Introduction
Autism, the problem caused by genetic and environmental factors in which a child faces trouble with social interaction and communication. This problem is usually characterized by restrictive and repetitive behavior. The signs of autism become noticeable during the age of two to three years. This kind of disorder lasts through out the person's life time.
Causes of Autism
The basic or permanent cause of this problem is still not discovered but it is said that autism is caused due to some genetic changes or mutations.
Environmental factors are also considered as another cause of autism that can affect the development of the brain at early age.
Symptoms of Autism
Signs and symptoms may vary from person to person and include:
- Lines up toys or other objects
- Plays with toys the same way every time
- Has to follow certain routines
- Likes parts of objects
- Is very organized
- Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles
- Does not point or respond to pointing
- Does not understand jokes or teasing
- Talks in a flat, robot-like, or sing-song voice
- Gives unrelated answers to questions
- Delayed speech and language skills
- Uses few or no gestures (e.g., does not wave goodbye)
Diagnosis of Autism
- The diagnosis of this particular problem can be difficult as there is no particular test for detecting this disorder.
- Only the behavior of the child can detect whether this disorder is present or not.
- Developmental screening is one way which can help to know whether a child is suffering from this particular problem or not (in this it is observed that whether the child is learning the basic skill or not).
- In developmental screening, the child may be told to play with toys or to answer some of the questions asked by the doctor.
- There is one another way known as comprehensive diagnostic evaluation (in this hearing and vision abilities of the child are diagnosed, genetic testing and neurological testing and some other medical tests are done).