Autism: What You Need to Know

Details: Category: Region 9; Published: 11 January 2023

Autism Autism, or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a wide range of illnesses that are all characterized by difficulty with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological condition that affects how people perceive and relate to one another, which can cause problems with social interaction and communication. Another characteristic of the condition is its limited and recurrent behavioral patterns The term "spectrum" in autism spectrum disorder alludes to the wide range of signs and severity.

Symptoms

Autism spectrum disorder's early-infancy symptoms include minimal eye contact, a lack of response to their name, or a lack of interest in caregivers. Other children could develop properly for the first few months or years of their lives, but then all of a sudden change to be angry, introverted, or lose their acquired language skills. Usually, symptoms start to show around the age of two. Since autism spectrum disorders range in severity from low functioning to high functioning, each autistic kid is likely to have a distinct behavioral pattern.

Some children on the autism spectrum struggle academically, and others show evidence of being less intelligent than typical. Other afflicted children are bright, with IQs ranging from normal to high; they are quick learners but have trouble interacting with others, communicating, and applying their knowledge. Sometimes determining severity might be difficult since each child's unique combination of symptoms is distinct. Generally, it depends on the severity of the impairments and how they affect a person's capacity to operate.

As they become older, some children with autism spectrum disorders become more socially adept and have fewer behavioral issues. Some people could eventually lead normal or almost normal lives—typically those with the fewest severe difficulties. Others, however, still have communication or social skills problems, and puberty can make their emotional and behavioral problems worse.

Causes

Autism spectrum disorder has no recognized cause. Given the complexity of the condition and the fact that symptoms and severity differ, there are undoubtedly a number of explanations. Both the environment and genetics may be significant.

There are numerous different genes that seem to contribute to autism spectrum disorder. A genetic illness like Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome may be connected to autism spectrum disorder in some children. Other children may be more susceptible to autism spectrum disorders because of genetic flaws (mutations). Other genes may affect the development of the brain, the communication between brain cells, or even the severity of a symptom. Currently, researchers are looking at the potential causes of autism spectrum disorder, including medicines, pregnancy complications, and viral infections.

Prevention

There are therapies available for autism spectrum disorder even though there is no known cure. Early diagnosis and intervention are the best courses of action since they can improve a child's behavior, skills, and language development. Intervention, however, is beneficial at any age. Although symptoms of autism spectrum condition often do not go away in youngsters, they may learn to function successfully.

ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND

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