Learning about what autism is early can help you make an informed decision about how to treat your child. You’ll have a better idea of what your child’s strengths and challenges are, and you’ll be able to find the best services, educational programs, and behavioral therapies available for your child. A diagnostic evaluation by a team of health care providers may be necessary. This team may include child neurologists, educational specialists, psychologists, and occupational therapists.
Diagnostic tools
While there are several diagnostic tools available, the NICE guideline on autism recommends two: observation and semi-structured interviews. The tools may not be perfect, but they do offer a useful starting point for diagnosticians. However, they also have limitations. The samples used in these studies were predominantly Caucasian, heterosexual, and male from Western countries. As a result, the evidence base for these tools is not very strong.
ADI and ADOS require examiners to be familiar with autism and its early and current behaviors. They do not accurately identify the biological cause of autism. Because of this, they are often misused and do not provide a conclusive diagnosis.
Signs
Signs of autism in children include an intense interest in various objects and activities. These interests can become so intense that they can interfere with relationships with other people. These signs may be a signal that your child is on the autistic spectrum. Some children may show multiple signs, but a combination of these signs may point to a diagnosis.
Early signs of autism are often difficult to detect in infants, but many of these signs are present by the time a child reaches the age of two or three. It is important to note that each child develops at a different rate. The early signs of autism may be subtle or prominent, so it’s important to seek professional help early.
Treatment options
Treatment options for autism include medications and behavioral therapies, such as play therapy. These methods are designed to encourage the desired behaviors and discourage undesirable ones. Other treatments, such as sensory integration, can help children with autism overcome sensory overload and avoid outbursts. In addition, alternative treatments, such as aquatic therapy, art therapy, music therapy, and diet and nutrition, can also help individuals with autism.
Behavioral therapy helps autistic children manage behavioral problems and improve gross motor skills. It can also help children who are hyperactive or have other serious behavioural problems. Antidepressants are prescribed to treat anxiety. Parents should notify their doctor of any drugs or supplements their child is taking, as these can interact with certain medications. Drug interactions can result in dangerous side effects.
Stigma
Understanding stigma requires an examination of how it affects marginalized communities, as well as their coping mechanisms. Stigma is a two-way process, and a one-way conversation about autism is incomplete without a discussion of how stigma impacts the community itself. The current literature on autism shows that it is widespread, with many mild symptoms of autism being found in the general population. Moreover, family members of children with autism often display isolated autistic traits.
A relatively comprehensive study of stigma towards a diverse set of disorders was conducted by Feldman and Crandall. However, it was limited by its sample size and analytic approach. The authors used vignettes to depict common characteristics associated with the disorders. This method did not distinguish between the kinds of stigma arising from the core characteristics of each disorder, as well as from co-occurring characteristics.
Genetics
Recent studies have identified several genes that may contribute to autism. These genes, primarily inherited variants, contribute to the complex genetics of autism. These findings may help us better understand autism spectrum disorders. The team’s recent publication in the journal Nature Genetics describes their findings. They used genetic data from nearly 43,000 individuals with autism to identify these genes.
Children with autism have higher genetic risk than other children. They are more likely to have parents or siblings with autism or other mental disorders. Interestingly, these parents and siblings show only mild autistic traits. Genetics studies have also identified several rare mutations that are associated with autism.
Environmental factors
Environmental factors have been implicated in the development of autism. However, current research on autism risk factors is not conclusive. Most studies report inconsistent results. There are a number of possible risk factors, but only a small number of them are widely accepted. Identifying environmental risk factors offers great potential to help improve autism treatment. While genetic mutations are the most common cause of autism, environmental exposures are also a significant risk factor.
Previous studies on environmental factors have been limited by many factors, including their small sample sizes, retrospective designs, and cross-sectional designs. Other limitations of these studies include the indirect measurement of exposure, and the fact that the definition of autism is so broad that it includes several subtypes.