Autism in children is a developmental disorder, an inherited disorder of brain function. The disorder occurs on a neurobiological basis. The result is a lack of understanding of what he saw, heard, experienced. Mental development is impaired, manifested by a deficit in the field of communication, social interaction, imagination (the so-called basic diagnostic triad of problem areas of development in autistic spectrum).
Certain symptoms and behavioral patterns accompany childhood autism.
Content
- Theories and current knowledge about autists
-
How to recognize autism in a child, how it manifests itself in a teenager
- Newborn
- Children 2-3 years old
- Older age
- Teenagers
- How to Recognize Autistic Children to Parents
- Autism spectrum disorders
- How is the diagnosis made
- Problems in life: society, socialization, learning, education
- Family creation, relationships, work
- How to communicate with an autistic child - recommendations for parents
- Real people stories
-
Myths and facts
- People with autism are not interested in friendship
- Autistic people do not lend themselves to education
- All people with ASD avoid eye contact
- Parents cause disorder by rude behavior
Theories and current knowledge about autists
The time when autistic children and their parents were accused of severe mental disorders is a dark period in the history of psychology and psychiatry. Today, the causes and symptoms of autism in children are viewed from a different perspective.
In the 1980s and 1990s, there were 2 powerful theories that tried to explain the causes of autism in children.
According to the first theory, childhood autism is the result of a brain disorder.
The second theory that explains the causes of autism is based on an emotional factor in the origin of the disorder. According to her, the main manifestation is the inability to communicate with other people.
At the turn of the century, scientists focused on the neurobiological model. This theory states that early childhood autism (EDA) is caused by impaired fetal brain development after closure. neural tube.
No theory has been proven, the causes of autism are not reliably known even now.
Why are autistic children born:
How to recognize autism in a child, how it manifests itself in a teenager
Most parents notice the developmental features of their baby in the 1-2nd year of life. In order to recognize autism in a child in time, one should pay attention to the late development of speech. During the first year of life, he does not give out sounds, and at 16 months he does not use separate words.
Newborn
The main signs of autism in children under 1 year of age are avoidance of eye contact, lack of interest in human voices, faces, reaction to being called by name.
Children 2-3 years old
Signs of autism in children 2 years of age include gradually emerging stereotypical patterns of behavior. Frequent short shaking or circular movements of hands, fingers, especially in moments of joy, disappointment.
Children 3 years old have a lack of interest in toys, the ability to play, interest in others.
Older age
Older children with autism are characterized by abnormal behaviors that seem strange to those around them. 
They think, play, speak differently. This is manifested by stereotypes in the game, food, communication. There is a lack of creativity, imagination. There is no interest in others, active cooperation. Interruption of momentary activity is accompanied by an explosive, affective reaction (kicks, bites).
Detachment is another sign of autism in children (photos that are present in online publications devoted to the topic of the disorder confirm this; a typical manifestation is a "see-through" look).
And let the whole world wait:
Teenagers
The picture demonstrating how autism manifests itself in adolescents during puberty comes from a literal understanding of things, a lack of meaning in communication. They are not interested in the people around them. The reason is the lack of the ability to read by facial expressions, gestures, body speech. There is a manifestation of exaggerated interest in a particular person, topic.
In a discussion, their speech can be selfish in nature with a lack of thoughts, feelings, ideas. Some people like to hug, while others do not like physical contact.
How to Recognize Autistic Children to Parents
Autism Spectrum Disorder has a number of common features.
The following reactions are absent:
- an answer to your name;
- response or reaction to stimuli;
- pointing your finger at interesting objects;
- waving goodbye;
- connection to children's games (for example, in the palms);
- imitation;
- observation of distant objects;
- maintaining eye contact.
The following features are present:
- expression of oneself with a cry, an affect;
- delayed speech development;
- impression of deafness.
The following signs are the reason for the survey and testing:
- up to 12 months does not "gurgle";
- does not gesticulate until 12 months;
- does not use words before 16 months;
- does not use offers up to 24 months;
- loses speech or social skills at any age.
One day of life:
Autism spectrum disorders
According to the symptoms, ASD is divided into several types:
- Child. Problems with understanding heard, seen, experienced. Difficulties in communication, imagination. We are talking about congenital disorders of brain functions associated with mental development disorders.
- Atypical. Signs may partially meet the criteria of childhood autism, be combined with manifestations of other forms of ASD.
- Asperger's Syndrome. Characterized by problems in communication, imagination, social behavior. Intelligence is above average. Speech is fully developed, passive vocabulary is rich.
- Another disintegrative disorder (Geller syndrome). The disorder is typically normal developmental lasting about 2 years. Then there is a gradual loss of acquired skills and abilities.
- Another pervasive disorder. All areas are impaired, but the impairment is inconsistent with other diagnoses.
- Rett syndrome. Found in girls. It is accompanied by severe mental disorders.
The Autism Spectrum Disorder Continuum
How is the diagnosis made
The diagnostic process is based on psychological, psychiatric examinations, identification of symptoms of autism in children. The diagnosis is made on the basis of behavioral manifestations, regardless of the possible cause.
At the next stage of diagnosis, the presence of a connection between mental signs in an autistic child and a somatic disease, a genetic abnormality is determined.
The level of nonspecific lesion of the central nervous system is assessed.
The modern diagnosis of ASD is interdisciplinary in nature. A comprehensive examination allows you to evaluate the disorder from different points of view.
Problems in life: society, socialization, learning, education
Children with ASD are often unable to properly establish contacts with classmates, to join a joint game. Problems also cause difficulties in establishing eye contact (they avoid it, do not use it for the purpose of communication; some use unnaturally intense eye contact in an attempt to “get it right”).
In passive ASD, there is no attempt to establish friendships in the classroom (often after previous negative experiences). The opposite is over-activity. Instead of greeting, the child can pick up the toy and hit it. He just doesn't know how to do it.
Children with PAS play the role of "cool clowns", completing the assignments of their classmates. A good way to show a model of behavior for autistic children is a video of communication, games of other peers.
Friendship is:
The soul of a child with autism:
Do you agree:
Family creation, relationships, work
Many autistic people experience difficulties in the area of executive functions, cannot organize activities, have no idea about the timing, and are worried about changes. Learning how to organize things in a certain order helps.
An effective method for correcting autism in children is visualization. A typical problem of ASD is a violation of short-term memory, speech understanding. The visualized information helps to understand the requirements, to navigate in a chaotic environment. Visualization is applicable in common social situations, at work, in the field of self-service.
For autistic children, visualization pictures (the most popular are Pex cards) are a standard therapeutic approach. In addition to relieving symptoms in an autistic child, images of specific objects and actions contribute to greater calmness in everyday life. This method is sometimes used throughout a person's life.
Pex cards can be made by hand:
Autism in children is curable:
How to communicate with an autistic child - recommendations for parents
Take such a child in the family as a fact. This is a congenital disorder, the acceptance of which will help to find a way to understand the world of the little person, to get closer to him.
There are 4 things that can help:
- silence;
- peace;
- subsequence;
- comfort.
They are often more effective than the recommended (and expensive) therapy. A child can exhibit stereotypical behavior, swing, squeeze a favorite toy, repeat words - this is a way to create order in a chaotic world. If such actions do not cause physical harm, do not pay attention, do not ask questions.
Real people stories
The following stories are designed to help you understand the autistic world.
I have always had other interests than those of my peers, I have avoided the collective. I didn't like popular music; she had a negative emotional impact on me. I want to keep my emotions to myself, I hate it when something interrupts my activity. Children always strive to find the object of bullying, I was provoked. I often did not hold back. Today I know it's safer to control my feelings.
Mark, 14 years old
I perceive people by their tone of voice, but I can’t read anything from their faces (and I don’t try), I don’t look into their eyes. But in the future I want to have a wife and children. I can do a lot, but I need to know exactly what and when. I cannot organize everything myself, I need guidance. But the problem is that I cannot make contacts….
Peter, 15 years old
How do people with ASD live and feel? How is their life different from the life of healthy people?
Some social situations are problematic for me. I even attended courses on how to behave with people, to understand them. I am struggling between normal and abnormal, so I decided that I would not change. I am the way I am. I never lie. And I am happy.
Anna, 16 years old
I plan, distribute daily activities because otherwise I would be in a whirlpool of chaos. When the university says (I study at the pedagogical faculty) that the work should be finished by the end of the month, I am confused. I don’t know, we need to do everything today, tomorrow, at the end of the month. Time is a very abstract concept for me, it creates confusion.
Elena, 18 years old
Myths and facts
For many people with ASD, prejudice and myths about the disorder make life difficult.
People with autism are not interested in friendship
Most people with ASD want to be friends, but do not know how to build friendships and support them.
Autistic people do not lend themselves to education
Despite the great difficulties in education, thanks to the knowledge of the peculiarities of ASD, significant progress can be made.
All people with ASD avoid eye contact
Many autistic people say that the use of eye contact can be learned. But for them it is unnatural.
Parents cause disorder by rude behavior
It is a disorder with a genetic cause. There is no fault of the parents in its development.
Today the number of people with various forms of ASD is about 1%, which is much higher than in the late 1990s of the last century. 25% of the detection of cases of the disorder is the achievement of modern diagnostics. It is also important to raise awareness among parents and professionals (including due to the expansion of the Internet). But in the general case, such an increase in incidence has no explanation.
