Autism is a pathology that is congenital. With this disease, the child has a reduced ability to establish social contacts. Patients experience difficulties in communication, recognizing and expressing emotions, understanding speech. Today, experts are actively studying such a disease as autism. Is this pathology curable? This issue is very relevant for relatives of patients. The article talks about methods of dealing with the disease, its symptoms and diagnosis.
General information
The disease occurs due to insufficiently coordinated activity of various parts of the brain. Patients have difficulty establishing adequate relationships. Intelligence remains normal in many people with autism. Is the pathology completely cured? According to medical research, the answer to this question is no. However, early detection of the disorder and adequate therapy help manypatients to lead a relatively normal and independent life.
Causes of the disease
To date, experts have not been able to establish what factors contribute to its development. There are several hypotheses about why the disease appears. For example, some scientists believe that autism occurs in children who grow up in certain environmental conditions. For example, a mother who is rigid and repressive or depressed is not able to create the conditions for a normal upbringing of an infant. As a result, the baby has developmental and behavioral disorders.
Another hypothesis is based on a genetic predisposition. It was never confirmed.
Some experts suggest that the pathology develops as a result of the influence of factors such as infection or intoxication of the mother's body during the period of gestation, difficult delivery. There is another hypothesis that has appeared recently. It lies in the fact that the signs of the disease occur in the child after vaccination. Studies have shown that this theory is not true. In addition, refusal to vaccinate adversely affects the he alth of the baby. Today, many children are diagnosed with autism. Is this disease curable or not? How to recognize it in time? These questions concern the parents of patients.
When and how does the disease manifest itself?
Symptomatic usually occurs in children around 3 years of age. But the time of onset of the disease can vary. Relatives notice signs of retardation in the babyin development. His speech and demeanor are not typical for this age. Sometimes a child begins to speak on time, but then quickly loses the acquired skill. Then parents notice that the baby has a violation of the ability to communicate, the monotony of games, behavior, gestures and hobbies.
The pathology referred to in the article, scientists began to investigate relatively recently - about 70 years ago. Many children diagnosed with schizophrenia or mental retardation actually had autism. Is this disease curable? Experts argue that the earlier a disease is detected, the more effective measures to combat it. Many drugs that are used in schizophrenia or mental retardation are not only useless, but even harmful for patients with autism. Sometimes the condition in question is no less severe than other mental disorders. Its result is disability.
Signs of pathology in childhood
Typical manifestations of the disease, characteristic of all patients, do not exist. For each person, depending on his individual characteristics, certain combinations of symptoms are characteristic. Experts say that you can suspect autism at an early age if you have the following signs:
- The baby does not feel affection for loved ones, does not cry if mom or dad leaves.
- His intellectual development is retarded.
- The child does not seek communication with peers. May demonstrate unreasonable cruelty, outbursts of anger. Lovesplay alone, avoid peers.
- The baby has a strong attachment to certain objects. However, he does not notice other things. For example, enjoys one toy, refusing all others.
- Autistic person reacts painfully to bright lights and loud sounds. He cannot stand the noise of a vacuum cleaner or kitchen appliances. For a he althy child, such things seem natural. In an autistic person, they cause fear, hysteria.
- Baby does not distinguish between animate objects and inanimate things.
- He does not seek to maintain bodily contact, does not ask for hands, does not like to be touched.
Having found such manifestations in their son or daughter, parents turn to specialists. Is autism in children treatable or not? This problem worries many today.
Other signs of disorder
Other symptoms may indicate autism:
Baby's games and entertainment are unusual, often monotonous
- The child is not interested in walking, learning about the world around him. He seems withdrawn, aloof.
- The baby does not recognize sign language, facial expressions.
- He avoids direct gaze, does not look into the eyes of others.
- Child's speech and gestures are strange, demeanor is nervous.
- The baby's voice is monotonous.
Many parents, having noticed similar symptoms in their son or daughter, ask the question of whether autism is treated in a 3-year-old child. Experts advise to carefully considerearly signs of the disorder and show the child to the doctor in time. Then there is hope that developmental disorders can be corrected.
Features of patients' speech
It should be noted that many babies with this pathology hardly speak until they are 3 years old. Patients can make up words. They also like to copy the speech of others. The child talks about himself in the third person, does not address people by their names. When someone tries to talk to an autistic person, they don't respond. Such kids give the impression of being deaf. Retarded development and acquisition of new skills is a feature common to many children with autism. Is there a cure for this disorder? Can serious consequences be avoided? These questions are of concern to parents. Doctors say that a special approach to the education and development of the child, special classes with teachers help to correct the manifestations of the disorder.
Interaction Disruptions
Autistics are fearful and timid. They do not know how to play with peers, make friends. Such children are not able to assimilate the norms of behavior. They don't like it when someone bothers them. If another kid comes up to an autistic person and tries to establish communication, he can run away, hide. In addition, the patient is prone to bouts of anger. The patient directs aggression towards himself or others. Kids with a similar deviation are afraid of change. If you move furniture, rearrange books, or throw away a broken toy, the autistic person will react violently to this. Another feature of such patients is undeveloped abstract thinking. They can only repeat what they have heard or seen. These kids are doing weird things.movements (swinging, jumping, shaking hands, twirling fingers). Such behavior makes it difficult to stay in society. Social adaptation is a problem that worries parents of patients with autism. Are such disorders treated? Will the child be able to live normally in society?
Parents often ask these questions to specialists. Unfortunately, there are no drugs that would allow autistic people to communicate adequately. However, there are techniques to correct behavioral disorders and help the child interact better with others.
Manifestations of ailments in a teenager
As the patient ages, new signs appear. For example, many people experience learning difficulties. They have poor reading and writing skills. However, some autistic people demonstrate deep knowledge and good abilities in certain disciplines. It can be mathematics, music, visual arts. By the age of 12, children still acquire elementary communication skills. But they prefer to be alone. During puberty, patients may experience anxiety.
Often there is a depressed emotional state, outbursts of anger, increased sexual desire. Seizures are another common occurrence in adolescents with autism. Is there a cure for this symptom? Seizures can be controlled with drugs. In severe cases, surgical intervention is used. Sometimes seizures go away on their own without medication.
Autism inadults
Symptomatology in adulthood depends on the severity of the pathology. Patients with this disorder are characterized by the following:
- Poverty of gestures and facial expressions.
- Failure to comply with the norms of behavior in society.
- Unconsciously harming others.
- Poor ability to form friendships, family relationships.
- Inexpressive speech, repetition of the same phrases.
- Fear of change.
- Attachment to objects, strict observance of the daily routine.
It is known that with mild autism, patients can adapt to environmental conditions and communicate with people relatively normally. There are individuals who create families, work.
If the pathology is severe, the patient is unable to take care of himself.
Disorder detection
In order to diagnose the disease, it is necessary to show the child to specialists: a pediatrician, a neurologist, a psychiatrist. They are able to determine the presence of the disease. It must be remembered that the signs of pathology are in many ways similar to the manifestations of other abnormalities - cerebral palsy, schizophrenic disorder, mental retardation. And although doctors do not give a positive answer to the question of whether autism in children is completely treated, there are methods for correcting the disorder.
Therapy
Specific medicines that could eliminate the manifestations of the disease do not yet exist. Such patients simply require a certain approach.
Specialists recommend teaching them in special institutions (kindergartens and schools). It is important to help children overcome communication difficulties, control outbursts of anger, anxiety and other symptoms. If the disease is accompanied by seizures, medications are prescribed.
Is childhood autism even partially cured? It depends on early diagnosis. In countries where the disease is diagnosed at an early age, patients can lead a normal life. Such people graduate from educational institutions, do mental work.
Is childhood autism treated by other methods?
Pathology is considered one of the types of mental disorders. But not all doctors use antipsychotics as therapy. Of course, these drugs can reduce the manifestations of the disease. However, their use is associated with side effects. The baby's he alth may deteriorate.
Some parents believe that childhood autism is treated with a diet that excludes dairy products and gluten. However, doctors say that such a diet does not help reduce symptoms. Experts recommend paying attention to other aspects. For example, praise your son or daughter for even small accomplishments.
It is important to follow a clear daily routine. The answer to the question of whether early autism is completely treated is negative. But early diagnosis and a special approach to education and upbringing help patients better adapt to society.
