Autism: It’s not a tragedy; ignorance and stigma are

Sep 24, 2017 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

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Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Last week I met a wonderful couple whose daughter has autism. I could see how much love they have for her. I also saw the pains in them from the unnecessary stigma they would have faced from society. They asked me to write about autism. Well here I am today highlighting this disorder that affects one in 68 children worldwide. I dedicate this article to this couple and their wonderful daughter and of course, all families that are influenced by this condition.

What is autism
spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder is a brain disorder that impairs a person’s behavior and ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism spectrum disorder can be mild or severe. No one knows what causes it.

What are the key
symptoms of autism spectrum disorder?
To be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a child must show signs of the disorder in early childhood. Sometimes the symptoms do not show up until the child is in school. The signs of autism spectrum disorder include problems in 2 key areas:
– Social interaction and social communication – Children with autism spectrum disorder have trouble relating to others. They often don’t know how to read facial expressions, and they tend to avoid eye contact. Plus, they often dislike being touched. Many young children with autism spectrum disorder prefer not to play or interact with others.
Children with autism spectrum disorder often take much longer than other children to learn to speak. Some never learn to speak.
But speech is not the only thing that’s affected. The parents of children with autism spectrum disorder sometimes think the children are deaf. But deaf children who cannot speak look for other ways to communicate, such as through hand motions. Children with autism spectrum disorder do not. They do not seem to care whether they can communicate.
– Limited interests – Children with autism spectrum disorder tend to show intense interest in certain things.
But they show little interest in anything else. Young children might get completely focused on things that spin or shine and ignore most everything else.
Older children might become preoccupied with one topic, such as the weather, numbers, or sports. Children with autism spectrum disorder also tend to have rituals that they must follow exactly.
For example, they might need to eat particular foods in a specific order, or to take the same route from one place to another – every time.
If these habits get disrupted, the children get upset.

What other things should parents watch for?

Below are some signs outlined by the Center for Disease Control that may indicate that a child has autism:
· Not respond to their name by 12 months of age
· Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months
· Not play “pretend” games (pretend to “feed” a doll) by 18 months
· Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
· Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
· Have delayed speech and language skills
· Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
· Give unrelated answers to questions
· Get upset by minor changes
· Have obsessive interests
· Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
· Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
Should I take my child to a Doctor?
Take your child to a doctor if you see any of the signs of autism spectrum disorder listed above. You might also want to have your child’s hearing tested. That way you can find out whether hearing problems are causing some of the symptoms you see.
If the doctor suspects autism spectrum disorder, he or she may refer you to a pediatrician who may:
– Ask you lots of questions about your child and your family
– Test your child’s abilities in lots of ways
– Make sure that the child’s symptoms are not caused by another problem
If your child does have autism spectrum disorder, it’s important that he or she be diagnosed as soon as possible. Some of the problems caused by autism spectrum disorder can be improved if they are caught early.

How is autism treated?

The right treatment for autism spectrum disorder depends on the age of the child, how severe the disorder is, and whether the child has any other medical problems.
Autism spectrum disorder cannot be cured, but children are often able to overcome many of the problems it causes with rehabilitative therapy. We need to understand this unique condition and support those that are affected. Persons with autism do not lie, do not judge and do not play mind games. Maybe we can learn something from them.

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