by Iqra Waheed
WHAT: Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact, learn and behave. People with ASD have differences in their brain function that can impact their behaviour and social interactions. (Benisek, Mitchell, & McPhillips, 2024)
SIGNS OF AUTISM: Symptoms of autism usually appear before a child turns 3. Some people show signs from birth. Symptoms of Autism include:
● Lack of eye contact
● A narrow range of interest or intense interest in certain topics
● Doing something over and over
● High sensitivity to sounds, touches, smells, or sights that seem ordinary to other people ● Trouble adapting to changes in routine
● Problems understanding or using speech, gestures, facial expressions, or voice tone Some people with autism might also have seizures. These might not start until adolescence.
SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS:
● Trouble understanding what other people are thinking or feeling
● Choosing to be on your own or having a hard time making friends
● Anxiety about social activities
● Having a hard time explaining how you feel
● Coming off as blunt, uninterested, or rude to others without meaning to ● Taking things literally and not understanding sarcasm
● Picking up small details
SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN:
● Not responding to their name by 9 months old
● Not showing facial expressions by 9 months old
● Don’t use gestures by 12 months old
● Don’t understand when other people are sad or mad by 24 months old ● Delayed language, movement, learning, or cognitive skills
● Odd sleeping or eating habits
● Less or more fear toward things that would ordinarily be expected
● Lines up toys in a specific order and gets upset if the order is changed (Benisek, Mitchell, & McPhillips , 2024)
CAUSES OF AUTISM: ASD has no single known cause. Both genetics and environment may play a role.
● Genetics: Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum disorder. For some children, ASD can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett
Syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic mutations may increase the risk of ASD. Some genetic mutations seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously.
● Environmental Factors: Researchers are currently exploring whether factors such as viral infections, medications, or complications during pregnancy, or air pollutants play a role in triggering ASD
(Mayo Clinic, 2018)
ARE VACCINES ALSO A CAUSE OF ASD?: One of the greatest controversies in autism spectrum disorder is whether a link exists between autism and childhood vaccines. Despite extensive research, no reliable study has shown a link between autism and any vaccines. (Mayo Clinic, 2018)
RISK FACTORS: The number of children diagnosed with ASD is rising. Autism spectrum disorder affects children of all races and nationalities, but certain factors increase a child’s risk. These may include:
● Your child’s sex: Boys are four times more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder than girls are.
● Family History: Families who have one child with autism spectrum disorder have an increased risk of having another child with the disorder.
● Other Disorders: Children with certain medical conditions have a higher than normal risk of autism spectrum disorder or autism-like symptoms. Examples include fragile X syndrome, and inherited disorder that causes intellectual problems; tuberous sclerosis, a condition in which benign tumours develop in the brain; and Rett Syndrome, a genetic condition occurring almost exclusively in girls, which causes slowing of head growth, intellectual disability and loss of purposeful hand use.
● Extremely Preterm Babies: Babies born before 26 weeks of gestation may have a greater risk of ASD.
● Parents’ Ages: There may be a connection between children born to older parents and autism spectrum disorder, but more research is necessary to establish this link. (Mayo Clinic, 2018)
CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS WITH AUTISM: Conditions that co-occur with autism include: ● ADHD
● Anxiety disorders
● Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
● Bipolar disorder
● Epilepsy
● OCD
● Schizophrenia spectrum disorder
● Depressive disorders
(Cleveland Clinic, 2024)
AUTISM FUNCTIONING LABELS: Autism affects every person differently. Sometimes people use “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” to describe someone’s autism. But these labels can be offensive. People often use these labels to describe someone’s autism, even though they are not medical terms.
LOW FUNCTIONING AUTISM: About 30% of the people with autism also have an intellectual disability. This means they may need help with everyday tasks and sometimes aren’t able to live alone. Many people call this “low-functioning autism”.
HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM: Other people have autism with less obvious symptoms. They often do well in school and have fewer problems communicating. People usually call this “high-functioning autism” or the outdated term, Asperger syndrome.
(Benisek, Mitchell, & McPhillips, 2024)
SEVERITY LEVELS OF ASD: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) introduced three ASD severity levels in the DSM-5. These levels describe the levels of support someone with autism needs based on their behaviours and social communication needs: ● Level 1: Mild, requiring support
● Level 2: Moderate, requiring substantial (or major) support
● Level 3: Severe, requiring very substantial support
(Benisek, Mitchell, & McPhillips, 2024)
STRENGTHS OF AUTISTIC PEOPLE: Strengths are unique to each person, a research has found a wide range of strengths among autistic people. Your child may have: ● The strength to speak out
● A strong sense of right and wrong
● The ability to express themselves directly and honestly
● A knack for connecting with people of all ages
● The ability to focus for long periods of time
● Strong nonverbal reasoning skills
(Cleveland Clinic, 2024)
PREVENTION: There is no way to prevent autism spectrum disorder, but there are treatment options.
(Mayo Clinic, 2018)
TREATMENT OF ASD: There are several effective interventions that can help a child reach their full potential:
● Applied behavioral analysis
● Social skills training
● Speech and language therapy
● Occupational therapy
● Parent management therapy
● Special educational services
● Treating co-occurring conditions
● Medication
(Londoño Tobón, & Moreno De Luca, 2024)
REFERENCES
● Cleveland Clinic. (2024, October 1). Autism. Cleveland Clinic
● Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018, January 6). Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc -20352928
● Benisek, A., Mitchell, K., & McPhillips, A. (2024, September 11). What Is Autism?. WebMD
● Londoño Tobón, A., & Moreno De Luca, D. (2024, January). What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder? American Psychiatric Association
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