Autism, technically known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behavior, speech, and nonverbal communication. In Singapore, 1 in 150 children has autism. This is a higher rate of autism than the World Health Organization’s global figure of 1 in 160 children. Still, there are only fewer people who understand what autism actually means. Others just presumed it as a mental sickness, which is not correct.
Today, we will talk about what autism exactly means and what signs in your children demand autism assessment.
What is autism?
In layman terms, autism refers to a developmental disorder that affects the ability of an individual to communicate and interact. This disorder affects the nervous system and overall cognitive, social, emotional, and physical health.
There is not just one type of autism. To your surprise, there are many subtypes of autism and most of them are influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Each kid with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges, and therefore, the way kids with autism learn, think, and solve problems can vary from highly skilled to severely challenged in nature.
While some kids with autism require a substantial amount of care in their daily lives, others may need less support. On the other hand, there are also examples where individuals with autism live independently.
This disorder usually comes along with sensory sensitivities and medical issues, such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, or sleep disorders, and mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and attention issues.
However, early detection and intervention can change the life of a kid. Thus, as soon as you notice signs of autism in your kid, you should take your kid for an autism assessment.
What are the signs of autism in a kid?
A child with Autism Spectrum Disorder might show one or more signs that might be identified by parents, teachers, or pediatrician. Some of the signs are:
• Not giving any response to their name
• Not pointing towards things of interest or show interest
• Avoid eye contact while talking
• Like to be alone
• Difficulty in understanding other people’s emotion or emotions of their own
• Have no speech or delayed speech
• Not playing “pretend” games
• Repeat words or phrases over and over
• Become upset even by small changes
• Show obsessive interests
• Demonstrate unusual reactions (over or under-sensitivity) to the way things sound, smell, look, taste, or feel
• Have poor or no social skills
• Resist physical contact
• Don’t demonstrate safety or danger awareness
• Reverse pronouns
Apart from this, kids with autism may also:
• Have unusual phobias
• Have extreme anxiety
• Have unusual interests and behaviors
• Play with the toys the same way every time
• Suffer from hyperactivity and impulsivity
• Less attention span
• Have meltdowns and cause self-injury
• Unusual sleeping and eating habits
• Lack of fear or more fear than expected
This list is not exhaustive. So, whenever there arises any doubt regarding a kid’s social skills, behavior, communication, interaction, or problem-solving, it is best that your kid goes through an autism assessment. This will not only remove the cloud of doubt but also help in getting autism treatment earlier if the child is positively autistic.