Centers for disease control and prevention has described Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to be a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioural challenges. According to them, there is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.
The signs and symptoms which follow People with ASD are often associated with problems with social, emotional, and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviours and might not want to change in their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. Signs of ASD begin during early childhood and typically last throughout a person’s life.
Parts of the symptoms is that they may not point at objects to show interest for example, not point at an airplane flying over or not being able to look at objects when another person points at them.
* These people also have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all.
* They avoid eye contact and want to be alone.
* They also have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
*They prefer not to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle only when they want to.
* These people appear to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sounds.
*They would be very interested in people, but not know how to talk, play, or relate to them
* They repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language
*They have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions.
*Repeat actions over and over again and
have trouble adapting when a routine changes
* Have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound.
CDC says Diagnosing ASD can be difficult since there is no medical test, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorders. Doctors look at the child’s behavior and development to make a diagnosis.
CDC also stated that ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered very reliable. However, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until much older. This delay means that children with ASD might not get the early help they need.
Research shows that there is currently no cure for ASD. However, early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development.
Causes of ASD are not known, however, there are likely many causes for multiple types of ASD. There may be many different factors that make a child more likely to have an ASD, including environmental, biological and genetic factors.
ASD occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but is about 4 times more common among boys than among girls.
It is advisable you contact a doctor If you think your child might have ASD or you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, or acts.
The UN General Assembly had declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day so as to “highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.
This year’s theme is ‘Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World’.
It is a day when member states of the United Nations are encouraged to raise awareness about people living with autistic spectrum disorders including autism and Asperger syndrome.
According to the United Nations, the “COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and heightened glaring inequalities around the world, especially when it comes to income and wealth distribution, access to health care, protection under the law, and political inclusion. Persons with autism have long faced many of these inequalities, which have only been further exacerbated by the pandemic”.
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