Autism, how well do you know the signs?
Pediatric Neurologist
Submitted by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment
During the month of April, St Vincent and the Grenadines joins the rest of the world in celebrating Autism Awareness Month, with the 2nd of April being World Autism Awareness day. This is with the aim of raising public awareness with respect to this developmental disorder and in so doing, increase understanding and decrease stigmatization towards persons affected and their families. Below is a list of frequently asked question in relation to Autism.{{more}}
What is Autism/Autism spectrum disorder?
Autism forms part of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which comprises, a group of complex developmental disorders of the brain. People with ASD often exhibit characteristics that include social deficits, difficulty communicating and interacting with others, repetitive behaviours and limited interests or activities. These symptoms hinder the individual’s ability to function socially, at work, school, or others areas in life.
What is meant by “Spectrumâ?
A spectrum refers to a condition that is not limited to a set of characteristics, but can have a broad range of signs and symptoms.
Persons with ASD may function at different levels of ability and disability. Some may have no functional speech, while others may have a rich vocabulary.
Some persons may be socially withdrawn, or they may be socially active, although in a way that may be considered different from the norm. Individuals may also have varying levels of intelligence, which may range from profound developmental delay (low functioning individuals), through the superior range on conventional IQ testing (high functioning).
How common is ASD?
Globally, ASD is estimated to affect more than 22 million people. It occurs four to five times more often in boys than girls.
At what is age ASD diagnosed?
ASD can be diagnosed at any age. However, most parents or doctors would identify ASD around the age of two years when behaviour patterns become more obvious. Not all people with ASD will show all of these behaviours, but many will have most.
What are the signs and symptoms of ASD?
Persons with ASD exhibit most if not all of the following signs or symptoms:
- Social communication/interaction behaviours:
Children with ASD have deficits in their communication skills, whether verbal or non-verbal.
Most have delayed or lack language development. They make very little eye contact and are more withdrawn than the average child.
Persons with ASD tend to lack the social skills to hold a proper conversation. They fail to understand the facial expressions of others, often responding in an unusual manner when others show anger or affection.
Younger children do not appropriately engage in reciprocal play and avoid open affection. They prefer consistency and are easily upset if there is a slight change of routine; hence new environments can be overly stimulating and frustrating.
- Restrictive/repetitive behaviours.
These include unusual repetitive behaviours that are not usually demonstrated in other persons of similar age. These include, but are not limited to, stacking or aligning of objects, hand flapping, rocking and self-injurious (head banging) behaviour. These are mostly seen in many low functioning children with ASD.
Children with ASD may have overly focused interests in a particular object or part of an object, or may demonstrate an intense interest in certain topics, such as numbers, details, or facts.
Other difficulties
Many may also experience sleep problems, digestion problems, and irritability, particularly to light and noise.
Despite these difficulties, it is, however, common for persons with ASD to have many strengths and talents. Abilities may include having above-average intelligence, the ability to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods of time. Many excel in math, science, music, or art.
What is the cause of this disorder?
The cause of ASD is not known. However, there are many risk factors that have been shown to play a role in the development of ASD. Risk factors include genetics, prenatal and perinatal factors (diabetes during pregnancy, maternal age over 30, maternal stress, deficient folic acid intake during pregnancy) and environmental factors (air pollution).
Some children may require early screening if he/she is at high risk for ASD. These risks include children who were born prematurely or at a low birth weight, who have a family member with ASD or who exhibit some ASD behaviours.
Can vaccines cause ASD?
There has been controversy as to whether vaccines cause ASD. However, after many investigations, there is no convincing scientific evidence that supports these claims.
Is there a cure for ASD?
ASD cannot be cured. If, however, diagnosed at an early age, the affected child may benefit from behavioural therapies, as early intervention may result in a better outcome.
What can I do if I have a child affected by ASD?
If you have a child or family member that you suspect may have ASD, please contact a health care provider in order for him/her to be screened. If your child is diagnosed with ASD, this can be quite difficult for family members and it is recommended that families join a support group, if one is available. For more information on Autism/ASD visit and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/autismawarenesssvg.
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