|
AUTISM
1.What is Autism?
Autism, is
the result of a neurological disorder that affects the
functioning
of the brain. It is a complex developmental disability that
appears typically
during the first three years of life. It is placed under the broad heading
"Pervasive Developmental Disorder" or PDD-which is a general category of
disorders characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas
of development.
Autism is a
life-long developmental disability that prevents
individuals
from properly understanding what they see, hear, and otherwise sense.
This results
in severe problems in social relationships, communication,
and behavior.
Individuals
with Autism have to painstakingly learn normal patterns of
speech and
communication, and appropriate ways of relating to people,
objects, and
events, in a similar manner to those who have had a stroke.
2.What is the
occurrence rate of Autism?
Autism is estimated to occur in as many as 1 in every 500 individuals and is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. It knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels also do not play any part in the chance of Autism's occurrence.
3.What causes
Autism?
Scientists
from all over the world are devoting considerable time and
energy into
finding the answer to this critical question. Medical
researchers
are exploring different explanations for the various causes of Autism.
Although a single specific cause of Autism is not known, current research
links Autism to biological or neurological differences in the brain. In
many families there appears to be a pattern of Autism or related disabilities, which suggests that there is a genetic basis to the disorder, although at this time no gene has been directly linked to Autism.
The genetic
basis is believed by researchers to be highly complex,
probably involving
several genes in combination.
4.What are children
with Autism like?
Children within
the pervasive developmental disorder spectrum often
appear relatively
normal in their development until the age of 24-30
months, when
parents may notice delays in language, playing or social
interaction.
Any of the following delays, by themselves, would not result in a diagnosis
of a pervasive developmental disorder. Autism is a combination of several
developmental challenges.
The following
areas are among those that may be affected by autism:
Communication:
-
Language develops
slowly or not at all
-
Uses words without
attaching the usual meaning to them
-
Communicates with
gestures instead of words
-
Short attention
span
Social
Interaction:
-
Spends time alone
rather than with others
-
Shows little interest
in making friends
-
Less responsive
to social cues such as eye contact or smiles
Sensory
Impairment:
May have sensitivities
in the areas of sight, hearing, touch, smell,
and taste
to a greater or lesser degree
Play
Habits:
-
Lack of spontaneous
or imaginative play
-
Does not imitate
others' actions
-
Does not initiate
pretend games
Behaviors:
-
May be either
overactive or very passive
-
Throws tantrums
for no apparent reason
-
Shows an obsessive
interest in a single item, idea, activity or person
-
Apparent lack
of common sense
-
May show aggression
to others or self
-
Often has difficulty
with changes in routine
Some individuals
with Autism also have other disorders which affect
the functioning
of the brain such as: Epilepsy, Mental Retardation,
Down's syndrome,
or genetic disorders such as: Fragile X Syndrome,
Landau-Kleffner
Syndrome, William's Syndrome or Tourette's Syndrome. Many of those diagnosed
with Autism will test in the range of mental retardation.
Approximately
25-30 percent of the patients may develop a seizure pattern at some period
of their lives.
5.How is Autism
Diagnosed?
There are no
medical tests for diagnosing Autism. An accurate diagnosis
must be based
on observation of the child's communication, behavior,
and developmental
levels. However, because many of the behaviors
associated
with Autism are shared by other disorders, various medical tests may be
ordered to rule out or identify other possible causes of the symptoms being
seen.
Since the characteristics
of the disorder vary so much, ideally a child
should be
evaluated by a multidisciplinary team which may include a
neurologist,
psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language
therapist,
learning consultant, or another professional knowledgeable
about Autism.
Diagnosis is difficult for a practitioner with limited
training or
exposure to Autism. Autism has been misdiagnosed by well-meaning professionals.
Difficulties in the recognition and
acknowledgment
of Autism often lead to a lack of services to meet the complex needs of
individuals with autism.
6.Can children
with Autism be helped?
Though it cannot
be cured, Autism is certainly treatable. Studies show
that children
who have Autism improve significantly with proper instructions. Many children
with Autism do become more responsive to others as they learn to understand
the world around them.
7.How can children
with Autism learn best?
In order to
help a child, it is important, not only to identify the
presence of
Autism, but also to arrange for therapeutic intervention.
Children with
Autism can learn to function at home and in the community through specially
trained teachers, using specially structured programs
that emphasize
individual instructions. Some may be able to lead nearly
normal lives.
8.Can children
with Autism go to a "normal school"?
In general,
children with Autism perform best in closely supervised
curriculum,
which is structured, involve a degree of repetition and has
small 'teacher:student'
ratio.
Children who
have undergone brief therapeutic intervention and have
developed
a few social skills benefit by attending a normal school setup.
It is important
to keep the transition from home to school or from
centre to
school smooth and less threatening for the child. It is also
important
to ensure that the school authorities and teachers are aware of and sensitive
to the child's needs.
9.What hobbies
can be cultivated by children with Autism?
Children who
have Autism often enjoy the same recreational activities
as other non-handicapped
children. They usually like music, swimming,
hiking, camping,
working puzzles, playing table games, working on
computers,
etc.
10.Are any organizations
in India offering services for children with Autism?
The names and
addresses of a few are given as follows:
Action for
Autism
T370 Chiragh
Gaon, 3rd Floor
New Delhi
110 017
Telephone:
011 641 6469
Fax: 011 641
6470
Email: autism@vsnl.com
Website: http://www.autism-india.org/
Antarnad
Foundation
402, Shikhar,
Nr. Vadilal House,
Mithakhali
Cross Roads,
Ahmedabad
Gujarat.
Telephone:
079 6462425
Email: autism@antarnad.org
Institute
for Remedial Intervention Services(IRIS)
120 Defence
Colony,
Chennai 600032
Tamil Nadu.
Telephone:
044 2310968
Email: mythily@autismindia.com
To add your views on
this article or read others comments Click Here
Back to Previous Page
More on Child's Healthcare Index
Email this Article to a Friend
|
