Currently, there are a huge number of diseases that are inherited. But it also happens that it is not the disease itself that is transmitted, but the predisposition to it. It's about autism.
Autism concept
Autism is a special mental disorder that most likely occurs due to disorders in the brain and is expressed in an acute deficit of attention and communication. An autistic child is socially poorly adapted, practically does not make contact.
This disease is associated with disorders in the genes. In some cases, this condition is associated with a single gene or chromosomal mutation. In any case, the child is born with an already existing pathology in mental development.
Causes of autism
If we consider the genetic aspects of this disease, they are so complex that sometimes it is not at all clear whether it is caused by the interaction of several genes or is it a mutation in one gene.
Still, genetic scientists identify some provoking factors that can lead to the fact that an autistic child is born:
- Old agefather.
- Country where baby was born.
- Low birth weight.
- Lack of oxygen during childbirth.
- Prematurity.
- Some parents believe that vaccinations can affect the development of the disease, but this fact has not been proven. Perhaps just a coincidence between the timing of vaccination and the manifestation of the disease.
- Boys are believed to be more likely to suffer from this condition.
- Influence of substances that cause birth defects often associated with autism.
- Aggravating effects can have: solvents, heavy metals, phenols, pesticides.
- Infectious diseases during pregnancy can also trigger the development of autism.
- Smoking, use of drugs, alcohol, both during and before pregnancy, which leads to damage to the sex gametes.
Autistic children are born for a variety of reasons. And, as you can see, there are a lot of them. Predicting the birth of a baby with such a deviation in mental development is almost impossible. Moreover, there is a possibility that the predisposition to this disease may not be realized. Only how to guarantee this with 100% certainty, no one knows.
Manifestations of autism
Despite the fact that most children with this diagnosis have much in common, but autism can manifest itself in different ways. These children interact with the outside world in various ways. Depending on this, the following forms of autism are distinguished:
- Complete detachment from everything that happens. Such children from an early agechildhood, activity disorders are manifested, they almost completely refuse to contact with the outside world. They never ask for anything themselves, but they do not respond to requests either. In communication, which is difficult to call it that, there is no speech, gestures, facial expressions. This form is considered the most serious and profound.
- Active rejection. The behavior of autistic children from this group is more active, but they do not accept most of the outside world. For them, it is important to observe certain rituals, the presence of a familiar environment around, therefore, in such children, with age, the manifestations of the disease become more acute, as it comes time to go to kindergarten, and then to school. Their speech is more developed, but basically they should associate all words with a specific situation, then it is easier for them to remember and understand.
- Artistic interests. Such children often go into conflict, do not know how to take into account the interests of other people, are absorbed in the same activities. Speech is well developed, but the sentences are usually long and abstruse, giving the impression of unnaturally adult statements. Their intellect is more or less developed, but their thinking is impaired.
- Great difficulty in communicating and organizing interaction with others. Such children do not know how to organize contact with other people, it is difficult to learn motor skills. Speech is usually poor. Usually they are immediately lost even in normal situations. This form of the disease is considered the mildest.
Most doctors believe that the most severe forms of autism are rare enough, most often weWe are dealing with autism. If you deal with such children and devote enough time to classes with them, then the development of an autistic child will be as close as possible to their peers.
Manifestations of disease
Signs of the disease appear when changes begin in parts of the brain. When and how this happens is still not clear, but most parents notice, if they have autistic children, signs already in early childhood. If urgent measures are taken when they appear, then it is quite possible to instill in the baby the skills of communication and self-help.
Currently, methods of complete cure for this disease have not yet been found. A small part of children enter adulthood on their own, although some of them even achieve some success.
Even doctors are divided into two categories: some believe that it is necessary to continue the search for adequate and effective treatment, while others are convinced that autism is much broader and more than a simple disease.
Surveys of parents have shown that such children can often be observed:
- Bouts of aggression.
- Anger.
- Violence.
These qualities were most often shown by older autistic children. Signs that are still common in these children are certain forms of repetitive behavior, which doctors divide into several categories:
- Stereotype. Manifested in the rocking of the torso, rotation of the head, constant swaying of the whole body.
- Strong need for sameness. Such children usuallystart protesting even when the parents decide to rearrange the furniture in their room.
- Compulsive behavior. An example is nesting objects and items in a certain way.
- Autoaggression. Such manifestations are directed at oneself and can lead to various injuries.
- Ritual behavior. For such children, all activities are like a ritual, constant and everyday.
- Restricted behavior. The interest of a child, for example, is directed only to one book or one toy, while he does not perceive others.
Another manifestation of autism is the avoidance of eye contact, they never make eye contact.
Autism symptoms
This disorder affects the nervous system, therefore it is manifested primarily by developmental disabilities. They are usually noticeable at an early age. Physiologically, autism may not manifest itself in any way, outwardly such children look quite normal, have the same physique as their peers, but upon careful study of them, deviations in mental development and behavior can be seen.
Main symptoms include:
- Lack of learning, although intelligence may be quite normal.
- Seizures most commonly seen in adolescence.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Hyperactivity that can occur when a parent or caregiver tries to give a specific task.
- Anger, especially whenwhen an autistic child cannot articulate what he wants, or outsiders interfere with his ritual actions and break his usual routine.
- In rare cases, Savant syndrome, when a child has some phenomenal abilities, such as excellent memory, musical talent, the ability to draw and others. There is a very small percentage of such children.
Portrait of an autistic child
If parents carefully observe their baby, they will immediately notice deviations in his development. They may not be able to explain what is bothering them, but that their child is different from other children, they will say with great accuracy.
Autistic children differ significantly from normal and he althy children. The photos show this clearly. Already in infancy, the animation syndrome is disturbed, they react poorly to any stimuli, such as the sound of a rattle.
Even the most dear person - such children begin to recognize their mother much later than their peers. Even when they recognize, they never reach out their hands, smile or react in any way to all her attempts to communicate with them.
Such children can lie for hours and look at a toy or a picture on the wall, or they can suddenly be frightened of their own hands. If you look at how autistic children behave, you can see their frequent rocking in a stroller or crib, monotonous hand movements.
Getting older, such children do not look more alive, on the contrary, they differ sharply from their peers in their detachment, indifferenceto everything going on around. Most often, when communicating, they do not look into the eyes, and if they look at a person, they look at clothes or facial features.
They do not know how to play collective games and prefer loneliness. There may be interest for a long time in one toy or activity.
A characteristic of an autistic child might look like this:
- Closed.
- Forsaken.
- Unsociable.
- Suspended.
- Indifferent.
- Unable to make contact with others.
- Constantly making stereotyped mechanical movements.
- Poor vocabulary. In speech, the pronoun "I" is never used. They always talk about themselves in the second or third person.
In the children's team, autistic children are very different from ordinary children, the photo only confirms this.
The world through the eyes of an autist
If children with this disease have the skills of speech and construction of sentences, then they say that the world for them is a continuous chaos of people and events that are completely incomprehensible to them. This is due not only to mental disorders, but also to violations of sensory perception.
Those irritants of the outside world that are quite familiar to us, an autistic child perceives negatively. Since it is difficult for them to perceive the world around them, to navigate in the environment, this causes them increased anxiety.
When should parents be concerned?
By nature, all children are different, even quite he althy children differ in their sociability, pacedevelopment, the ability to perceive new information. But there are some points that should alert you:
- You are quite puzzled by the behavior of the child. You are alarmed by his sudden changes in mood, inappropriate behavior.
- The child avoids contact, for example, does not like being picked up.
- Too sensitive or vice versa. For example, indifference to pain or intolerance to harsh sounds.
- Baby speaks poorly or prefers to remain silent.
- An autistic child in a kindergarten or other institution avoids communication with peers.
- When a child is learning new things, he prefers to taste or smell them.
- Compulsive behavior.
- Complete detachment from the outside world is often manifested.
- A stop in development, for example, knows the words, but does not go further, does not put them into sentences.
If you notice at least some of the signs listed above in your child, then you should take him to the doctor. The psychologist will give the right recommendations on communication and activities with the baby. Helps determine how severe autism symptoms are.
Autism treatment
It will not be possible to almost completely get rid of the symptoms of the disease, but if parents and psychologists make every effort, it is quite possible that autistic children will acquire communication and self-help skills. Treatment should be timely and comprehensive.
His main goal should be:
- Reduce voltage infamily.
- Increase functional independence.
- Improve the quality of life.
Any therapy is selected for each child individually. Methods that work great with one child may not work at all with another. Improvements are seen after using psychosocial interventions, suggesting that any treatment is better than no treatment.
There are special programs that help the baby learn the skills of communication, self-help, gain work skills, reduce the symptoms of the disease. The following methods can be used in treatment:
- Occupational Therapy.
- Speech therapy.
- Structured learning.
- Teaching social skills.
In addition to such programs, drug treatment is also commonly used. Prescribe drugs that reduce anxiety, such as antidepressants, psychotropics, and others. Do not use such medicines without a doctor's prescription.
The child's diet should also undergo changes, it is necessary to exclude products that stimulate the nervous system. The body must receive enough vitamins and minerals.
Crib for autistic parents
When communicating, parents must take into account the characteristics of autistic children. Here are some quick tips to help you connect with your child:
- You should love your baby for who he is.
- Always consider interestsbaby.
- Strictly follow the daily routine and the rhythm of life.
- Try to develop and observe certain rituals that will be repeated every day.
- Visit your child's group or class more often.
- Talk to your baby, even if he doesn't answer you.
- Try to create a comfortable environment for play and learning.
- Always patiently explain the steps of the activity to the baby, preferably reinforcing this with pictures.
- Don't overwork.
If your child has been diagnosed with autism, don't despair. The main thing is to love him and accept him the way he is, as well as constantly engage in, visit a psychologist. Who knows, maybe your future genius is growing.
