Symptoms, Causes, Risks, and Prevention

A complex development ability that appears during children’s early years is known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (abbreviated as ASD). The developmental disorder causes great damage to the ability to interact and communicate with others. It involves a various range of symptoms and signs. Autism can occur both as a minor or major disability that would involve full-time care or treatment in a special facility.

Patients who have Autism have difficulty with communication. They find it hard to understand what other people feel and think. Moreover, they do not know how to express themselves through questions, words, touch, facial expressions, gestures, and other ways.

They have learning problems, and their skills grow unevenly. People with Autism have communication problems, but they are good at memory, math, music, and art. Therefore, they are good at problem solving and tests of analysis.

Are there any specific differences in symptoms among types of Autism?

Yes, there are almost five different types of this disorder, and each type has dissimilar symptoms.

1. Asperger’s Syndrome

Difficulty interacting with people at home, schools, and other areas
Flat monotone speech
Executive functioning problems
Difficulty in switching between activities
Inflexibility in behavior and though

2. Rett Syndrome

Breathing difficulties in some cases
Challenges in speech and communication
Loss of standard coordination and movement

3. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)

They cannot use their motor skills
Difficulty with adaptive behavior and social skills
Difficulty in vocabulary and acquired language
Toileting skills

4. Kanner’s Syndrome

Lack of emotional attachment with others
Interaction and communication challenges
Uncontrolled speech
Obsession with handling objects

5. Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Difficulty understanding vocabulary.
Unwanted playing with toys.
A problem when adjusting to different surroundings.

What are some signs of Autism?

The age of autism diagnosis and its intensity signs are different. Autism signs are seen in infants in their first month sometimes. However, the difference in behaviors becomes obvious later in the age of 2 or 3. In all children with Autism, signs are not obvious.

Even children who do not have Autism show fewer signs. Therefore, a professional diagnostic is mandatory if you ever feel or sense symptoms. If you find your child’s following indications, you must consider that your child is at risk. Although, the indications are different across the age groups. But, in any case, you need to contact your doctor or pediatrician. Here are few signs:

What are some signs of Autism? GREAT SOCIETY INC.

1. Aged 6 Months:

Having imperfect eye contact
Lack of smiling, engagement, and joyfulness.
Lack of smiling sounds and fewer facial expressions.

2. Aged 12 months:

Lack of little babbling.
Absence of waving, reaching, and other baby-ish actions.
Zero response when calling name.

3. Aged 16 months:

Limited cognitive response.

4. Aged 24 months:

Absence of meaningful words or two-word phrases.

Other common signs at any age

Intense or unusual reactions to sounds, colors, light, textures, tastes, and smells
Repetitive behaviors such as spinning, rocking, and flapping
Restricted interests
Resistance to minor changes in surroundings and routine
The insistent repetition of phrases or words (echolalia)
Delayed language development
Difficulty in understanding other people and their feelings
Avoidance of eye contact
Babbling or social skills and speech

Interaction Skills and Social Communication

Interaction skills and social communication skills are challenging for people with ASD. Learn more about it in the below lines.
Does not look or point to by eighteen months of age
Does not notice when others are sad or hurt by 24 months of age
Does not take an interest in peers
They do not share interests with others
Shows no gestures or few of them
Does not pick things or play interactive games
Cannot show facial expressions like surprised, angry, sad, and happy

Repetitive interest and behavior

Shows unusual reactions to the way things feel, look, taste, smell, or sound
Spins self in circles, rocks body, flap hands
Must follow certain things
Shows obsessive interests
On minor changes gets upset
He plays with toys in the same way
Repetition of words

Other characteristics

More fear or lack of fear more than expectations
Gastrointestinal issues
Unusual sleeping and eating habits
Inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive behavior
Delayed learning and cognitive skills
Delayed movement skills
Delayed language skills
Seizure or epilepsy disorder
Emotional reactions or unusual mood
Excessive worry, stress, and anxiety

What are the causes of Autism?

Until now, there has been no specific reason that can cause the said disease. Therefore, you can say there’s no particular factor behind it. But, some general and non-medical factors might be following:

1. Genetics

Various genes are involved in the formation of this disorder. This disorder is related to a genetic disorder such as fragile X syndrome and Rett syndrome for some kids. Genetics changes like mutations for other children may enhance the risk of Autism. These genes may affect the brain and its development. Moreover, it plays a negative impact on brain cells and their communication factor. It causes the severity of signs.

2. Environmental factors

Researchers currently explore whether factors like air pollutants, complications during pregnancy, medications, viral infections, and others can play a vital role in triggering Autism.

Risk Factors

Some of the risk factors are here

Boys are four times more at risk of Autism as compared to girls.
Family history plays a vital role.
Children with specific medical conditions have more risks than others, like X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and Rett syndrome.
Babies of twenty-six weeks of gestation are more vulnerable to Autism.
Children born having older or aged parents might have Autism.

Complications:

Problems with behavior, communication, and social interaction can lead to
Victimization and being bullied
Stress in family
Social isolation
Inability to live independently
Employment issues
Problems in institutions with successful learning

Diagnosis:

When support providers and parents become concerned that their child is not responding to several things, they need to contact the experts, including medical professionals, educators, and psychologists, for the diagnosis. Those children may come with vision, hearing, sensory processing issues, intellectual disability, and many more. Your expert will diagnose the type and stage of Autism, whether it is minor or severe.

Are there any preventions?

There is no way to prevent this disorder, but there are some treatment options. Early intervention and diagnosis can be helpful and improve language, skills, and behavior development. Intervention is useful in any age.