Overview
Imagine living in a world that doesn't completely reach you, and to which you can't always respond. For many people who have autism, this great divide exists between their world and the reality outside of them.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects about five out of every 10,000 people. Children with autism usually display signs before the age of three. Autism is two to four times more likely in boys than girls, and most people with autism are mentally challenged to some degree.
Causes
Many factors may be connected to autism, but no conclusive causes have been found.
There is some evidence that people with autism have a chemical imbalance in their brain, specifically high levels of serotonin, though there is no explanation of why this would cause autism.
Genetics are a factor in a small percentage of people with autism. In studies of identical twins, if one has autism, there's about an 85% chance the other twin will have it as well. For siblings of a person with autism, chances of having the condition are higher than for the general population.
Symptoms
The most obvious sign that a child has autism is his or her inability to interact socially. Babies and infants won't respond to smiles, vocal games, or other stimuli and activities around them. Children won't follow other people with their eyes, or make eye contact. Facial expression and body language are neither understood nor expressed by children with autism. They may also not be able to develop emotional and social relationships.
Many children with autism don't develop language skills, and those who do aren't likely to start up a conversation. However, it's not unusual for a person with autism to echo phrases they hear in conversation or have heard in the past.
This tendency to repeat is apparent in other behaviours associated with autism: certain movements or motions, such as flapping the hands or twisting the body, will be repeated over and over again. Children don't participate in imaginative play, but can learn and imitate actions. For instance, a child who appears to be playing telephone - dialing, talking, hanging up - will act this out in exactly the same way and order the next time. This doesn't indicate an active imagination, but rather repetition of a learned behavior. Learning also occurs in an erratic manner: what a child appears to have learned one day may be forgotten the next.
Children with autism frequently prefer to keep a strict order around themselves. Play might consist of lining up objects, or even of being fascinated by some aspect of a toy - its texture, smell or colour - rather than its function. People with autism often prefer routines to be strictly maintained; serving a meal five minutes late can cause a tantrum. An object moved out of its usual place can be extremely distressing, causing a reaction that will only stop when the object is moved back to its usual place.
Other behaviours of people with autism include:
- acts of self-injury
- abnormal eating, drinking, or sleeping habits
- lack of fear, or irrational fears
- limited activities and interests
- mood abnormalities
- short attention span
- unusual responses to stimuli (lack of interest or over-sensitivity)
Although people with autism can be developmentally impaired in many ways, they might also have particular strengths which differ from one person to the next. These may include a talent for music or mathematical calculations, as well as other strengths.
Treatment
There's no cure for autism. Medication has limited value and is only useful to reduce some of the symptoms, such as severe aggression or self-destructive behaviour. Because so little is understood about the causes of this disease, it's not yet possible to develop specific drug treatments.
The most effective treatment available is behavioural intervention and modification. Therapy is most effective if it's started at an early age. Along with psychiatric care, children with autism benefit from working with a multidisciplinary team consisting of parents, teachers, psychologists, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists. Individualized treatment based on each child's needs is essential along with sufficient access to the health care team.
Early treatment that's maintained over a long period of time may prove beneficial and some children will improve their language and social skills as they progress to adulthood. The quality of life for individuals with autism can improve as communication is enhanced and daily experiences become more meaningful.
Other tips:
Because there are no well-identified causes for autism, there's no straightforward test to determine whether or not a child has it. Based on a child's social difficulties, behavioural patterns, and poor ability to communicate, a physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist can identify him or her as having autism.
© MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use: The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.