Autism: Everything You Need to Know

Dr.Gaurav Jain, 3 mins read

Does your child experience problems in social interaction, communication, learning and paying attention? If so, these characteristics could be of autism.

What is Autism?

Autism or Autism spectrum disease (ASD) refers to a developmental disability that affects how the person reacts, socialises, interacts, and communicates with others. Its symptoms include limited and repetitive behaviour patterns, depression, and anxiety.

As the name suggests, Autism spectrum disease includes a spectrum of conditions that were earlier considered separately:

• Childhood disintegrative disorder
• Asperger's syndrome
• Unspecified form of pervasive developmental disorder

This condition usually begins in early childhood (before age 3), and as the disease progresses, the person may face difficulty at school, college, social gatherings and office.

As of now, there is no cure available for ASD. But early intervention and the right treatment can help many children. 

Some children show symptoms within 12 months of birth. However, some experience symptoms after the age of 24 months.

Signs & Symptoms

The pattern of behaviour and the severity level differs from person to person. Here, we've listed some of the common ASD symptoms:

• Symptoms in Children

1. Lack of response to their name
2. Difficulty differentiating their caregivers
3. Poor eye contact
4. Aggression
5. Loss of language skills
6. Difficulty learning. However, some learn quickly, but they've difficulty applying that knowledge in real life and adjusting to social situations.

• Symptoms in Adults

In addition to a few of the above symptoms, adults may experience the following signs and symptoms:

1. Resist cuddling and holding
2. Lacks facial expression
3. Difficulty understanding simple directions and questions
4. Losing the previous ability to speak
5. Delayed speaking
6. Difficulty initiating a conversation
7. Trouble understanding others' feelings, voice tone, body,language and facial expression
8. Difficulty expressing feelings and emotions
9. Sensitive to light, touch, or sound
10. Approaching others inappropriately by being disruptive, aggressive and passive

People with the least severe problems may live a normal or near-normal life. Others continue to have difficulty in socialisation and communication.

Risk Factors

There are many culprits of ASD, including biological, environmental and genetic factors. However, only a few things are known about the causes; the available evidence suggests that the following things may put your child at risk of ASD:

• If the child’s sibling has ASD
• If there’s a complication at the baby's birth
• If there’s a chromosomal or genetic condition

Diagnosis

Unlike most other diseases, there is no medical test to diagnose ASD. Doctors usually analyse the behaviour and development of the child. The diagnosis is usually done when the child crosses two years of age. In some cases, diagnosis is only considered reliable when the person reaches adolescents, as some notice symptoms for the first time at this age. 

Treatment

As already discussed earlier, there is no cure for ASD. However, there are treatments to reduce the symptoms that interfere with daily life. As not everyone with ASD has the same strength and challenges, the treatment is tailored to the needs of the individual. 

Takeaway!

ASD is one of the less-talked-about diseases in India. B  ut increasing cases of depression, anxiety, and concerns related to socialisation has brought the spotlight on this disease. Many people with ASD don't even have a clue that they have this disease. Above, we've listed its symptoms which will help you. If you see these symptoms in yourself or your baby, consult a doctor.

Also, Read: Worried about the baby's low birth weight- Here are some tips