Definition of disorder:
A developmental disorder, occurring early in childhood, affects how social communication and interaction, includes specific and recurring patterns of behavior, a spectrum term has been added to indicate the existence of a variety of symptoms, signs, and different levels of severity.
Causes of disorder:
There is still no specific cause of the disorder, and genetic factors play an important role in developing the disorder, interacting with different environmental factors and their relationship with the disorder is currently being studied such as complications during pregnancy and childbirth, but no direct relationship with any of these factors has been established so far.
Symptoms:
Symptoms appear in early childhood, and there are some warning signs such as poor visual communication, non-response to name and linguistic delays. Symptoms appear through the following elements:
First: Poor communication and social interaction skills:
- Poor visual communication
- Inability to refer to the things he requests, and may use others as tools for that, such as holding the mother's hand.
- Not responding to the name when calling it either by parents or others, and it appears that it does not hear or has difficulty hearing.
- Late language, or lost language after its emergence during the early years,
- Not participating in activities, rarely enjoying activities with others.
- It is difficult for him to take and reply to talk or participate in the talk.
- Speaking on his favorite topic without giving others a chance to respond
- Having an unusual voice tone, it can sometimes appear to be a monotonous or automated sound.
- Repeating the words or phrases he hears.
- The existence of strange expressions on the face that are not commensurate with the modern context.
- Difficulty expressing his emotions and feelings, and he appears to be unaware of others' feelings.
- Difficulty in recognizing non-verbal references to the body such as facial expressions to others, and its responses appear in an unusual way.
Second: Recurrent stereotypical behaviours:
- Frequent stereotypical movements such as flap, swing, applause, rotation.
- Certain rituals such as the arrangement and rearrangement of games in a class manner.
- Adopting a lifestyle routine and he is upset by any change in this pattern even if it is simple like clothing pattern or eating.
- Focus on the details of things, such as focus on the rotation of the car wheels and not focus on the car itself.
- He doesn't care about traditional games and imaginary games.
- Unusual responses to different sensory aspects, such as extreme discomfort with sounds, lights, and smell.
Other characteristics associated with autism spectrum disorder:
Most people with autism spectrum disorder appear to have other problems such as:
* * It is important to know that it is not a requirement for all these problems to arise, but it is important to know whether they occur to facilitate identification and handling.
- Delays in language skills.
- Delays in certain aspects and motor skills.
- Delayed learning and cognitive skills.
- Over-motion, poor focus, and attention.
- Excess electrical charges or seizures of epilepsy and convulsion.
- Digestive problems and eating disorders.
- Sleep disorders.
- Anxiety and stress problems.
- Self-harm behaviors such as biting hands and hitting the head to the ground.
How common is autism spectrum disorder?
The U.S. CDC reported that nearly 1 in 44 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and that the disorder has increased by 10 times in the last 40 years.
Males are four times more likely to be infected than females.
Autism spectrum disorder may occur in different people (ethnicities, nationalities, and socioeconomic situation)
What are the projections after diagnosis?
It is unpredictable since autism spectrum disorder affects every person who has it in a different way. Everyone has strengths and challenging points that vary during intervention and therefore the person's fate varies.
Current treatment plans offered by a team of different disciplines are focused on reducing and alleviating symptoms that prevent children from performing their daily jobs and quality of life depending on each child's condition.
Do vaccinations cause autism spectrum disorder?
There is no correlation between different types of vaccinations and autism spectrum disorder. Many studies have shown that vaccinations are not associated with autism spectrum disorder and there is no relationship between them and the setback we see in some autism cases is usually 14 months old and has no link to vaccinations.
Is TV and smart devices such as iPad and mobile cause autism spectrum disorder?
Exposure to electronic screens and smart devices does not cause autism spectrum disorder, but may affect (child health in relation to fine muscle skills, sleep, obesity, neurochemical changes in the brain such as reduced melatonin production, behavior, language development, interaction, increased mobility, and poor concentration)
Is autism spectrum disorder hereditary?
The cause of autism spectrum disorder is unknown and may be genetic, so far science has not been able to detect specific autism-inducing genes but is most likely the result of several genes interacting with each other.
Some types of genetic dysfunction explain only some conditions such as fragile X-syndrome, Prader-Willy syndrome or Engel-Man syndrome.
Does the child respond to early intervention programs?
Yes, it is important to intervene early "early" and starts with the discovery of delays in any area of development in the child even before the final diagnosis as it may change much of the process and help develop and improve skills.
Research has shown that early diagnosis and intervention of autism spectrum disorder is likely to have significant positive effects both in the early and long-term on different daily skills, whether motor or linguistic or social.
Are there rehabilitation programs for children with autism spectrum disorder?
Yes, there are several stakeholders providing these services, including (Ministry of Health through various clinics, growth centres, rehabilitation centres, day care centres under the supervision of the Ministry of Human Resources or special education centres of the Ministry of Education, and other specialized centres in various governmental and private sectors)
How is autism spectrum disorder treated?
The autism spectrum disorder has not yet been scientifically proven to fully heal, and there is not only one type through which the condition is treated, so treatment and intervention through a range of different therapeutic and rehabilitation programmes tailored to each child's needs include:
- Speech and language therapy.
- Behavioral interventions and social skills development such as applied behavior analysis programs.
- Occupational Therapy.
- Physiotherapy.
- Family Therapy.
- Social Therapy.
- Nutrition Therapy.
- Medicines.
Can a person with autism spectrum disorder study in public schools here?
Yes, many children with autism spectrum disorder can enroll in education at different stages. This depends on several aspects, including the child's cognitive and linguistic abilities and the severity of behavioural symptoms and social skills, so that the child can be in public school and in public classes and be fully integrated with the class, Some children may need special educational and rehabilitation programmes within the school, with the help of specialists and special education teachers and some students may also be partially integrated through their presence in special classes and integrated at times of motor activities, space and other different student activities.
Who is competent to diagnose autism spectrum disorder?
One of the best ways to diagnose developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, is through a multidisciplinary team (pediatric developmental physician, paediatric psychiatrist, pediatrician, psychologist, language specialist, special education specialist, social worker, functional therapist, nutritionist).
Does autism spectrum disorder need preventive detection?
There is no preventive detection, but there is early detection through scanning by means of standardized and effective methods and measures.
Is there a relationship between autism spectrum disorder and ADHD and distraction?
Yes, there is a two-way relationship, as children with autism spectrum disorder may develop ADHD and be distracted and vice versa.
Is malnutrition during pregnancy related to autism spectrum disorder?
Environmental factors cannot be considered causal or accidental but can stimulate the risk of autism through several key mechanisms including the effect of genetic factors, infections, hypoxia in the brain and others.
Are complementary and alternative treatments useful for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder?
Scientific studies suggest that supplementary treatments such as dietary diet, omega-3, vitamins, probiotics, Chinese herbal supplements, oxygen therapy are not useful in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder but may show an improvement in some aspects of behavioral and concentration that is associated with the overall health of the child and not as an impact on the development of social skills.