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Autism is the term used to describe a number of conditions associated with difficulties in social skills, nonverbal communication, speech, and repetitive behaviors. There are several subtypes of autism.
The subtypes of autism are dependent on a combination of environmental factors and genetics. Autism is a broad disorder and each subtype is characterized by different strengths and weaknesses. Autism is different in people.
The ability of people with autism to think, learn and solve problems can range from severely challenged to highly skilled. Some people with autism cannot live an independent life and will require support from family and friends.
Other autistic people may not need as much support and can live independently. The development of autism is determined by several factors in combination with medical issues and sensory sensitivities.
Medical conditions that may affect the development of autism include seizures, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders. Mental health issues such as attention issues, anxiety, and depression may also influence its development.
Signs of autism appear before a child is 3 years. However, in some cases, they may appear as early as 18 months.
According to its diagnostic criteria, there are 3 levels of autism. These levels are defined and differentiated by the amount of supporting the person with autism needs. These levels are:
Signs of autism in children can be classified into the following;
Signs of autism in girls and boys can be different. Girls with autism tend to hide their feelings, appear to cope better with situations, and be quieter. Autism is believed to be more difficult for girls compared to boys.
Treatment for autism that begins early enough is likely to bear fruits compared to delayed treatment. This is why it is important to know how to identify signs of autism. Parents are advised to seek the guidance of a pediatrician if their children do not meet the following developmental milestones:
A large number of children with autism do not talk at all while some develop language skills although they lose them later in life while the rest may start talking much later in life. Communication problems in autistic children include:
Autism cannot be diagnosed with a single imaging test or blood. Children with autism are diagnosed by monitoring their development and observing their behavior. During diagnosis, doctors ask questions about the behavior of the child to assess if they meet the developmental milestones.
Signs of autism in toddlers can be easily recognized by playing with toddlers. Examinations done by doctors include screening for vision and hearing and medical tests. It is important if autism is diagnosed early enough in order to achieve suitable outcomes.
Autism in children is diagnosed by specialists such as child psychiatrists, child neurologists, developmental pediatricians, and child psychologists.
Applied behavioral analysis helps develop daily life skills, promote the social development of the child, and redirect harmful behaviors such as self-injury. Behavioral interventions built on applied behavioral analysis include early intensive behavioral intervention, naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions, pivotal response training, Lovaas therapy, and discrete trial teaching.
Speech-language pathologists should work with families, teachers, support personnel, and the child’s peers to be able to achieve speech therapy that will enable effective communication.
During speech therapy, it is important to help the child achieve functional communication in a natural setting to help them express themselves. Autism may cause some children not to have any nonverbal communication or deny them the ability to develop verbal communication skills.
For such children, it is important to use sign language, picture communication programs, and gestures to help them improve their ability to communicate efficiently. This way, the children do not feel left out.
Occupational therapy for children with autism majors on sensorimotor issues and sensory integration. In older children, it focuses on teaching them motor skills such as writing, improving their independence, and their social behavior.
Physical therapy has the same goal as occupational therapy. The main goal of physical therapy is to enhance the ability of the child to participate in everyday activities. Physical therapy treatment teaches and improves the skills of the child such as coordination and balance which then helps them to sit and walk. Physical therapy usually yields desired outcome if it is used in combination with early intervention programs.
Autism can be defined as a set of conditions that are linked to difficulties in speech, social skills, repetitive behavior, and nonverbal communication. Diagnosis of autism is a little difficult since no single test can be done to diagnose the condition.
Treatment options for autism are physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and behavioral intervention.
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