Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Children

 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Children

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder in children?

        Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder in children related to the brain. ASD can notice in different age groups of children. ASD can be identified in 1 child among 100. These children show different kinds of severe symptoms seen in them. Because of various symptoms, sometimes it becomes difficult to determine and identify.

Autism begins in childhood and eventually drives children unsocial and less interactive in school. Few children show normal growth initially at the age of one but then 18-24months they start showing autism symptoms. Having a sibling to an ASD child may have a chance of being an Autism child as well.

Autism children suddenly lose language skills and show less interaction with people around them.

Children try to avoid social gatherings, don't usually like to mingle with peer groups and maintain a very low profile. Behaves like an introvert. For example, if a child is close to their family would never like to interact with others. Autism will impact on child's social behaviour. They don't usually trust everyone and cannot be comfortable.

How to Identify ASD in children?

         Children with ASD show several severe symptoms and few are listed that can be helpful for understanding and identifying autism in children.

1. Avoiding Eye Contact: They usually don't look into the speaker's eyes or always try to avoid looking and speaking.

2. Sensitive to Noise: They react more to simple noises too and cannot bare them. They usually close their ears to avoid the noise.

 

3. Play alone: They don't like to share their things and don't want to play with another partner. They always try to keep toys in sequence or play with reversing the toy.

4. Hyperactive: Their energy levels are a bit high.

5. Sleeping problem: They usually sleep very less time and never like to sleep.

6. Reject cuddling: They cannot be comfortable while cuddling and pampering them.

7. Tiptoeing: They usually walk on their tips by raising their toes instead of placing their entire floor on the surface.

8. Ignoring danger: They can't predict the danger and cannot overcome the situations and escape them by themselves.

9. Hysterics: They are emotional and exaggerated, cry for simple situations and make different sounds.

10. Delay in speech: They can't co-relate the things and finds difficulty in speech and can't express their feelings.

11. Dyslexia: Difficulty in learning new things and concepts in school or at work.

What are the reasons for ASD in children?

Autism spectrum disorder has no cause known. The complexity of ASD is at a severe level and the phenomenon is children may face many discriminations ahead of their future. the main cause is unknown but after some research, a few are listed like Genetics, viral infections, pollution and mother medication during pregnancy may play a role.

• Genetic disorders can't be predicted and not sure about their occurrence but could be the result of mutations.
• other factors like - pollution may show effects on children, medication by the mother during her pregnancy and taking many medicines also may be the cause of autism in children.

As children grow, some of them become more engaged and show fewer signs of autism. In a few children, they may show more symptoms and may be severe. some children may lead normally even after continuing to have difficulty with social interaction and communication. They may have worse behaviour and emotional issues when they reach their adolescent age. It may lead to depression and anxiety in their adulthood.

We really cannot prevent ASD in children, but we can identify it early and try to diagnose it by using some therapy and help children come out of it.

                            - Sankeerthana Cheekati @skssmartteaching