What is autism?

Autism forms a part of a group of developmental problems called Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) which appear in early childhood — typically before the child is three years old. Autism is also known as autistic disorder and is the most severe form of ASD.
Autism is also described as a developmental condition of the brain which affects behaviour, language development, communication skills and social interaction.

ASD has variations in characteristics and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Thirteen to 48 per cent of individuals with autism have actually normal development till 15-30 months, when they tend to talk less or lose the ability to talk and make gestures.

In most children, the symptoms improve with treatment and as the child gets older. The condition ranges from mild to severe and males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

What causes Autism

Autism does not have one single, known cause, especially due to the complication of the condition, and the variations in symptoms and severity.

Genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role in causing autism.

Genetic factors

Some genes may make a baby more vulnerable to autism whilst others have an effect on either brain development or the severity of the symptoms. Parents who have a child with Autism are at an increased risk of having other children with the condition.

Characteristics of the child

It’s not possible to always be able to identify someone with autism just by looking at them. Autism has many characteristics, whilst some individuals show a few symptoms and are mildly affected; other individuals have many of the symptoms, causing a severe disability.

Some children may show signs of autism in early infancy but some also may develop normally for the first few months of years of life, and then unexpectedly they become withdrawn or aggressive.

Social symptoms

Every baby spontaneously turns towards sounds or voices, grasps a finger or like staring at familiar or unfamiliar people. However, for some children with autism, this is a challenge for them.

They may

• Avoid eye contact.

• Prefer being alone.

• Resist attention and affection like hugs.

• Not seek comfort or respond to anger or affection.

• Not  become upset when a parent leaves nor show pleasure when the parent returns.

• Be physically aggressive sometimes which makes cultivating a relationships difficult. This occurs when they're in a different environment than they are used to.

One child may get frustrated and begin to bit his arm and another child may pick and throw things around.

• Fail to respond to his or her name.

• They may not understand what other people say.

• Like to do the same thing over and over again( eg They may like to play the same game or do the same thing every day).

• Have difficulty having a conversation with others.

• Have unusual response to sound, touch and taste (showing distress with loud sounds, dislike being  touched, or dislike to texture in foods).

• Have difficulty making friends with peers

Language challenges

Every adult once babbled – meaningless sounds or words - before their first birthday. By age, one a toddler may point to objects of interests or turn when he hears his name or attempts to pronounce words.

Some babies with autism babble during the first six months but eventually stop. Other babies may have a delayed language onset and may begin speaking around five to eight years, although they find it difficult to combine words into significant sentences.

Some children also tend to repeat the same sentence or phrase they’ve previously heard during the course of the day and on other occasions.

Repetitive behaviours

A child with autism often replays movements continuously for hours, for example she may rock herself back and forth or flap her fingers.

The child also likes consistency in their environment and this implies that he/she may also insist on eating the same food, in the same plate, at the same time, at the same place every day. When change is introduced they may get very upset.

Sensory symptoms

Some children may have challenges to certain sounds, smell or textures. Some children cover their ears and/ or scream when they hear the wind or a sound from a toy.

Another child may dislike the feel of clothes touching his skin. The child may also not react when he falls down or hits his head against a wall but may yell when someone touches him.

Remarkable abilities

Some children with autism show extraordinary abilities like assembling complex puzzles or drawing detailed pictures.

Diagnosis

Autism specialists use many tools that have been developed to diagnose the condition. The use of a questionnaire or other screening instrument may be implemented to collect information about the child’s development and social behaviour.

Also, a meticulous neurological assessment and an in-depth cognitive and language testing may be conducted. Tests for genetic problems may also be conducted.

By Dorothy Akua Adjabu/The Mirror/Ghana

The writer is a Senior Physiotherapist at the 37 Military Hospital. Email: [email protected]