Living in a Different World All About Autism

Have you observed a child who seemed to have his own world, not minding other people or their environment? It is likely that you met an autistic kid, or a child with autism. Also known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this medical condition is a neural development disorder marked by impaired social interaction and communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviour. The disorder affects the way a person relates with others. It is generally observed among children of about three years by identifying and considering the so-called “triad of impairments,” which are social relationships, communication, and imagination and planning.

How this condition occurs is not well understood at present. However, experts say there is a strong genetic basis to its occurrence. Still the genetics of ASD are too complex and unclear. In some cases, the disorder is strongly related to the causes of birth defects, sometimes pointing to the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, and vaccines. Nevertheless, one or two out of 1,000 people get ASD, which is more prevalent among males.

Patients suffering from autism tend to experience and react to their surrounding differently than others. It is challenging for them to talk to other people or make connections between people’s reactions and feelings. Such that they might have difficulty in telling if another individual is happy even if he is smiling or laughing. An autistic person also has challenges in connecting words to their meanings, making them unable to comprehend others and express themselves. He can also tend to perform unusual actions and say words repetitively. He can also display temper tantrums, especially when they are introduced to changes in their routines.

However, figuring out if the kid has this disorder can be challenging, and the parent is usually the first to observe that something is wrong. Medical professionals like paediatricians and child psychologists are the only ones who can exactly tell whether or not a child has ASD. All three impairments or factors must be addressed during the examination. This is because child development problems might be caused by other illnesses or diseases, and not ASD.

Once diagnosed, patients are helped to overcome or adjust to challenges. There is no cure for autism, but the earlier the patient starts treatment or therapy, the better and faster for him and the people living with him to learn to cope.