Autism is a difficult disorder that can be quickly diagnosed with a neurological background.
This ailment is associated with abnormal brain development, the first symptoms of which are difficult to properly recognize and diagnose.
The very characteristic symptoms of the disease are late learning to speak, problem with verbal and non-verbal contact with other people, closing in on oneself, too intense feeling of the outside world – reaction to sound or light.
Different types of autistic diseases:
ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) The World Health Organization, which was already mentioned in the previous article, in 1994 developed the classification of diseases that is still valid today, which distinguishes symptoms of Autism and diseases with similar symptoms, in various versions:
Childhood autism,
Atypical autism,
Rett syndrome,
Children’s Disintegrative Disorder,
High-Functioning Autism (HFA)
Asperger’s syndrome,
semantic-pragmatic disorders,
Childhood autism.
Childhood autism is a pervasive developmental disorder whose symptoms include abnormal or disturbed child development before the age of 3.
It is at this point that you can notice different behaviors of the child in relation to his peers, hypersensitivity to various stimuli, such as sound, color, lights. Limited communication, difficulty learning to speak, restricted duplicative behavior, phobias, sleep and eating problems, bouts of aggression.
It is difficult to react quickly to the given symptoms, due to the widespread recognition that “the child has time and will grow out of it.” It is very important that the parents and the pediatrician leading the child react quickly to any of the above behaviors.
Disturbing signals observed:
– during the first 6-9 months of life – with dislike or reception of the world in a different way, his peers do not play, give the impression of being isolated, have mechanical repeated behavior, tendency to aggression
– no later than 3 months after the onset of unwillingness to interact with other children, lack of eye contact, slow or no speech learning.
– between 6-12 months at the latest, you can notice problems with verbal communication, lack of eye contact, or the lack of appropriate reactions to the environment, repetition of movement, problems with doing or learning something new, hyperactivity or indifference.
Autyzm atypowy:
The main difference between atypical and childhood autism is the age at which symptoms first appear. You can observe the proper development of these people up to the age of three and only then notice the deviations that occur in childhood autism.
Atypical autism occurs in people with already existing deep disabilities and people struggling with the problem of speech development.
The reasons
Autism is not a disease that occurs due to poor parenting or helplessness in a young child, it is a neurological condition that has no connection with the environment or early child rearing.
The main causes of this disease are still unknown, but there are many factors that influence its formation:
– The gene mutations occurring in RNA have an effect. The same ones responsible for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, according to the latest research by neurgenetics at the University of California, Los Angeles.
– Serotonin level, which is commonly known as the happiness hormone. It is a hormone secreted in the hypothalamus of the brain, it is responsible for sending information between cells in the brain, it is a neurotransmitter produced in the nervous system, platelets and intestinal mucosa.
– Taking valproic acid or antidepressants during pregnancy may also increase the risk of autism.
– Fetal hypoxia can cause speech and personality problems.
Comorbidities with autism:
– visual disturbances,
– insomnia,
– eating disorders,
– irritable bowel
– stomach problems,
– psychomotor hyperactivity,
– problem with concentration,
– epilepsy,
– attacks of aggression,
– anxiety disorders,
– tics,
Treatment
The treatment of this difficult-to-diagnose ailment is not fully developed, but there are many methods of therapy that help people with autistic diseases in their self-development.
Unfortunately, this ailment cannot be cured, but you can help the sick person to adapt to the surrounding reality to a greater extent.
There are a number of therapies dedicated to people with autism:
Craniosacral therapy – works on the rhythm of the flow of fluids from the dura mater to each cell of the body.
TEACCH Program – The most effective program for children with autism, where the teacher explains to the sick the rules of the outside world in a way that they understand. The main goal of this program is to lead children to participate in the environment around them, to help them adapt.
Dennison’s method (brain gym) – It aims to eliminate emotional or intellectual blocks built by autists in their inner worlds.
Knill Activity Method – It’s a simple program, divided into five programs. Each of them is responsible for exercising a particular body part to the beat of the music.
Kynotherapy – One of many types of rehabilitation with the participation of a trained dog.
• Goldstein’s Social Skills Training – Group therapy to recognize and respond to social behavior through interaction with other participants.
Psychomotor therapy according to Procusi Block – The aim of psychomotor therapy is to build or activate neural networks that are responsible for the brain’s integration processes in infants and preschoolers.
April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day.
