Understanding Autism: Autism Awareness Month

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological development condition where a person struggles with communication, social interaction, learning, and other behavioral activities. Autism is a spectrum disorder, where the word “spectrum” is given to explain that every single Autistic person faces different difficulties and challenges.

The distinct ways of thinking, processing thoughts, and perceiving the world are called ‘neurotypes”. People with autism struggle to express their feelings through words, facial expressions, or physical gestures. Even though people are born autistic, it is not something that their parents and close ones figure out instantly when they are born. Parents observe daily when their kids struggle to learn, respond, and communicate as their brains work differently. Some autistic individuals can survive independently, while others need care and assistance for the rest of their lives.

Although autism today has gained much coverage, it is still an area people don’t have proper insight into and is often misconstrued. We at Premium Health Care are passionate about breaking the taboo against Autism and educating our readers on it. We take this opportunity of Autism Awareness Month to dive deeper into understanding Autism.

What are the types of Autism?

The United Nations General Assembly officially declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day in 2007. Autism Awareness is a significant opportunity to support the rights of individuals with autism and draw attention to the variety of difficulties they experience. Autism is different for everyone, and it is not a medical condition that has a treatment or cure. Autism disorder spectrum includes the following types of conditions:

Autistic disorder

Autistic disorder is a condition where a person has noticeable problems with communication and interaction. Autistic disorder people are often hypersensitive and try to avoid any social contact. The signs and symptoms of autistic disorder are seen after the age of 3 in the case of children and may cause much trouble to their parents. People with this condition react violently often toward the things they find disturbing, such as being cuddled, loud noise, and sometimes color or texture.

Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD)

 Childhood disintegrative disorder is included with autism spectrum disorder in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Autistic people with this rare disorder have normal development till the age of 2-3 years and then face difficulties such as difficulty communicating and losing other skills. Autistic children with this disorder face significant change between the ages of 2-10 as they start to lose social connection, hard time making friends, and have difficulty starting the conversation.

Asperger’s syndrome

It is a developmental disorder in a person where they start showing unusual behaviors. They often follow a regular schedule and have a limited range of interests. Children with this condition typically receive average or above-average results on IQ tests.

Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD or atypical autism

 A person with a Pervasive developmental disorder can have several behaviors and abilities. They may exhibit behaviors such as avoiding eye contact, experiencing delays in language learning, struggling with social interactions, and engaging in unique play patterns. It is often difficult for people with pervasive developmental disorder to relate with friends, objects, and events.

What causes Autism?

Autism is diagnosed wholly based on one’s behavior and is strongly genetic. ASD is linked to more than 800 genes and dozens of genetic syndromes. According to the first autism twin research held in 1977, autism is substantially heritable, with a total proportion of 77% chance the other twin will be affected. Compared to the general population, families that already have one autistic kid have a higher chance of having another autistic child. Evidence suggests older parents with the age over 45 years old also have a higher chance of having a child with autism.

Studies have indicated that exposure to pollutants during pregnancy may influence fetal brain development, potentially increasing the likelihood of neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD.

What are the symptoms of Autism?

Some people with ASD only exhibit minor symptoms, while others may struggle with serious behavioral problems. Usually, the parents are the first to notice that their child is acting strangely. Here are a few common symptoms that can be seen in the early stage of autism:

• It is hard to communicate and slow development of linguistic abilities, such as being unable to express with meaningful phrases.
• Does not express emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, or surprise till the age of a 9-month-old.
• Unusual mood or emotional reactions in normal situations.
• Hyperactive, impulsive behavior, and short-tempered behavior
• Abnormal reaction to loud noise, bright lights, and color texture.
• Difficulty in processing emotions and avoiding eye contact while speaking.
• A sensation of being an outsider or feeling misunderstood
• Naivety and easy to manipulate
• No fear or extreme fear
• Avoid developing and maintaining any sort of social relationships and friendships.
• Recurring motions, games, or speech patterns.
• Expressing high sensitivity to certain smells and taste
• Hyperactive, interested, and invested more than required in specific things.
• Attachment with pets and animals more than with humans.
• Extreme level expression of compassion

These are just a few common symptoms that are seen in most of the autistic children and adults. However, someone does not become autistic just because they exhibit some of these symptoms.

Autism Diagnosis and Treatment

Autism is more likely diagnosed between the ages of two and three in the case of children when they start to show symptoms and delay overall development. A group of medical professionals with expertise in identifying ASD will perform the diagnostic assessment. Autism is usually tested and diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician and psychologist. If the children are diagnosed at an early age and get proper help in time, it will make a massive difference in the lives of both children and families. The diagnostic evaluation process typically includes medical exams, cognitive and language assessments, behavior observation, caregiver discussions, and evaluation of daily living skills.

Treatment should be offered to Autistic people as soon as possible after the diagnosis because it reduces the individual’s difficulties in their day-to-day life. This disorder has no specific treatment, as the case varies from person to person. So, they are often referred to a medical professional specializing in behavioral, psychological, educational, or skill-building therapies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Autism Awareness Month reflects on the significance of understanding autism and promoting acceptance and inclusion within our communities. By increasing awareness, advocating for support services, and fostering understanding, we can create a more inclusive society where individuals on the autism spectrum are valued for their unique perspectives and contributions. Let’s continue to educate ourselves, and together, we can make a difference in the lives of individuals with autism and their families.