Understanding about Autism

Autism is a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them. Autism can be accompanied by intellectual disability, challenges in motor skills and coordination, as well as physical health issues.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.

There are many types of ASD. The most common are:

– Autistic disorder: Kids with autistic disorder often have trouble communicating and interacting with others. They may engage in repetitive activities and show unusual reactions to sounds or other sensations.

– Asperger syndrome: People with Asperger syndrome may have average or even above-average intelligence but still have difficulties interacting socially. They may also have narrow interests or highly specialized or intense interests.

– Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS): People with PDD-NOS share some characteristics with autism but are missing some of the most severe symptoms of autism.

Characteristics of Autism in Children

Children with autism typically have problems with social interaction, show repetitive behaviors and have difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication. They also may engage in physically aggressive behavior, such as hitting or biting.

The severity of autism symptoms varies greatly, even within the same family. Some people with autism have mild symptoms that affect only one area of their lives, while others have more severe symptoms that affect many areas.

In general, the earlier a child is diagnosed with autism, the better able they are to learn and respond to treatment.

The following are characteristics of autism in children:

Social skills deficits: A child with autism may not recognize or use appropriate facial expressions or body language to interpret others’ feelings or reactions or to regulate his or her own behavior. Children may also have trouble learning how to share toys and play socially with other children.

Repetitive behaviors: Children may repeat certain actions over and over again, such as rocking back and forth or flapping their hands. They also tend to get stuck on routines and become upset if these routines are disrupted.

What causes autism?

It’s not clear what causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, research suggests that both genetics (inherited traits) and environmental factors may play a role in the development of ASD.

Genetics

Although the exact cause of ASD isn’t known, research has shown that there may be a genetic component. When one identical twin has ASD, there’s an 85% chance the other will also have it. This suggests that genes play an important role in developing ASD. But it’s still unclear how these genes work together to cause ASD — meaning researchers don’t know which genes are responsible for causing autism or what they do exactly. It also means that if one identical twin has autism, the other twin won’t necessarily have it too. The rate of having two autistic children if one parent has the condition is about 1% (or 1 in 100).

Environment. Since autism runs in families, it’s likely that genetic factors interact with environmental ones to cause the disorder. Many researchers think that some combination of genes and environmental factors are responsible for causing autism. Prenatal exposure to certain substances — such as thalidomide (a drug used to treat nausea during pregnancy) — can increase the risk of having an autistic child. But more research is needed to determine whether these substances actually cause autism or whether they just make it more likely that a child will develop symptoms of autism later in life if he or she was already predisposed to having it.

Signs of Autism

As with many developmental disorders, it can be difficult to diagnose autism. But there are some clear signs of autism.

If your child has some or all of these signs, he or she may have an autism spectrum disorder. It’s important to remember that these signs can vary widely and aren’t always present in every person with autism.

Early signs

There are several early warning signs that you may notice as your baby grows into a toddler:

• Not babbling or pointing by age 1 year
• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by age 1 year
• No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by age 1 year
• Loss of any language or social skills at any time after the first birthday
• A lack of eye contact and poor body awareness (for example, not knowing where his or her body is in space)

Autism diagnosis

There’s no one test for diagnosing autism or ASD. Your doctor will take a detailed medical history, including information about any problems your child had as an infant and toddler, and may request that you bring your child to their office so they can observe him or her in action. They may also ask you to keep a journal of your child’s behaviors over several days or weeks so they can track patterns in his or her behavior.

Tests may include:

Physical exam: Your doctor may listen to your child’s heart and lungs, check his or her muscle tone, reflexes and coordination, and look at his or her eyes and ears during the exam.

Psychological tests: The doctor may give your child tests designed specifically for children with autism or those with other developmental delays

Lab tests: Certain lab tests may be done if there are concerns about specific physical conditions such as lead poisoning or immune disorders but this isn’t routine

Genetic testing: If there’s no clear explanation for your child’s symptoms then genetic testing.

Concerned about your child’s development: what to do

If you’re concerned that your child is not meeting their developmental milestones, it’s important to talk to their doctor or health visitor.

If they are under three years old and have not met any of the milestones, they will be referred to your local early intervention service (if available). The early years team will work out what support is needed for your child, and may offer home visits to see how you are doing as a family.

If they are over three years old and have not met any of the milestones, they can still get an assessment from the local authority. This should happen within two weeks of asking for one. However, if there is a long waiting list for assessments it could take longer than two weeks.

If there is no assessment available in your area or if you feel that you need more help than what is offered by an assessment, then ask for a referral to another health professional such as your GP or paediatrician who can give advice about what else might help with your child’s development.