- Is it Autism?
- How to know if it is autism
- 1. Difficulty in social interaction
- 2. Difficulty in communication
- 3. Behavioral changes
- Autism symptoms in adolescents and adults
- How to treat
Autism is a syndrome that causes changes in the child's ability to communicate, social interaction and behavior, which causes signs and symptoms such as difficulties in speech, blocks in the way of expressing ideas and feelings, as well as unusual behaviors, such as not enjoying interacting, get agitated or repeat movements.
The signs of autism usually appear around 2 to 3 years of age, a period in which the child has greater interaction and communication with people and the environment. However, in some cases, it is already possible to observe some warning symptoms already in babies, such as the absence of facial expressions or the absence of reaction to sounds, for example. To learn more about autism at this stage, check out signs of autism from 0 to 3 years old.
The symptoms of autism can also be noticed in teenagers and adults, and some of the most common are isolation, not looking into the eyes, aggressiveness and difficulty adapting to a new routine. It is important to remember that only some of these signs do not confirm autism, and it is important to consult with a pediatrician or psychiatrist, who will be able to make a more specific clinical evaluation.
If you suspect a case of autism, check out our test, which can help you identify the main signs and symptoms:
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Is it Autism?
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How to know if it is autism
In mild autism, the child has few symptoms, which can often go unnoticed. Check out details on how to identify mild autism.
In moderate and severe autism, on the other hand, the number and intensity of symptoms become greater. Symptoms that can be experienced by any autistic child include:
1. Difficulty in social interaction
- Do not look in the eyes or avoid not looking into the eyes even when someone talks to her, being very close; Inappropriate laughter and laughter or out of time, such as during a wake or a wedding or christening ceremony, for example; Dislike affection or affection and therefore does not allow itself to be hugged or kissed; difficulty in relating with other children and for this reason it prefers to be alone than to play with them; to repeat the same things, to always play with the same toys.
2. Difficulty in communication
- The child knows how to speak, but prefers not to say anything and remains silent for hours, even when asked questions; The child refers to himself with the word: youRepeat the question that was asked several times in a row without caring if he is upsetting others; always keeps the same expression on his face and does not understand other people's gestures and facial expressions; when he is called by name, as if he is not hearing anything, despite not being deaf and having no hearing impairment; looking out of the corner of his eye when he feels uncomfortable; when he speaks, communication is monotonous and pedantic.
3. Behavioral changes
- Not afraid of dangerous situations, such as crossing the street without looking at cars, getting very close to apparently dangerous animals, such as large dogs; Having strange games, giving different functions to the toys you have; Playing with only a part of a toy, like the wheel of the stroller, for example, and constantly watching and moving it; apparently she doesn’t feel pain and seems to like to hurt herself or to hurt others on purpose; takes someone else’s arm to pick up the object she he wants; he always looks in the same direction as if he were stopped in time; he is rocking back and forth for several minutes or hours or constantly twisting his hands or fingers; or attacking others; running your hand over objects or having water fixation; being extremely agitated when in public or in noisy environments.
If these symptoms are suspected, evaluation by a pediatrician or child psychiatrist is indicated, who will be able to make a more detailed assessment of each case, and confirm whether it is autism or whether it may be some other disease or psychological condition:
Click here and find out the differential diagnosis
When autism is suspected, it should also be checked for other conditions that are leading to the same signs and symptoms that the child has, such as:
- Hearing impairment; Intellectual disability; Expressive and repetitive language disorder; Landau-Klefner syndromes or Rett syndrome; Severe separation anxiety; Selective multismus.
That is why it is important to observe whether there are other signs and symptoms, in addition to physical characteristics that can help in the diagnosis, and it is also important to carry out tests that may clarify doubts.
In addition, the autistic child may also present other changes such as obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity, anxiety and depression that can be treated with therapies and medications indicated by the doctor.
Autism symptoms in adolescents and adults
The symptoms of autism may be milder in adolescence and adulthood, either because the signs went unnoticed in childhood, or because of the improvement in the treatment. It is common for young people with autism to show signs such as:
- Absence of friends, and when there are friends, there is no regular or face-to-face contact. Generally, contact with people is limited to the family circle, school or virtual relationships over the internet; Avoid leaving home, both for usual activities, such as using public transport and services, and for leisure activities, always preferring solitary and sedentary activities; Many they are unable to have autonomy to work and develop a profession; they usually have symptoms of depression and anxiety; difficulty in social interaction, and interest only in specific activities.
The possibility of having a normal and autonomous adult life varies according to the severity of the symptoms and the performance of an appropriate treatment. Family support is essential, especially in the most serious cases, in which the autistic person may depend on family members and caregivers to meet their social and financial needs.
How to treat
The treatment of autism varies from one child to another because not everyone is affected in the same way. In general, it is necessary to call on several health professionals such as a doctor, speech therapist, physiotherapist and psychopedagogue, with family support being very important so that the exercises are performed daily, thus improving the child's abilities.
This treatment must be followed for a lifetime and must be reevaluated every 6 months so that it can be adapted to the needs of the family. For more details on treatment options for autism, check out treatment for autism.
