Are you worried that your child may have Autism Spectrum Disorder? Then read the article carefully.
The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of conditions, including Asperger’s syndrome and autism. Usually, ASD is diagnosed in children with some of the apparent signs noticed around 2-3 years old. Still, some children with autism develop consistently generally until toddlerhood when they stop learning or lose previously gained knowledge. It is 3 to 4 times more common in boys than girls, and many girls with autism show less sign than boys.
ASD prevents a child from developing social skills. A child with ASD may not understand emotions and facial or vocal expressions in other people. A child with ASD may show some strange behaviors like:
- Don’t like people touching them.
- Resistant to changing routines.
- Want to play alone.
ASD is a lifelong condition. Still, many children diagnosed with ASD can live independent, fulfilling, and productive lives.
Some key facts about Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told that they identified 1 in 54 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Some people with autism can live independently, but others have severe disabilities and require care and support in whole life.
- ASD starts in childhood and tends to persist throughout the entire life.
- About 17% of children aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009-2017.
- People with ASD face discrimination, stigma, and human right violation all around the world.
Types of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Previously researchers thought the below conditions to be separate, but now they fall under the range of autism spectrum disorders.
Autistic disorder: Most people think of this when they hear about the word “autism.” People with this condition usually have unusual behaviors and interests, social interaction and communication problems, and language delays.
Asperger’s syndrome: People diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome usually have milder symptoms. They don’t have problems with language or intellectual disability. However, they have social challenges, unusual and narrow scope of interests.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder: People who have a few symptoms of autistic disorder symptoms or Asperger’s syndrome but not all fall in this category. Comparatively, these people have fewer and milder symptoms. These symptoms may include social and communication challenges.
What Causes Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Researchers haven’t found the exact cause of ASD. One reason could be specific genes. A child with ASD may also have problems in their brain structures. But it is confirmed that ASD is not caused by how parents raise a child.
There may be some other contributing factors to ASD. They are:
- Problems during delivery.
- Environmental toxin exposure before or after birth.
- Infections before birth.
- Having siblings with ASD.
Families with certain gene disorders can raise a child’s risk factor for ASD. They are:
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Chromosome problems
- PKU
- Fragile-X
Even if there is no gene problem, there is a slightly higher chance of having another child with ASD. Researchers think this is because several genes from both parents may cause ASD.
Symptoms of ASD In Child
Every child may show slightly different symptoms. Let’s look at three of the most common category of symptoms:
Social Symptoms:
- Problems making eye contact.
- Poor in making friends or social interaction.
- Problems in responding to others.
- Difficulties in understanding and regulating emotions.
Communication Symptoms:
- Do not communicate well with others.
- Start speaking at a later age than others.
- Repeat words
- Can’t understand the voice tone.
- Problems taking turns during a conversation.
- Issues getting the main idea of a story and creating a summary.
Behavior Symptoms:
- Doesn’t want to change routines
- They may be less or more sensitive about certain things such as lights, certain sounds, touch, etc.
- They sometimes use objects in unusual ways.
- Have difficulty in sleeping
- They have problems with self-management
- Repetitive patterns of behavior.
Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
The diagnosis of ASD requires several medical tests. Healthcare providers follow specific guidelines to diagnose ASD in children before age 2. Children diagnosed with ASD should be treated right away as early treatment can be very beneficial.
Specialists look for these problems before a child of age 2:
- No word was spoken by the age of sixteen months.
- No two-word phrases spoken by the age of twenty-four months.
- Loss of any skill at any age
- No eye contact by the age of four months.
Suppose healthcare professionals notice any of the above symptoms than they will do additional tests. These additional tests include:
- CT scan, PET scan, or MRI.
- Genetic test to look for gene problems.
- Mental health tests
- Nervous system exam
How to Treat ASD?
After finishing the ASD diagnosis, parents should take their child to the hospital to start the treatment procedure as early as possible. Early treatment is critical as it reduces a child’s difficulties while helping him to learn new skills.
ASD is a range of disorders, so there is no single treatment. Treatment of ASD includes these measures:
- Medication: A doctor may use medicine to treat some of the symptoms of a person with ASD. Using this medication, a person with ASD may have fewer problems with:
- Anxiety
- Repetitive behavior
- Attention Problem
- Irritability
- Aggression
- Educational Therapy: It focuses on developing a person with ASD’s social skills, language, self-care, and job skills.
- Behavior Therapy: It teaches basic behavior to a person with ASD.
Parents may need to seek help from mental health consultants. Parents have a significant role in the treatment of a child diagnosed with ASD.
How To Take Care of The Children Diagnosed With ASD?
ASD is a lifelong misery condition that is frustrating for both the person with ASD and his/her parents. Parents play a crucial role in the treatment and taking care of a person with ASD. You can do some things to help your child live better with this condition. These are:
- Take your child to health providers regularly.
- It would be best if you told other people about your child’s condition. Consult with healthcare providers and schools to make a better treatment plan.
- Admit your child to special schools built for the child with ASD.
- Always keep a medical alert bracelet with your child.
- Take help from local community support.
- Always take care of yourself and keep an eye on your and your family’s stress level. Take stress to relive consultation if necessary.
What To Do If You’re Worried That Your Child May Have ASD?
Do not waste time if you think that your child has unusual behavior. Share your concerns with a doctor. Ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist if necessary. Remember, the sooner ASD is diagnosed and treated, the lesser damage it can do.
