DEFINITION Autism is one of a group of serious developmental problems called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occurring in early childhood, usually before the public three years. Symptoms and severity vary, all autism affects children's ability to communicate and interact with others.
There is no cure for this condition of autism, early and intensive care can make a big change in the lives of many children with this disorder.
SYMPTOMS
Children with autism generally have problems in three crucial areas of development, social interaction, language and customs. But because the symptoms of autism vary widely, two children with the same diagnosis can have different habits and abilities. In many cases, severe autism characterized by a total inability to communicate or interact with others.
Some children show symptoms of autism in early infancy. Another child to grow normally in the first few months or years and then suddenly regress, become aggressive or lose language skills they already have. Although children with autism have each pattern is unique, there are some common symptoms of autism, among others:
Social skills:
- Failed to mention his name
- Little eye contact
- Often do not listen to people who spoke to him
- Do not want to be hugged or held
- Appeared to be unconscious feelings of others
- Like to play alone-submerged in the "world" of his
- Began to speak after the age of 2 years, and has a 30-month delay in the ability
- Have lost the ability to access prior to said
- Do not make eye contact when asking for something
- Speaking with a tone or rhythm that might not normally use such as singing or sound like a robot
- Unable to initiate or sustain conversation conversation
- May repeat words or speech, but do not understand how to use
- Show repetitive movements, such as swinging, spinning or clapping
- Indicate certain rituals or routines
- Moves constantly
- Awe of the part of certain objects, such as a spinning toy car wheels
As adults, some children with autism become more familiar with one another and show little interference with the habit. Some of them usually has to live normal or near normal by the end of a severe problem as before. Some others have difficulties in language skills or socialize, and adulthood can mean a worsening of this problem.
Many children with autism are slow to improve capabilities, or new experiences, and some have signs of low intelligence. Other children with autism have normal to high intelligence. These children learn quickly when they have trouble communicating, applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting to social situations. A small number among children with autism are "autistic scholar" and has a remarkable ability in certain specific things, like art, math or music.
Causes & Risk Factors
Cause
Autism is a complex issue. Two children with autism is not the same. In many cases the cause of this condition include:
- Genetic problems. Some genes showed association with autism. Some may make children more susceptible to interference; affect brain development or the way brain cells communicate.
- Environmental factors. Many health problems occur due to genetic and environmental factors. For example, researchers found that viral infections and air pollution plays a role against autism.
Autism affects children of all races and nations, but certain factors increase the risk. Among others:
- Boys are three or four times more likely to develop autism than girls.
- Families who have one child with autism are at increased risk of having another child with this disorder.
- Children with certain medical conditions have a higher risk of developing autism. These conditions include fragile X syndrome, hereditary factors that cause the problem of intelligence, tuberous sclerosis, a condition in which benign tumors occur in the brain, neurological disorder Tourette syndrome and epilepsy which causes seizures.
- Having children at an older age increases the risk of having a child with autism.
There is no way to prevent autism. Autism can be treated and can improve children's language skills and bersosialiasi with such care. If your child is diagnosed with autism, tell your doctor about the treatment strategies for making your child. Keep in mind that you may need to try several different treatments before finding the best combination for your child.