Autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs)

Autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of lifelong conditions that affect how a patient communicates with and relates to other people. This fact is relevant for both parents of patient with an ASD.

Autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of conditions that affect how patient develops. They include:

1.    Autism

2.    Asperger’s syndrome.

The word Spectrum is used because, although many patients share similar difficulties, the way that these affect can vary. So, patient may have mild symptoms, or may be more severely affected. Around half of patient with an ASD also have a learning disability. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with an ASD than girls.

Children who have an ASD don’t develop the social and language skills that other children of the same age do. As a result, they find it difficult to relate to other people and to build relationships. Children with an ASD may also have unusual, repetitive behaviour and learning disabilities.

Autism

Children with autism have difficulty communicating and interacting with others. They find it hard to understand what other people are thinking or feeling. Some children with autism may have a learning disability, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, which affects co-ordination and movement.

Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome is a type of autism. Children with Asperger syndrome find it hard to read the signals that other people give, such as facial expressions, body language and tone of voice. This makes communication and interaction difficult and can make children feel confused.

General Symptoms

Child will have symptoms that affect the way he or she communicates. Their social skills, interests and behaviour may also be affected. How the child is affected can vary widely. Some children are very mildly affected and need little special support, whereas other children are severely affected and need a lifetime of special support. Some of the symptoms and behaviour of ASDs can be noticed when child is very young. However, sometimes symptoms don’t become obvious until the child experiences new social settings, such as going to school.

Communication

Children with an ASD don’t develop the usual ways to communicate using speech or non-speech skills that other children of the same age do. Child may have trouble understanding the meaning of spoken or written language. For example, child may:

1.      Not respond to you when you speak to them.

2.      Use words correctly but not really understand what they are saying

3.      Not make eye contact

4.      Not understand or use gestures. He or she may also find it difficult to read body language and facial expressions.

Children with severe autism may not speak at all, but can be helped to communicate in other ways, such as through signing or using pictures.

Social skills

Children with autism often find it hard to recognise or understand what other people are feeling and may have trouble expressing their own feelings. Child may find it difficult to engage with other people, make friends and get on well with their peers. They may be unable to cope with new situations. For example, if child has an ASD he or she may:

1.      Not look for comfort from other people.

2.      Prefer to spend time on his or her own.

3.      Find it difficult to accept simple social rules.

4.      Behave strangely because he or she can’t express how they are feeling

5.      Child may have problems seeing the world from someone else’s point of view and predicting what someone might do.

Children with an ASD may show very little or no interest in play that involves pretending. Instead, they may be more interested in repetitive behaviours, activities and interests. Apart from problems that affect child’s communication, social skills, interests and behaviour, he or she may also be over- or under-sensitive to sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.

Diagnosis

If you notice your child might be showing signs of an ASD, contact your DOCTOR. Your DOCTOR will ask about your child’s behaviour and if your DCOTOR thinks your child may have an ASD, he or she may refer you to a specialist. Your child may have more tests, interviews and examinations. There are a number of different assessments which can be used to assess child’s behaviour and how they interact with other people. You and your child may see a number of different people including a paediatrician, child psychiatrist, speech therapist, occupational therapist and psychologist. This can mean having several appointments over several weeks. After the assessments you may get a detailed diagnosis report, which should state clearly what the diagnosis is.

Treatment

There isn’t a cure for ASDs, however, there are many different ways that your child can be helped to manage. These are called interventions and are treatments or therapies which aim to improve the quality of life for you and your child. Some of the main approaches to managing an ASD are listed below.

1.      Making adjustments to the physical environment such as

·        The lighting,

·        Amount of noise,

·        Colour of walls

·        Personal space available.

2.      Alternative communications.

·        This involves teaching your child to communicate using other types of communication apart from speech. They include sign language and Pictures.

3.      Behaviour therapies.

·        There is a wide range of these programmes, which aim to encourage appropriate behaviour and to discourage inappropriate behaviour

4.      Therapies that help with specific problems, for example

·        Speech and language therapy,

·        Physiotherapy to improve movement and co-ordination, and

·        Occupational therapy to help develop daily living skills.

It’s important to remember that one therapy may work for one child but not for another, as all children have different needs and abilities.

There are hundreds of different interventions available and making a choice about what is best for your child can be difficult. Talk to your specialist for information about the different approaches to managing autism.

Medicines

Medicines can’t treat ASDs as such, but they can help to ease some of the symptoms. Your child’s specialist may prescribe a medicine for him or her to take to reduce symptoms such as agitation, aggression, hyperactive behaviour or sleep problems.

Always ask your specialist or pharmacist for advice and read the patient information leaflet that comes with your child’s medicine.

Source: Dr. Imtiaz Syed, M.B,B.S, MBA, CRA, PCQI, CPC

LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/imtiaz-syed/13/89/841, 

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Written by Nadeem Zia

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