What is Autism?
Autism is also known as an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. In other words, it is a complicated condition that includes problems with communication and behavior.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association that health care providers use to diagnose mental disorders, people with ASD often have:
- Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people
- Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors
- Symptoms that affect their ability to function in school, work, and other areas of life
Autism is referred to as a “spectrum” disorder. Since autism is a spectrum disorder, each autistic individual has a unique set of abilities and difficulties. People with autism can learn, reason, and solve problems in a variety of ways, from highly skilled to severely impaired. While some persons with ASD could need a lot of everyday assistance, others might only need a little help and in some circumstances could even live independently.
Types of autism
There are the following major types of autism:
Asperger’s Syndrome
These kids don’t have linguistic issues; in fact, they typically score average or above average on IQ exams. However, they struggle with social issues and have certain hobbies. A youngster with Asperger’s Syndrome will typically exhibit the symptoms listed below.
- Inflexibility in thought and behavior
- Challenges in switching between activities
- Executive functioning problems
- Flat monotone speech, the inability to express feelings in their speech, or change their pitch to fit their immediate environment
- Difficulty interacting with peers at school or home
Autistic disorder
This is what most people think of when they hear the word “autism.” This is sometimes called “classic” autism. People with autism disorder typically exhibit odd habits and interests, major language impairments, and communication and social difficulties. Many individuals with autism condition also struggle intellectually.
Childhood disintegrative disorder
Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), commonly referred to as Heller’s syndrome or disintegrative psychosis, is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by the delayed onset of impairments with language, motor abilities, or social function. A youngster enjoys typical development in these areas before hitting a wall between the ages of three and ten. These kids develop normally for at least two years before losing part or all of their social and communication abilities.
Although experts have connected CDD to the neurobiology of the brain, the exact reason is uncertain. Boy patients with childhood disintegrative disorder are more prevalent. Only one girl will experience the disease out of every 10 cases, with nine boys.In CDD, the child will have normal development up to the time when the disorder starts, and regressions suddenly start to occur in more than two developmental aspects of their life. The child may lose any of the following skills and abilities:
- Toileting skills if they had already been established
- Acquired language or vocabularies
- Social skills and adaptive behaviors
- Some motor skills
Pervasive developmental disorder
This is sometimes called “atypical autism,” or PDD-NOS. Atypical autism is a diagnosis given to those who partially match the requirements for Asperger syndrome or autistic disorder but not all of them. Compared to others who have autism disorder, these folks typically have fewer and milder symptoms. The symptoms may merely cause social and communication problems. If your child exhibits some autistic behaviors, such as impairments in social and communication abilities, but doesn’t fall under another label, your doctor may use this phrase.
Causes and symptoms of autism
Symptoms:
Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Research shows that early intervention leads to positive outcomes later in life for people with autism. Common symptoms of autism include:
- A lack of eye contact
- A narrow range of interests or intense interest in certain topics
- Doing something over and over, like repeating words or phrases, rocking back and forth, or flipping a lever
- High sensitivity to sounds, touches, smells, or sights that seem ordinary to other people
- Not looking at or listening to other people
- Not looking at things when another person points at them
- Not wanting to be held or cuddled
- Problems understanding or using speech, gestures, facial expressions, or tone of voice
- Talking in a sing-song, flat, or robotic voice
- Trouble adapting to changes in routine
- Some children with autism may also have seizures. These might not start until adolescence.
Causes:
The primary causes of ASD are unknown, however studies suggest that a person’s genes might interact with components of their environment to alter development in ways that contribute to ASD. Several elements that are linked to an increased risk of having ASD include:
- having an immediate family member who’s autistic
- certain genetic mutations
- fragile X syndrome and other genetic disorders
- being born to older parents
- low birth weight
- metabolic imbalances
- exposure to heavy metals and environmental toxins
- a maternal history of viral infections
- fetal exposure to the medications valproic acid or thalidomide (Thalomid)
Autism Awareness
Autism Awareness aims to spread knowledge about autism spectrum disorders, what it means to be autistic, how to support autistic people and the challenges and discrimination that autistic people encounter.
Best course on autism awareness
Nursing Revalidation provides one of the best Autism Awareness course. This course will provide you with an understanding of what autism is and how it affects a child’s daily life. It will touch on what factors contribute towards a child developing autism as well as some of the typical behaviors associated with it and how to can provide effective support for those with the condition. It also discusses what happens during the diagnosis process, some of the intervention methods that can help manage the condition and suggests some simple adaptations you can make to improve a child with autism’s day to day life.
The bottom line
Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.
Nursing Revalidation Provides CPD accredited course for Autism Awareness. Join the course and get practical knowledge to help Autism People.