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Autism includes communication, behavioural and social challenges which can be severe or mild. For example, children diagnosed with such disorders might experience trouble expressing their feelings. However, proper support and treatment procedures can help reduce symptoms and manage the disorder.
Read this article to learn more about autism spectrum disorder, its types, causes and treatment procedures.
Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions related to brain development. It is a developmental disability that happens due to differences in your brain. If you have ASD, you will find it challenging to interact and communicate with others. Certain behaviours will be repetitive, and you have different ways to move, learn and pay attention to things.
This disorder starts in early childhood, and brings difficulties in performing daily activities.
The common types of autism spectrum disorder are as follows:
One of the mildest traits of autism, a person with this trait might be very intelligent and highly functioning. However, they find it difficult to communicate in social surroundings. If you know someone with this trait, notice how they are focused on their favourite topics and continue discussing them.
Other symptoms include trouble reading body language and facial expressions, inability to understand humour or irony, lacking eye contact and repetition of certain behaviours and activities.
This trait's symptoms are more severe than those in Asperger's syndrome. This trait is most prevalent in children. You will notice symptoms such as poor communication and slurred speech, issues in special behaviour, reduced skill development, problems accepting criticism or changes, weird responses to sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, etc. This trait is also known as atypical autism.
This trait comes with almost similar symptoms but at a much more intense level. You will notice trouble communicating with people, challenging interacting socially with others, and noticing repetitive behaviours.
Some additional symptoms also include disturbances in sleeping or eating. In addition, children who are diagnosed with such traits find it difficult to play with others or interact with their friends.
One of the rarest and most severe traits children with this type tend to develop normally for the first few years but start to lose mental, social and communication skills fast. They also lose self-care and social skills, motor skills and bladder control. Since they cannot express themselves, others might find it difficult to understand them.
You will notice a unique mixture of symptoms in every child, and the severity level differs from child to child. The potential symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are:
One of the major symptoms, children with this disorder fail to respond to their names or do not respond when their names are being called out. Instead, they prefer to play alone and resist cuddling and holding. They also lack eye contact and facial expression and face problems in communicating.
Children with this disorder face challenges in speaking or have delayed speech. They are unable to start any conversation, and if they speak, they do so to request someone or something.
Some even speak with an abnormal tone, while some tend to repeat words and phrases without understanding the proper usage. You will notice that they need help understanding simple directions and questions.
Children with such disorders cannot express their feelings and emotions properly. Also, they are unaware of other people's feelings. Also, they cannot share their interest points and become aggressive and passive during social interactions.
Autistic children face issues in recognising non-verbal cues and cannot comprehend other people's facial expressions, tone, or body posture. Further, they cannot interpret certain gestures, signs, and symbols.
Autistic children tend to perform repetitive body movements such as flapping their hands, spinning, or rocking. Since they tend to get habituated to a specific routine, any change or change in their schedule frustrates them.
These children face challenges while trying to make certain body movements. They are unable to coordinate and hence become clumsy. This results in stiff or sometimes exaggerated body language. Moreover, they get fascinated by an object but do not understand its function. Also, they tend to fix any object with abnormal movements and focus.
Autistic children can cause self-harm during certain periods. This can include biting, scratching, banging their head repeatedly or scratching oneself. They are generally sensitive to light, sound, and touch, although sometimes they might not feel pain.
The exact cause of autism spectrum disorder is unknown. However, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, both environment and genetics play a major role in a person developing this disorder. Here are some possible causes of autism spectrum disorder:
The risk factors of autism spectrum disorder are listed below.
The process to diagnose autism spectrum disorder includes:
There are various treatment procedures to reduce the symptoms of ASD. Well, the goal of the treatment is to enable your child to function properly. Treatments for autism spectrum disorder include:
Through effective behavioural, communication, and educational therapies can be treated well. Through these therapies, your therapist can also teach new skills and help your child focus on their skills and talents. In addition, many programs and activities help a child develop their social and communication skills. Doctors believe that children with this disorder tend to respond well to appropriate educational programs.
Family and close ones can play a major role in helping the autistic child to cope with their behavioural pattern, playing and interacting with the child, teaching them communication skills, and appreciating them for their good deeds and activities are certain methods that will help a child manage the symptoms.
There are no specific medications that help to improve ASD. However, if your child is hyperactive, doctors might suggest antipsychotic drugs. They might prescribe antidepressants if your child is suffering from anxiety. Melatonin can be prescribed if your child is having issues with sleep.
Sometimes the symptoms can go out of control and hamper daily life activity. In these cases, seeing or consulting a doctor will be helpful. Here is when you must consult a doctor:
The only way to control the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder is by preventing the occurrence of symptoms. You can do that in the following ways:
So now you know all about autism spectrum disorder and the ways to treat it. However, the disorder might deteriorate if you do not opt for treatment at an early stage. Therefore, whenever you notice signs and symptoms of ASD, try consulting a doctor for better results in the long term.
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Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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