Autism, scientifically known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a syndrome characterized by problems in communication, socialization and behavior, usually diagnosed between 2 and 3 years of age.
This syndrome causes the child to present some specific characteristics, such as difficulty in speaking and expressing ideas and feelings, malaise among others and little eye contact, in addition to repetitive patterns and stereotyped movements, such as sitting for a long time shaking the body back and forth.
Thus, the symptoms and characteristics of autism are:
- Difficulty in social interaction, such as eye contact, facial expression, gestures, difficulty in making friends, difficulty in expressing emotions; Impairment in communication, such as difficulty in initiating or maintaining a conversation, repetitive use of language; Behavioral changes, such as not knowing how to play pretend, repetitive patterns of behavior, having many "fads" and showing intense interest in something specific, such as the wing of an airplane, for example.
These signs and symptoms range from mild, which may even go unnoticed, but can also be moderate to severe, which greatly interfere with the child's behavior and communication. To learn how to identify the main symptoms of an autistic person, check out autism symptoms.
What Causes Autism
Any child can develop autism, and its causes are still unknown, although more and more research is being developed to find out.
Some studies are already able to point to probable genetic factors, which may be hereditary, but it is also possible that environmental factors, such as infection by certain viruses, consumption of types of food or contact with intoxicating substances, such as lead and mercury, for example, can have a great effect on the development of the disease. Some of the main possible causes include:
- Deficiency and cognitive abnormality of genetic and hereditary cause, as it was observed that some autists have larger and heavier brains and that the nerve connection between their cells was deficient; Environmental factors, such as the family environment, complications during pregnancy or childbirth; Biochemical changes in the organism characterized by excess serotonin in the blood; Chromosomal abnormality evidenced by the disappearance or duplication of chromosome 16.
In addition, there are studies that point to some vaccines or to the replacement of excess folic acid during pregnancy, however there are still no definitive conclusions about these possibilities, and more research still needs to be done to clarify this issue.
How to confirm
The diagnosis of autism is made by the pediatrician or psychiatrist, through observation of the child and the performance of some diagnostic tests, between 2 and 3 years of age.
It can be confirmed of autism, when the child has characteristics of the 3 areas that are affected in this syndrome: social interaction, behavioral change and communication failures. It is not necessary to present an extensive list of symptoms for the doctor to arrive at the diagnosis, because this syndrome manifests itself in different degrees and, therefore, the child can be diagnosed with mild autism, for example. Check for signs of mild autism.
Thus, autism can sometimes be almost imperceptible and can be confused with shyness, lack of attention or eccentricity, as in the case of Asperger's syndrome and high functioning autism, for example. Therefore, the diagnosis of autism is not simple, and in case of suspicion it is important to go to the doctor so that he can assess the child's development and behavior, being able to indicate what he has and how to treat it.
Are there different types of autistic people?
There are different types of autistic people, and the form of presentation or the "autistic spectrum" is variable. Some patients have severe impairment and others mild, such as high-functioning autism. In the latter case, the individual can be very intelligent and develop sophisticated software or have an extreme facility for some specific activity, such as mathematics like the American who inspired the movie "Rain Man", for example.
Some books that talk about this syndrome are: “The strange case of the dead dog”, by Ed. Record, and “An Anthropologist on Mars”, by Companhia das Letras. These are usually good readings for parents of children diagnosed with autism because they help to understand the syndrome and how it can help your child.
How to treat
Treatment will depend on the type of autism the child has and the degree of impairment, but it can be done with:
- Use of medications prescribed by the doctor; Speech therapy sessions to improve speech and communication; Behavioral therapy to facilitate daily activities; Group therapy to improve the child's socialization.
Although autism has no cure, treatment, when performed correctly, can facilitate care for the child, making the parents' life a little easier. In the mildest cases, medication intake is not always necessary and the child can lead a life very close to normal, being able to study and work without restrictions. Check out more details and options for treating autism.
