Tag: Autism Awareness

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism is a lifelong, complex condition that occurs as a result of disordered brain growth, structure and development. It is believed to stem from a genetic predisposition triggered by environmental factors, and affects boys 4-5 times more than girls.

There are a vast number of ways that a person can manifest autism, and as a result, the condition is now more often referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or “ASD”.

ASD is a developmental disability, and include all Autism disorders that used to be diagnosed separately:

➜ Autistic disorder
➜ Pervasive development disorder (PDD-NOS)
➜ Asperger Syndrome

ASD is chararacterised, in varying degrees, by:

➜ Difficulties in social interaction
➜ Verbal and nonverbal communication
➜ Repetitive behaviours
➜ Differences in sensory perception

Also see Understanding the Spectrum – a comic strip explanation.

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What is the cause of ASD?

A lot of research is being done to try and find the cause of autism, but there is still no definite answer. There is consensus however that it`s NOT a psychological or emotional disorder, and it is not the parent’s fault that their child was born with autism.

It is also not the result of bad parenting – and children with ASD do NOT choose to misbehave. Misbehaviour are often reactions to the environment and are expressions of the difficulties people with ASD experience.

Fast Facts about ASD

• Developmental disabilities such as ASD are brain-based, neurological conditions that have more to do with biology than with psychology
• Not a single person with ASD is affected in the same way
• ASD is usually diagnosed by the time a child is 3 years old
• ASD is found in every country, every ethnic group, and every socio-economic class
• Autism is diagnosed four times as often in boys than in girls
• Children who are diagnosed with ASD need early intervention as soon as possible

Detecting Autism Early

The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely impaired. While some may need a lot of help and intensive intervention, others may need less.

Parents should ask their child’s family doctor for a referral to a developmental Paediatrician for assessment if there are concerns with any of the following:

• Little awareness of others.
• Self-injurious behaviour, e.g. head banging, scratching or biting.
• Imaginative play may be poor. E.g. cannot play with a wooden block as if it is a car.
• Unusual habits such as rocking, hand flapping, spinning of objects etc.
• The development of speech and language may be atypical, absent or delayed.
• Indifference to, or dislike of being touched, held or cuddled.
• Minimal reaction to verbal input and sometimes acts as though he/she is deaf.
• Sense of touch, taste, sight, hearing and/or smell may be heightened or lowered.
• Changes in routine or the environment may cause distress.
• Sudden laughing or crying for no apparent reason
• Pursues activities repetitively and cannot be influenced by suggestions of change.
• Uneven gross/fine motor skills.
• Inappropriate attachment to objects.
• Abnormal sleeping patterns.
• Displays extreme distress and/or tantrums for no apparent reason
• Prefers to play alone.
• Difficulty in interacting with others and little or no eye contact.
• No real fear of dangers.

Possible Signs (taken from Autism Ontario – Durham Region)

• No babbling by 11 months of age
• No simple gestures by 12 months (e.g., waving bye-bye)
• No single words by 16 months
• No 2-word phrases by 24 months (noun + verb – e.g., “baby sleeping”)
• No response when name is called, causing concern about hearing
• Loss of any language or social skills at any age
• Rarely makes eye contact when interacting with people
• Does not play peek-a-boo
• Doesn’t point to show things he/she is interested in
• Rarely smiles socially
• More interested in looking at objects than at people’s faces
• Prefers to play alone
• Doesn’t make attempts to get parent’s attention; doesn’t follow/look when someone is pointing at something
• Seems to be “in his/her own world”
• Odd or repetitive ways of moving fingers or hands
• Oversensitive to certain textures, sounds or lights
• Lack of interest in toys, or plays with them in an unusual way (e.g. lining up, spinning, opening/closing parts rather than using the toy as a whole)
• Compulsions or rituals (has to perform activities in a special way or certain sequence; is prone to tantrums if rituals are interrupted)
• Preoccupations with unusual interests, such as light switches, doors, fans, wheels

Sources: Autism South Africa, The Art of Autism.
For more information and resources, visit aut2know.co.za/autism-library.

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