Introduction
When a child is unable to express himself, his emotions, what he thinks, feels or wants and reacts differently from other children, perhaps he is suffering from a neurodevelopment disorder that is commonly known as autism. This paper intends to discuss autism, its causes, symptoms, and about its treatment along with discussing several other related aspects of the subject.
Background
Autism is a bunch of complex brain disorders that are jointly known as Autism Spectrum Disorder. This Spectrum refers to broad range of issues associated with ASD including difficulties related to communication, normal brain functioning, social mutilation, restricted, dull and stereotyped conduct of a young child. Autistic disorder is a severe type of ASD though there are several other types of ASD that are found in children. It has been found in research study conducted by J. Osterling and G. Dawson said that autism is distinguished commonly in first three years of children’s life (Osterling and Dawson ).
Causes of Autism
Health experts are not yet confident about reasons of autism but several research studies suggests that there are certain genetics as well as environmental factors that are considered playing significant role in autism.
- Genetic causes
It has been found in research study ‘Infantile Autism in Twins’ shows that in cases where identical twins have similar genetic codes, there are highest chances that if one of these twins suffers from ASD, other will also have symptoms of ASD (McQuaid). The ratio that has been found in such cases is 9 out of 10. Scientists are trying with utmost sincerity in order to find out more about the genes that cause Autism Spectrum Disorder. Scientists have already found substantial information about these genes but research is going on to discover further.
It has not been found that children suffering from ASD certainly have a family history of autism. Though there are chances that if someone immediate relative to child has ASD, chances of having ASD for the child increases. Scientists suggest that more research is required to make any firm opinion on this subject.
- Environmental causes
Environment is everything outside the human body that affects human health. Air, water, food, medicines, clothes, and several other things which are a part of our daily life, affect our health. Scientists have found that environment affects child more than adults. Environment affects the growth, physical and mental health of a child and plays a significant role in his medical conditions. Scientists are studying more about the relation of child, autism and role of environment. Scientists are researching about how environment affect genes that are responsible for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Symptoms
Children suffering from autism do not reflect the standard development patterns as compare other normal children of their age. Such children normally lack of social communication skills. Difference in their behavior can easily be noticed by comparing them with other children of same age group. Autism symptoms can be classified in three major categories: social impairment, difficulties in communication and repetitive & stereotype behavior.
Social Impairment
Majority of children with autism disorder faces problem in performing general social interactions. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder said that children with this disorder may not make frequent eye contact; they do participate actively in communication with others; they respond in abnormal way when people show their affection and anger to them. According to a research study conducted by Stone and other authors said that, Children with this disorder do not react to human emotions because of their inability to give attention on emotional cues ( Stone et al.). During the study some children were identified who pay attention to mouth instead of eyes of person to whom they are interacting.
Children with autism disorder often misread and do not identify social communication cues such as smile, wink or any other expression. Attention of such children can be improved by repetitive movements attached with a sound. Facial expressions can also help them in understanding and establishing social relationship. Children with autism unable to relate emotions and words for example sentence “you are ok” will carry same meaning for them in all situation whether person is asking question or informing them about their condition.
Communication Issues
American Academy of Pediatrics described different development stages of children. According to academy a child should be able to speak few words on his first birthday; they should be able to recognize their name and points towards desired things such as toy. Toddlers understand and make facial expressions. However children with autism do not display such behavior. They may fail to respond to verbal clues and do not develop different gestures. Some children may act normally till one o/r two years but later on stop responding or listening to others. According to research study done by group of authors mentioned that children with this disorder develop their language skills late (Sallows et al.). They are may speak one word or keep on repeating some phrases again and again; they are not able to arrange words in a meaningful order.
Stereotype and Repetitive Behaviors
Children with autism depict repetitive and unusual behavior. In some children this behavior becomes very prominent and in other it is mild. For example some children keep on flapping their arms whereas other may slowly move their eyes. Such repetitive actions are known as stereotyped behaviors. Such children’s easily get attracted towards moving objects such as wheels or car; they often get involved in arranging their toys in certain manners instead playing.
According to study conducted by J. Perner, U. Frith, A. M. Leslie and S. R. Leekam said that it is not necessary that two or more children reflect same behavior and similar symptoms (J. Perner, U. Frith, A. M. Leslie and S. R. Leekam). Such children may ask for same meal daily or may insist for wearing similar cloths. They may get upset if find changes in their schedule. Such children sometimes show emotional outburst, aggression and frustration if provided with stimulating environment.
Treatments
There is no proper, accurate and guaranteed cure is available for autism spectrum disorder. However, early treatment, specialized school programs and appropriate medical treatments can minimize the disorder and help in increasing child’s aptitude to learn different skills.
Early Intervention
Research studies conducted to analyze the effect of treatments mentioned that early intensive behavioral therapy can help in improving cognitive and communications skills in children. No one treatment that is best for autism disorder has been identified so far, but effect of early behavioral therapy during early age is found positive. This treatment should be started right after diagnosis of autism disorder. Under the treatment children should be given challenging tasks at appropriate development level for minimum 25 hrs every week through the year.
It is recommended that teacher should have small size of his class in order to give individual attention to every child. Parents should also be given special training on how to handle their child effectively so that child’s learning could be improved. Teachers and parents should encourage activities that are focused on developing children and till the time children reached desired goal of learning. It is recommended to increase difficulty level once goal of one step achieved. Curriculum of therapy should designed keeping in mind different learning skills such as communication, social, daily living, grooming and controlling challenging behavior.
Children should be given attention on learning skills related to new settings and they should retain those skills. Cognitive skills should also be part of curriculum in order to teach children on reading expressions, play games and understanding others view. Applied behavior analysis is a well known and widely praised treatment available for autism disorder. This treatment mainly emphasizes on strengthening new skills and learning such as speaking, playing, and decreasing undesired actions. Applied behavior analysis intervention consists of verbal behavior and pivotal response training.
Working with Child’s School
Parents should discuss their concern with school, teachers and support team to start evaluation. Every stager involves training of parents and evaluation by agency that works for evaluation of such children. The evaluation generally conducted by team of people who are trained on the subject. Evaluation team child’s learning on all different areas. After evaluation a child has various options depending upon the requirements of child. If child meets the criteria set under ‘Individual with Disabilities Education Act’, it is responsibility of school district to develop a customized education plan for child within the specified time limit as given under the act. Even if child is not eligible according to the act, he or she will still get free education in public schools (T. Charman and G. Baird)
Refutiation
Genetic
Till date various studies have conducted to analyze the main causes for ASD. During some scientific studies it was identified that there are 15 genes that changes in child with ASD as compare to normal child. However according to scientists’ genetic factors could be a major reason that causes autism in different children. Such genes may get trigger by any environmental agents. So it can be said that the cause for ASD could be genetic defect or alteration in gene structure. However, there is no confirmation that the main reason behind ASD is genetic defect.
ASD could occur due to changes in external environment. Scientists and researchers believe that there could be more than one factor that is responsible for ASD. There is higher possibility that ASD initially started due to alteration or defect in genes which further stimulate by environmental factors or conditions. Environmental factors could be pollutants in environment, harmful foods, side effects of any medicine, chemicals, and negative impact of toxic materials. Genetic defects are always being a foundation of several diseases. But people claim that environmental factors are the main reason behind ASD. Some studies mentioned that nutrition taken by mother while pregnancy, age at the time of conception and other decease occurred in mother during pregnancy could also be a cause for ASD.
Vaccination
A strong argument prevailing presently is that pharmaceutical companies should pay money if a link is established between autism and MMR vaccination. There could be various causes for ASD but very recently vaccine is also identified as potential factor for ASD. Mumps, Measles and Ruebella vaccine given to infant could be a major reason behind ASD. Generally MMR vaccine is being given to child between the age one year to one and half year. The time at which ASD identified in the children is same. Scientists are working to identify evidences to claim the validity of hypothesis relating ASD with vaccine and genetic.
Conclusion
After having observed succinct view of above mentioned subject, it can be concluded that ASD is a complex brain disorder that affects personal, psychological and social, aspects of children. This problem is very complex in nature and prevents children from leading a normal life. Children suffer and face problems in their life if they have ASD. ASD affects almost every aspects of children’s capacity of performance. There are certain methods of treating children having ASD and as soon any child is diagnosed with ASD, he or she should be given due treatment in order to prevent its negative effects from worsening further. It has been observed that early treatment makes a big difference in the condition of children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Works Cited
W. L. Stone, O. Y. Ousley, P. J. Yoder, K. L. Hogan and S. L. Hepburn. "Nonverbal Communication in Two- and Three-Year-Old Children with Autism." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (Dec 1997): 677-696.
G. O. Sallows, W. E. MacLean and T. D. Graupner . "Intensive Behavioral Treatment for Children With Autism: Four-Year Outcome and Predictors." American Journal on Mental Retardation (November 2005, Vol. 110, No. 6): 417-438.
J. Osterling and G. Dawson . "Early recognition of children with autism: A study of first birthday home videotapes." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (June 1994): 247-257.
J. Perner, U. Frith, A. M. Leslie and S. R. Leekam. "Exploration of the Autistic Child's Theory of Mind: Knowledge, Belief, and Communication." Child Development 60(3) (June, 1989): 689-700.
McQuaid, Paul E. "Infantile Autism in Twins." The British Journal of Psychiatry (1975): 530-534 .
T. Charman and G. Baird. "Practitioner Review: Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in 2- and 3-year-old children." Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 43(3) (March 2002): 289–305.
