Autism is a developmental disorder that causes children to have problems with social interactions, impaired verbal and nonverbal communication with others, and a pattern of repetitious behavior that consists of narrow and restricted interests. Children with autism tend to see the world differently from the way that other children see it and have a harder time expressing themselves with words. Autism affects approximately 1 out of every 150 kids but it is still uncertain what exactly causes it. It is said by some scientists that autism could be the result of either a neurological abnormality or a strong genetic component passed down through a family line.
Diagnosing autism
There are no medical tests or x-rays that can definitively determine whether a child has autism. Generally the diagnosis of autism is based on the observations of an individual’s behavior by a team of specialists usually including a pediatrician, a pediatric neurologist, a pediatric developmentalist, child psychiatrist and psychologist, and speech and language therapists. The team of specialists would listen to the parents' concerns and study how the child learns, how they play, how they interact with others, and how they behave. If parents believe that there might be something to be concerned about with their child they should consult their child’s pediatrician immediately. The sooner that a child can be screened and evaluated is the sooner that they can be diagnosed and treated.
Behavioral signs to pay attention to
There a lot of myths and generalizations surrounding the condition of autism and that may be the reason why determining whether this condition exists within your child may be difficult. The list of symptoms and behavioral signs to be aware of is long and no two people with autism will exhibit the same symptoms in the same manner. The following list includes some of the signs that you may want to pay attention to.
- Aggressive or destructive behavior
- Short attention span
- Throwing unexpected tantrums
- Abnormal sleeping or eating habits
- Having inappropriate attachment to objects
- Being oblivious to dangerous or fearful situations
- Noticeable extreme over-activity or under-activity
- Abnormal responses to sensory stimuli
- Doesn’t respond to normal teaching methods
Treatment or management of autism
There is no set standard treatment for autism. Different specialists will have their own recommendations on how to best handle caring for a child with autism. Parents should talk to several different specialists to determine who they are more comfortable with and whose suggestions they feel more comfortable adhering to.
Traditionally, for a child who is found to have autism, a part of their treatment is placing them in a school or program for special education that would help with specific things such as behavioral management, speech and language, and the learning of social skills. Treatment for children with autism could also include medication to help manage and stabilize an autistic child’s moods and behavioral problems. However parents should be cautioned that medications do not make a child’s autism go away.
Autism is an incurable disorder but it can be treated and managed effectively. The earlier that a parent detects that their child may have autism and obtains various services to help their child cope with their condition, the more significant strides can be made in their child’s life to enable them to lead as normal of a life as possible.
References
Autismadvice.com “Autism Education- Simple strategies to help your child overcome obstacles to improve learning” (accessed on May 1, 2011)
Emedicinehealth.com “Autism Overview” (accessed on May 2, 2011)
Healingautismandadhd.com “What Autism Means to Me” (accessed on May 1, 2011)
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Jimmetta Carpenter - My name is Jimmetta Carpenter and I am a writer. I was born and raised in the Washington DC metropolitan area and have had a very big ...
Join the Conversation