring, so they learn and communicate differently from normal people.
What is the difference between Autism and ASD?
Earlier Autism was a separate diagnosis but the latest classification by The DSM-V ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental diseases –Fifth edition) combines the four diagnoses of Autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD-NOS. under a single umbrella called autism spectrum disorder. So basically, Autism is a part of ASD.
What causes ASD?
So far the scientific evidence points to a large number of factors that make a child more prone to develop ASD, but there is no hard evidence of the exact cause. The following are the most common risk factors for having a child with ASD
1.Having a family history of ASD
2. Advanced parental age at the time of conception
3.Drugs -Intake of Valproic acid (an anti-epileptic drug)by the mother during pregnancy has been shown to have an effect on the incidence of ASD
4. Role of vaccinations – Earlier it was believed that MMR vaccination was responsible for increased risk of Autism in Children but these studies have now been dismissed as inadequate.
What are the Symptoms of ASD?
Symptoms can be seen as early as 12 months and are quite evident by the 3rd year of life unless the symptoms are too mild to be detected by parents and teachers.
Some of the most common tell tale signs of ASD in children are:
1. The child does not respond to his/her name by 12 months of age
2. The Child does not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months of age
3. He /She does not play “pretend” games (pretend to “feed” a doll) by 18 months of age
4. They avoid eye contact and want to be alone
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| Autists avoid making eye contact |
5. They have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
6. They have delayed speech and language skills, may have a flat tone of talking
7. They repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia) or line up objects
8. They give unrelated answers to questions…
9. They get very upset by minor changes to routine e.g. they want to eat the same food every day or take the same route to school.
10. They have obsessive interests involving one particular activity or object
11. They flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
12. Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel ( e.g. they may overreact to loud noise or may not get much affected )
13. They find it difficult to interpret gestures (non verbal communication) or use gestures to communicate
14.They do not wish to be touched
15. They can be hyperactive
16. They have a short attention span
Can People with ASD lead a normal life ?
While a small minority of people with ASD can live independently and even get married and have jobs, others may have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support.
Are Autistic People Gifted?
The intellectual levels can be variable in different Autistic people, they may have a high IQ as seen in people with Asperger’s syndrome or have severe intellectual impairment.
Do Children grow out of ASD ?
ASD begins in childhood and tends to persist into adolescence and adulthood. Some symptoms may improve as the brain develops but most stay.
Mild to moderate Autism may improve with early diagnosis and psychosocial interventions, like behavioral therapy and training programs for parents. These can reduce the difficulties in communication and improve social behavior, and that can improve the quality of life of persons with ASD and their caregivers.
What is the Need for creating awareness about ASD ?
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| People with ASD need understanding and acceptance(3) |
1. ASD will be more Prevalent in coming years and it is not curable.
In the coming years, it is expected that 1% of the world’s population will be suffering from ASD.
Worldwide, people with ASD live with the stigma of being mentally retarded and bear the brunt of social discrimination .Their human rights are frequently violated.
2.Educational and Social Needs -A person with ASD is unable to conduct daily activities and participate in society without help. They have lesser chances of getting education and employment opportunities or achieve a social status.
3.Economic Aspect -Caring for children with a severe ASD can be a significant economical and physical burden. We need laws and provisions that can help persons with ASD and their caregivers to cope wit the increased financial challenge.
The COVID19 epidemic has been tougher on autistic people and their families. The lockdown forced several services to close down and many people have been left without any support.
Moreover there is no certainty whether things will improve anytime soon.
Every year 29 March to 4th April is observed as the World Autism Awareness Week to think about the changes that can make the world a better place for Autistic children and their families.
Raising awareness and improving the social atmosphere is the only way forward for dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Sharing is caring, spread the word , show that you care.
” This post is a part of Blogchatter’s initiative #CauseAChatter “
Related posts about Mental Health
1. Defying Disability – Overcoming Obstacles
2. How To tackle your Teenager’s Disdain
3. Are You Happy With Your Body ?
4. A Complete guide to Post- COVID Mental Health Issues
5. Stress Relief Tips for Busy Moms
6. 10 warning Signs of Suicide
Sources
1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224982810_Global_Prevalence_of_Autism_and_Other_Pervasive_Developmental_Disorders
2. Canva.com
3. Pexels.com
22 responses to “A Simple Guide to Understanding ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)”
Awareness of autism is definitely important and glad you chose to bring awareness on it.
Autism should not be considered as a disease. Early detection and then taking steps towards handling it is necessary. And for that one must understand it.
Thank you for your appreciation !
Yes true , it is not a disease but a disability.
So many things I've learned about autism and ASD never know the difference between the two. Indeed informative post.
My daughter had delayed speech and docs told me to test for autism but I knew she had no other issues and she was being only lazy to talk. Her speech therapist told she had speech but is not taking the initiative to talk. But now she talks non stop. And her personality saw a 360° flip. A very well written article. Loved it.
This post has helped me understand one child in our society who is different and I could never lay my fingers as to what is wrong with her. But these are some of the symptoms I have noticed in her.
Early detection is the key. However, we try to educate the others there would still be an information deficit. Many parents detect it late as sometimes the symptoms may not be prominent. Hence assessment is important
Many parents may not be aware of the symptoms which are described as minor ASD and that may cause trouble later. Your post is creating awareness on this topic and shall bridge the gap of educating people about ASD.
These symptoms are really useful for those who have any family member going though this to keep a watch. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for picking up an important topic. There is very less written about any kind of disabilities. My son has cerebral palsy and we also had a tough time during the pandemic and are still having given that physical therapy is near impossible now.
Autistic spectral disorder is a very complex range needing great deal of awareness .You are definitely helping in the cause .Hopefully more resources will be available for these kids
Thanks for sharing about ASD at length buddy as more and more awareness created around it, often its diagnosis gets delayed and the children get delayed help.
It is great that you sought expert opinion without delay and thankfully it was a false alarm. That kind of initiative is really helpful.
Thank you so much buddy !
I feel my mission is accomplished and I am glad that it could help you in understanding the probable signs of ASD.
Very true , often parents stay in denial instead of seeking expert opinion and that may cause a lot of harm.
Thank you so much for your appreciation !
Yes, knowledge is a powerful tool .
I think only by creating awareness scan we bring sensitization to the needs of people with disabilities and create a better environment for them.
Yes indeed , management of ASD is still in a very nascent stage and creating awareness is one way of dealing with it .
Yes , timely diagnosis and intervention is of essence here.