Autism - Topic
Overview
Autism is
a brain disorder
that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others. With autism,
the different areas of the brain fail to work
together.
Most people with autism will always have some trouble relating
to others. But early diagnosis and treatment have helped more and more people
who have autism to reach their full potential.
Autism tends to run in families, so experts think it may be
something that you inherit. Scientists are trying to find out exactly which
genes may be responsible for passing down autism in families.
Other studies are looking at whether autism can be caused by
other medical problems or by something in your child's surroundings.
False claims in the news have made some parents concerned about
a link between autism and
vaccines. But studies have found no link between vaccines and autism.
It's important to make sure that your child gets all childhood vaccines. They
help keep your child from getting serious diseases that can cause harm or even
death.
Symptoms almost always start before a child is 3 years old.
Usually, parents first notice that their toddler has
not started talking yet and is not acting like other children the same age. But
it is not unusual for a child with autism to start to talk at the same time as
other children the same age, then lose his or her language skills.
Symptoms of
autism include:
·
A delay in learning to
talk, or not talking at all. A child may seem to be deaf, even though hearing
tests are normal.
·
Repeated and overused
types of behavior, interests, and play. Examples include repeated body rocking,
unusual attachments to objects, and getting very upset when routines change.
There is no "typical" person with
autism. People can have many different kinds of behaviors, from mild to severe.
Parents often say that their child with autism prefers to play alone and does
not make eye contact with other people.
Autism may also include other problems:
·
Many children with
autism have below-normal
intelligence.
·
Teenagers with autism
often become depressed and
have a lot of anxiety,
especially if they have average or above-average intelligence.
Some children get a seizure disorder
such as epilepsy by
their teen years. There are guidelines your doctor will use to see if your child
has symptoms of
autism. The guidelines put symptoms into categories such as:
·
Social
interactions and relationships. For example, a child may have trouble making eye contact.
People with autism may have a hard time understanding someone else's feelings,
such as pain or sadness.
·
Verbal
and nonverbal communication. For example, a child may never speak. Or he or she may
often repeat a certain phrase over and over.
·
Limited
interests in activities or play. For example, younger children often focus on parts of toys
rather than playing with the whole toy. Older children and adults may be
fascinated by certain topics, like trading cards or license plates.
Your child may also have a hearing test and
some other tests to make sure that problems are not caused by some other
condition.
Treatment for autism involves special
behavioral training. Behavioral training rewards appropriate behavior (positive
reinforcement) to teach children social skills and to teach them how to
communicate and how to help themselves as they grow older.
With early treatment, most children with
autism learn to relate better to others. They learn to communicate and to help
themselves as they grow older Depending on the child, treatment may also include
such things as speech therapy or physical therapy.
Medicine is sometimes used to treat problems such as depression or
obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
Exactly what type of treatment your child
needs depends on the symptoms, which are different for each child and may
change over time. Because people with autism are so different, something that
helps one person may not help another. So be sure to work with everyone
involved in your child's education and care to find the best way to manage
symptoms.
An important part of your child's treatment
plan is making sure that other family members get training about autism and how
to manage symptoms. Training can reduce family stress and help your child
function better. Some families need more help than others. Take advantage of
every kind of help you can find. Talk to your doctor about what help is
available where you live. Family, friends, public agencies, and autism
organizations are all possible resources.
Remember these tips:
·
Plan breaks. The daily
demands of caring for a child with autism can take their toll. Planned breaks
will help the whole family.
·
Get extra help when
your child gets older. The teen years can be a very hard time for children with
autism.
·
Get in touch with
other families who have children with autism. You can talk about your problems
and share advice with people who will understand.
Raising a child with autism is hard work. But
with support and training, your family can learn how to cope.
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