World Autism Awareness Day: Learn All the Facts about This Developmental Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of developmental disorder that affects behaviour and communication in people. Symptoms with respect to ASD can range from something minor to major that calls for full-time care and attention at an ASD specialist facility. Those who are autistic face difficulty with communication and so they have trouble comprehending others as well as expressing themselves. Autistic people also face significant challenges with learning as their skills develop poorly or at an uneven rate. This World Autism Awareness Day, we would be sharing some of the pivotal facts about autism. Let us begin with a discussion on the history of the condition.

How Autism was Recognized

World Autism Awareness Day, The term ‘autism’ first came into usage in 1911 by Eugen Bleuler, who was a psychiatrist. He used the term to describe schizophrenic patients who showed signs of social withdrawal. Later in 1943, paediatric specialist Dr. Leo Kanner defined autism to be an emotional and social disorder in his publication ‘’Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact’’.

In 1944, Hans Asperger further spoke about autism in his article ‘’Autism Psychopathology’’ where he defined the condition as a disorder of daily cognitive abilities in children who face communication and social skill impairment.

These two articles are significant as they helped to differentiate between schizophrenia and autism and helped the latter to be developed into a wider spectrum disability later with intensive research and examinations.

Autism Awareness Day 2022

Although the pandemic has been harsh on everyone, it has been particularly difficult for people with a history of mental conditions. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the world at a lightning speed, the sudden lockdown measures and shutting down of special schools and facilities for autistic children impacted the early intervention phase of learning in many. These children who were forced to sit in online classes like the rest of the children in the country showed zero to no interest in learning and now there is a huge gap in their education and learning capabilities. This has led to inequality in education and a further rise in autistic behaviour.

This brings us to the theme of this year’s Autism Awareness Day, ‘Inclusive Quality Education for All’ which aims to create equal access to quality education for all. This includes upgrading schools and facilities meant for special children. 

Autism is a life-long condition and so both parents and children need to be patient as well as keep a positive attitude. Being sensitive and affectionate towards your child or family member suffering from autism spectrum disorder will help them to develop and learn and become healthy individuals like other children.

Types of Autism

There are four subtypes of autism disorder in the world:

1. Autistic Disorder

This type refers to the commonly noticed symptoms of communication and social impairment. It affects children below the age of 4 years.

2. Asperger’s Syndrome 

People or children suffering from Asperger’s syndrome do not face any issues with cognitive impairment. When it comes to their peers, they tend to score in an average or above-average range in tests and assignments. However, they face hindrances with social skills and also reflect a small area of interest.

3. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder 

These children develop normally for about two years and then they suddenly lose interest and show a lowered rate of development with respect to their social and communication skills.

4. Pervasive Developmental Disorder 

Children afflicted with this autism type will show delays in communication and social skill development.

Symptoms of Autism

Some symptoms and signs of autism that warrant immediate expert examination tend to appear before a child typically turns 3 or 4 years old. It can also appear at birth. Some of these signs are:

1. Difficulty maintaining eye contact
2. Limited interest areas or high interest in a few topics
3. Repeating phrases and words, rocking movements
4. Sensitivity to sensory perceptions such as sights, touch, sound, or smell
5. Not paying attention fully when other people are conversing
6. Showing disapproval with being held, hugged or cuddled
7. Speaking in either a robotic or sing-song voice
8. Showing difficulty adapting to changes in life or routine
9. Not looking at the object being pointed at by other people
10. Some children can also show seizures, especially in their adolescence phase

Causes of Autism

Medical experts and psychiatric specialists have not been able to point out the specific causes of autism disorder. Usually, it has been found to be more common amongst boys rather than girls. Some factors that can make a child susceptible to developing autism are as follows:

1. If there is a history of autism in the family, then it can be carried over to the child via genes.
2. A child with a parent quite old is at a greater risk of autism spectrum disorder development.
3. Women who are pregnant or are planning to conceive and had earlier exposure to drugs, alcohol, anti-seizure drugs, or chemicals can be at risk of having autistic children. Other risks include maternal obesity and diabetes.
4. Autism has also been linked to phenylketonuria, a metabolic disorder and rubella.

Diagnosis for Autism

The diagnosis of Autism is rather difficult. Generally, a doctor will focus on the above-stated symptoms and signs of autism for diagnosing the patient or concerned individual in the following manner:

1. A developmental screening is done to check for behaviour, movement, learning, and speaking skills.
2. Children should be regularly checked for symptoms and signs of autism at the age of 18, 24, or 30 months.
3. If your child shows any of the signs discussed above, then he/she will need a complete evaluation. Such investigations will include genetic and vision-based tests.
4. A psychologist can also be called in to confirm whether the child is suffering from autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia.

Treatment for Autism

There is no cure for autism but regular treatment in the form of therapy sessions can help to keep symptoms at a minimum. Such procedures include:

1. Communication and behavioural therapies such as applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and occupational therapy help to equip the child with life skills like being able to eat, relate to people, move, and dress without requiring constant assistance.
2. Medication to keep signs of anxiety, hyperactivity, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
3. Other therapies such as physical activities including swimming, music, animal therapy, and engaging with art can be beneficial for them to express themselves effectively.

Conclusion

An astounding fact about autism is that every day the numbers are growing and in the last two decades the prevalence has increased greatly with every 23 out of 100 children having been diagnosed with it. In the light of World Autism Awareness Day, we hope you have all the necessary information regarding this condition and will be helping others understand the same.