There are more and more babies diagnosed with autism every day. Such a prevalence of the disease is associated primarily with improved diagnostics. Often talented and gifted kids in Russia miss the diagnosis of autism. Such children require special attention to themselves and must be socialized in society.
What it is?
In simple words, “Autism” is a mental disorder or illness characterized by mental changes, loss of social adaptation in society and altered behavior. Usually, a child has a persistent violation of interaction within society.
Often, autism is not diagnosed for a long time, since parents attribute changes in behavior to the characteristics of the child's character.
The disease can indeed be mild. In this case, identifying the first characteristic signs and recognizing the disease is a very difficult task not only for parents, but also for doctors.
In Europe and the United States, the diagnosis of autism is much more common. This is due to the presence of excellent diagnostic criteria, which allow the commission of doctors to accurately diagnose even with mild illness or in difficult clinical cases.
In autistic babies, various changes occur in the cerebral cortex. They appear immediately after birth. However, they can appear much later, after many years. The disease proceeds without periods of stable remission. With a long course of the disease and the use of various psychotherapeutic techniques that can improve the behavior of an autistic child, parents may see some improvement.
To date, no specific treatment has been developed. This means that, unfortunately, a complete cure of the disease is impossible.
Prevalence
The statistics on the incidence of autism in the United States and Europe differ markedly from Russian data. This is primarily due to the high detection rate of sick children abroad. Foreign doctors and psychologists use numerous questionnaires and diagnostic behavioral tests that allow them to accurately make the correct diagnosis in babies of any age.
In Russia, the statistics are completely different. Often, not all babies have the first symptoms of the disease on time and at an early age. Russian children who suffer from autism often remain simply withdrawn toddlers.
The symptoms of the disease are "attributed" to the characteristics of the child's character and temperament, which leads to serious consequences. Such children subsequently integrate poorly into society, cannot find themselves in the profession, or they fail to create a good and happy family.
The prevalence of the disease is no more than 3%. Boys most often suffer from autism. Usually this ratio is 4: 1. Girls from families where there are many cases of autism in relatives can also get this mental illness.
Most often, the first vivid symptoms of the disease are detected only by the age of three. The disease, as a rule, manifests itself even at an earlier age, but up to 3-5 years it remains unrecognized in most cases.
Why are children born with autism spectrum disorder?
To date, scientists have not yet decided on a common opinion on this issue. In the development of autism, many experts believe several genes are to blame, which cause disruption in the work of some parts of the cerebral cortex. Often, when analyzing cases, it becomes obvious strongly expressed heredity.
Another theory of the disease is mutational. Scientists believe that a variety of mutations and breakdowns in the genetic apparatus of a particular individual can become the cause of the disease.
Various factors can lead to this:
- the effect of ionizing radiation on the fetus during the mother's pregnancy;
- infection with bacterial or viral infections of the fetus during intrauterine development;
- exposure to hazardous chemicals that have a teratogenic effect on the unborn child;
- chronic diseases of the nervous system in the mother, in which she took various symptomatic psychotropic drugs for a long time.
According to American experts, such mutagenic effects quite often led to various disorders characteristic of autism.
This effect on the fetus is especially dangerous during the first 8-10 weeks from the moment of conception. At this time, the laying of all vital organs occurs, including the areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for the behavior begin to form.
Gene or mutational disorders that underlie the disease ultimately lead to the appearance of specific damage to certain areas of the central nervous system. As a result, the coordinated work between the various neurons responsible for social integration is disrupted.
There is also a change in the functions of the mirror cells of the brain, which leads to the appearance of specific symptoms of autism, when the baby can repeatedly perform any of the same type of action and pronounce individual phrases several times.
Kinds
Many different classifications of the disease are currently used. All of them are divided according to the variants of the course of the disease, the severity of manifestations, and also taking into account the stage of the disease.
There is no single working classification that would be used in Russia. In our country, the development and ordering of specific criteria for the disease, which will underlie the diagnosis of the disease, are currently being carried out.
Autism can usually take several forms or variations:
- Typical. With this option, the signs of the disease appear quite clearly already in childhood. Kids are distinguished by a more withdrawn behavior, lack of involvement in games with other children, they do not make contact even with close relatives and parents. Improving social integration requires a whole range of various psychotherapeutic procedures and the help of a child psychologist who is well versed in this problem.
- Atypical. This atypical variant of the disease occurs at a much later age. Usually after 3-4 years. This form of the disease is characterized by the manifestation of not all specific signs of autism, but only some. Atypical autism is diagnosed rather late. Often, not diagnosed in time and delayed diagnosis leads to the development of more persistent symptoms in the child, which are much more difficult to treat.
- Hidden. There are no exact statistics on the number of babies with this diagnosis. In this form of the disease, the manifestation of the main clinical symptoms is extremely rare. Very often, babies are considered simply overly withdrawn or introverted. Such children practically do not allow strangers into their own inner world. It is very difficult to establish communication with a child who is diagnosed with autism.
How does a mild form differ from a severe one?
Autism can take several forms in severity. The mildest form occurs in most cases. It is characterized by violations of social adaptation, when the baby does not want to establish contacts or communicate with other people.
It is important to understand that he does this not because of modesty or excessive isolation, but simply because of the manifestations of the disease. Such children, as a rule, start talking late.
Violations of their own personality with a mild form of the disease practically do not occur. Kids can make contact with the people closest to them. Usually, the child selects several family members who, in his opinion, treat him with more care and attention. Toddlers with autism do not accept bodily contact well. Usually the child tries to stray from the hug or does not like kissing.
Babies with more severe illness do their best to avoid contact with other people. Even touching or hugging from close relatives can cause them severe mental trauma. Only the closest people, according to the child, can touch him. This is a very important clinical sign of the disease. A kid with autism is very sensitive to any interference in his personal space from a very young age.
Some severe variants of the disease are characterized by mental inclinations to self-harm. Such babies may even bite themselves or make attempts to inflict various injuries at an older age.
Such a manifestation is rare, however, it requires urgent consultation with a psychiatrist and the appointment of special medications that reduce the manifestations of aggression towards oneself.
The mild form of the disease often remains undiagnosed, especially in Russia. The manifestations of the disease are simply attributed to the peculiarities of the child's development or the uniqueness of his character. Such children can grow up and carry the disease into adulthood. The course of the disease can vary at different ages. However, the classic violation of social integration is observed almost constantly, without remission.
Severe forms of the disease, which are often manifested by the complete forced isolation of the baby from the outside world, are much easier to determine.
The behavior of a child with severe autism is manifested by a pronounced unwillingness to communicate with any people. Such kids are more likely to be alone. This brings them peace of mind and does not disturb their usual way of life.
Failure to provide therapeutic psychotherapy can lead to a deterioration in the condition and complete social maladjustment of the child.
Symptoms and first signs
The manifestations of the disease can be checked already in the first years of a child's life. With a careful and careful analysis of the behavior of the baby, even at a very young age, the first characteristic signs of autism syndrome can be identified. There are special psychological traits and characteristics for this disease.
The main characteristics of the disease can be divided into several main categories:
- Reluctance to create new social contacts.
- Disrupted interests or use of special games.
- Repetition of typical actions many times.
- Violation of speech behavior.
- Change in intelligence and different levels of mental development.
- Changing your own sense of personality.
- Violation of psychomotor functions.
The reluctance to create new social contacts manifests itself in babies from birth. At first, children are reluctant to respond to any touch from the closest people. Even a parent's hugs or kisses do not elicit positive emotions in children with autism. Such children from the outside seem overly calm and even "cold".
Kids practically do not respond to smiles and do not notice the "grimaces" that parents or close relatives make to them. They often fix their gaze on some object that is of strong interest to them.
Newborn babies with autism syndrome they can look at a toy for hours or stare at one point.
The kids practically do not experience expressed joy from new gifts. Children of the first year of life can be absolutely neutral towards any new toys. Most often, it is difficult to achieve even a smile from such babies in response to a gift. In the best case, the autistic kid will simply turn the toy in the hands for a few minutes and then postpone it indefinitely.
Children over one year old are very selective in the choice of people close to them. They usually choose no more than two people. This is due to the reluctance to create close contacts, as this leads to severe discomfort for the baby.
Usually they choose one of the parents as a "friend". It can be both dad and mom. In some cases, a grandmother or grandfather.
Autistic children practically do not contact their peers or toddlers of a different age. Any attempt to disrupt their own comfortable world can bring such children severe discomfort.
They try in every possible way to avoid any traumatic situation for their psyche. Autistic kids practically have no friends. They experience difficulties in acquiring new acquaintances throughout their lives.
The first serious problems in such babies appear at the age of 2-3 years. Usually at this time children are sent to kindergarten. As a rule, the disease is detected there, since it becomes simply impossible not to notice the characteristic manifestations of the disease.
When attending kindergarten, the behavior of autistic kids stands out sharply. They seem to be more withdrawn than other children, they can keep aloof, play for hours with the same toy, performing some kind of stereotypical repetitive movements.
Children with autism tend to have more alienated behaviors. Most toddlers ask practically nothing. If they need something, then they prefer to take it on their own without assistance.
Toddlers under three years old can be poor potty training.
If you ask a child to give you a toy or some object, then most often he will not give it to his hands, but simply throw it on the floor. This is a manifestation of impaired perception of any communication.
Autistic kids are not always completely passive in a new unfamiliar group. Often, when trying to introduce a sick child into a new society, he may experience vivid negative outbursts of anger or aggression towards others. This is a manifestation of a violation or invasion of the boundaries of one's own and such a cozy, and most importantly, safe inner world for kids with autism. The expansion of any contacts can lead to violent outbursts of aggression and a deterioration in mental well-being.
Disrupted interests or use of special games
Very often, kids with autism remain indifferent to any active recreational activities. They seem to be in their own inner world. The entrance to this private space is usually closed to other people. Any attempt to teach a child to play very often leads to a complete failure of this venture.
Kids with autism choose 1-2 favorite toys, with whom they spend a huge amount of time. Even with a large selection of different toys, they remain completely indifferent to them.
Close observation of the play of a child with autism will show a strict repetition of the sequence of actions that he performs. If a boy is playing with boats, then very often he lines up all the ships he has in one line. The child can sort them by size, color, or according to some special features for him. He performs such an action every time before the game.
Strict orderliness is often manifested in everything with autism. This is a manifestation of a comfortable world for them, in which all objects are in their place and the absence of chaos.
All new objects that appear in the life of an autistic child inflict severe mental trauma on him.Even the rearrangement of furniture or toys can cause a severe attack of aggression in the baby or, conversely, lead the child into a state of complete apathy. It is better that all objects stay in their places at all times. In this case, the baby will feel more comfortable and relaxed.
Girls with autism also experience a change in the form of play. Notice how the baby plays with her doll. During such a lesson, she will perform all movements and actions according to the established algorithm every day. For example, she will first comb her hair, then wash the doll, then change clothes. And never the other way around! Everything is in a strictly established sequence.
This consistency of actions in children with autism is due to the peculiarity of the impaired mental behavior, and not the character. If you try to clarify with the kid why he does the same actions every time, you will not get an answer. The child simply does not notice what actions he is performing. For the perception of his own psyche, this is absolutely normal.
Repetition of typical actions
The behavior of a toddler with autism is not always very different from the manner in which a healthy child communicates. Such children from the outside look absolutely normal, since the appearance of the babies practically does not change.
Kids with autism often do not lag behind in physical development and do not differ at all in appearance from their peers. However, a closer observation of the child's behavior can reveal some actions that differ from the usual behavior.
Often, kids with autism may repeat different words or combinations of several letters or syllables. Such disorders can occur in both boys and girls.
This symptom can manifest itself in different ways:
- Repetition of counting or sequential naming of numbers. Often, autistic toddlers count multiple times throughout the day. Such an activity gives the child comfort and even positive emotions.
- Repetition of words previously spoken by someone. For example, after the question "how old are you?", The kid can repeat several dozen times "I am 5 years old, 5 years old, 5 years old." Very often, these kids repeat one phrase or word at least 10-20 times.
In other cases, children with autism may perform the same activity over a long period of time. For example, they repeatedly turn off and on the light. Some toddlers often turn on or off water taps.
Another feature may be constant wringing of the fingers or the same type of movement of the legs and arms. Such typical actions, repeated many times, bring peace and tranquility to babies.
In more rare cases, babies can perform other similar actions, for example, sniff various objects. Many scientists attribute this to the fact that disturbances occur in those areas of the cerebral cortex that are active for the perception of odors. Smell, touch, sight, and taste are also areas of sensory perception in an autistic toddler that are often damaged and manifest.
Violations of speech behavior
Speech disorders are common in children with autism. The severity of the manifestations is different. With a milder form of the disease, as a rule, speech disorders are not significantly expressed. In a more severe course, there may be a complete delay in speech development and the acquisition of persistent defects.
The disease can manifest itself in different ways. Often, kids with autism start talking late. As a rule, after the child utters the first few words, he may be silent for a long time. The baby's lexicon consists of just a few words. He often repeats them many times throughout the day.
Toddlers with autism do not improve their vocabulary well. Even memorizing words, they try not to use a large number of different combinations in their speech.
A feature of speech behavior in a baby over two years old is the mention of objects in the third person. Most often, the child will call himself by name or will say, for example, "girl Olya". The pronoun "I" from a child with autism is almost never heard.
If you ask the kid if he wants to swim, the child can answer “he wants to swim” or call himself by the name “Kostya wants to swim”.
Too often, kids with autism do not answer direct questions that are directed to them. They may remain silent or avoid answering, shift the conversation to other topics, or simply ignore. This behavior is associated with painful perception of new contacts and attempts to invade personal space.
If the baby is pestered with questions or asked too many questions in a short time, then the child may react even very violently, showing aggression.
Older children often have a lot of interesting combinations and phrases in their speech. They perfectly remember various fairy tales and proverbs.
A kid with autism can easily recite an excerpt from Pushkin's poem by heart at the age of five or declare a complex poem.
These children often have a tendency to rhyme. At a younger age, babies have great pleasure in repeating various rhymes many times.
The combination of words can seem completely meaningless, and in some cases even delusional. However, for kids with autism, repeating these rhymes is fun and positive.
Change in intelligence and different levels of mental development
It has long been thought that children with autism are mentally retarded. But this is a huge mistake! A large number of autistic babies have the highest IQ levels.
With proper communication with a child, you can notice that he has a high level of intelligence. However, he will not show it to everyone.
The peculiarity of the mental development of an autistic is that it is very difficult for him to concentrate and be purposeful in achieving specific goals.
The memory of such babies has the property of selectivity. The child will not remember all events with the same ease, but only those that, according to his personal perception, will be closer to the inner world.
Some babies have defects in logical perception. They perform poorly on assignments for building an associative array.
The baby perceives ordinary abstract events well, can easily repeat a sequence or chain of events even after a long time. Long-term memory impairment is not observed in children with autism.
Toddlers with higher intelligence levels integrate very poorly in school. Often, such a child becomes an "outcast" or "black sheep".
The impaired ability to socialize contributes to the fact that autistic children are even more distant from the outside world. As a rule, such babies have a penchant for various sciences. They can become true geniuses if the right approach is applied to the child.
Different variants of the disease can proceed in different ways. In some cases, babies have a decrease in intellectual abilities. They study unsatisfactorily in school, do not answer teachers' questions, poorly solve difficult geometric tasks that require good spatial and logical abilities.
Very often these children need special training using special educational programs that are designed specifically for kids with autism.
It is important to note that any deterioration in the condition can occur suddenly in a child when exposed to any provoking cause. Often they can be severe stress or peer assaults.
Toddlers with autism endure such provoking events very hard. It can even lead to severe apathy or, conversely, cause violent aggression.
See the following video for teaching children with autism.
Change in sense of self
When all contact with other people is broken, autistic people often project any negative events onto themselves. This is called autoaggression. Such a manifestation of the disease in varying degrees of severity occurs quite often. Almost every third child with autism suffers from this adverse manifestation of the disease.
Psychotherapists believe that this negative symptom arises as a result of a disturbed perception of the boundaries of one's own inner world. Any threat to personal safety is perceived too sharply by a sick child. Babies can cause themselves various injuries: they bite themselves or even cut themselves on purpose.
Even in childhood, the child's feeling of limited space is disturbed. Such babies often fall out of the arena, swinging strongly beforehand. Some children may unhook themselves from the stroller and fall to the ground.
Usually, such a negative and painful experience will cause a healthy baby not to do such actions in the future. A kid with autism, even despite the resulting pain syndrome, will still repeat this action over and over again.
Rarely enough, the baby shows aggression towards others. In 99% of cases, the manifestation of such a reaction is self-defense. As a rule, kids are very sensitive to any attempts to invade their personal world.
Inappropriate actions in relation to a child with autism, or even a simple desire to make contact, can trigger an attack of aggression in the baby, which provokes inner fear.
Psychomotor disorders
Quite often, kids with autism have an altered gait. They try to walk on tiptoe. Some babies can jump up and down when they walk. This symptom occurs daily.
All attempts to make remarks to the baby that he walks incorrectly and needs to walk differently, do not cause him a response. The child remains faithful to his gait for a long time.
Kids with autism do not notice the changes that appear in his daily life. Older children try to choose routes familiar to him. A child with autism will almost always choose the same path to school without changing their own habits.
Toddlers often stay true to their taste preferences. Such children should not be taught to a certain regimen of meals. All the same, a child with autism will have his own idea and even a whole system in his head, what and when is best for him to eat.
It will be almost impossible to force a baby to eat an unfamiliar product. They stay true to their taste preferences throughout their lives.
Main characteristics by age
Up to a year
Kids with autism do not respond well to any attempts to address them, especially by name. For a long time, children do not babble and do not utter the first words.
The child's emotions are poor enough. Gesture is also significantly reduced. A kid with autism gives the impression of a very calm child who cries little and practically does not ask for hands. Any contacts with parents and even mom do not give the child strong positive emotions.
Newborn babies and babies practically do not express various emotions on their faces. Such children even seem to be somewhat renounced. Often on attempts to make the baby smile, he does not change in his face or perceives this attempt rather coldly. Such children love to consider various objects. Their gaze stops on some subject for a very long time.
Toddlers often try to choose one or a couple of toys with which they can spend most of the day. They absolutely do not need any outsiders for games. They feel great alone with themselves. At times, attempting to invade their game can trigger an attack of panic or aggression.
Children of the first year of life with autism practically do not call adults for help. If they need something, then they try to take this item on their own.
As a rule, there are no intellectual disabilities at this age. Most babies keep up with their peers in terms of physical or mental development.
Up to 3 years
By the age of 3 years, the symptoms of limiting their own space begin to manifest themselves to a greater extent.
While playing outside, kids categorically refuse to play in the same sandbox with other children. All objects and toys that belong to a child with autism belong only to him.
Toddlers refuse to share something and try to get away from any situations that provoke such situations.
Such children from the outside seem to be very closed and “on their own”. Most often, by the age of one and a half, they can only pronounce a few words. However, this is not the case for all babies. They often repeat various verbal combinations that do not carry a lot of meaning.
After the child has uttered the first word, he may suddenly become silent and practically not talk for quite a long time.
Kids with autism almost never answer the questions they are asked. Only with the people closest to them can they say a few words or answer in the third person to a question addressed to them.
Very often, such children try to avert their eyes and do not look at the interlocutor. Even if the child answers the question, he will never use the word "I". Kids with autism define themselves as "he" or "she". Many kids just call themselves by name.
Some babies are characterized by manifestations of stereotyped actions. They can swing violently in the chair. Parents' comments that it is wrong or ugly to do this does not cause any response in the child. This is not due to a desire to demonstrate their character, but simply to a violation of the perception of their own behavior. The kid really does not notice and does not see anything wrong in his action.
Some babies may have fine motor problems. When trying to take any small objects from the table or the floor, the child does it very awkwardly.
Often times, babies cannot clench their palms well. Such a violation of fine motor skills necessarily requires special classes that are aimed at improving this skill.
If the correction is not carried out in a timely manner, the child may experience writing disorders, as well as the appearance of gestures that are unusual for an ordinary baby.
Autistic kids love to play with faucets or switches. They also enjoy opening and closing doors. Any movement of the same type evokes great emotions in the child. He can perform such actions as long as he wants, until his parents intervene. When performing these movements, the baby absolutely does not notice that he performs them repeatedly.
Autistic kids eat only those foods that they like, play on their own and hardly get to know other children. Many people around them mistakenly consider such babies too spoiled. This is a huge misconception!
A child with autism, under the age of three, absolutely does not see any differences in his behavior relative to the behavior of others. He just tries to limit the boundaries of his inner world from any outside interference.
It used to be thought that children with autism have certain facial features. Such features were often called aristocratic forms. It was believed that autists have a thinner and elongated nose. However, this is not at all the case.
To date, the relationship between the structural features of the face and the presence of autism in a child has not been reliably established. Such judgments are just speculation and do not know how to provide scientific evidence.
3 to 6 years old
At this age, there is a peak in the incidence of autism. Children begin to be taken to kindergarten, where violations in social adaptation become noticeable.
Toddlers with autism perceive morning trips to preschool without expressed delight. They would rather stay at home than leave their usual safe home.
A kid with autism hardly ever meets new friends. At best, he has one new acquaintance who becomes his best friend.
A sick child will never accept a large number of people into his inner world. Very often, such children try to close themselves even more, to get away from a traumatic situation.
The child tries to come up with some kind of magic story or fairy tale explaining why he should go to this kindergarten. Then he becomes the protagonist of this action. However, going to kindergarten does not give the kid any pleasure. He gets along poorly with peers and practically disobeys teachers.
All things in the baby's personal locker are usually folded by him strictly in order. This becomes clearly visible from the outside. Such children cannot stand any chaos and scattered things. Any violation of the ordering of the structure can cause them an attack of apathy, and in some cases - aggressive behavior.
Trying to force a child to meet new babies in a group can be extremely stressful.
Children with autism should not be scolded for doing the same type of activity over a long period of time. You just need to choose a "key" for such a child.
Often, kindergarten teachers simply cannot cope with a “special” baby. Teachers perceive many features of disturbed behavior as excessive spoilage and character traits. In these cases, the obligatory work of a medical psychologist is required, who will work daily with the child in a preschool institution.
Over 6 years old
Children with autism in Russia attend regular schools. There are no specialized educational programs for such children in our country. Children with autism usually do well at school. They tend to be inclined towards different disciplines. Many guys even show the highest level of proficiency in the subject.
These kids often focus on one subject. In other disciplines that do not find a response in the inner world of the child, they can have very mediocre academic performance.
Kids with autism concentrate quite poorly, and also have insufficient concentration of attention on several objects at once.
Often in such children, if the disease was detected at an early stage and there were no severe defects on the part of fine motor skills, genius abilities for music or creativity are found.
Toddlers can play a variety of musical instruments for hours. Some children even compose various works on their own.
Children, as a rule, try to lead a rather closed life. They have few friends. They practically do not attend various entertainment events, which can be attended by a huge number of people. Finding a home is more comfortable for them.
Very often, babies have a commitment to certain foods. In most cases, it occurs in early childhood. Kids with autism eat at a strictly allotted time according to their own schedule. All meals are accompanied by a specific ritual.
They often eat only from their usual plates, try to avoid dishes of new colors. All cutlery is usually laid out by the child on the table in a strictly defined sequence.
Toddlers with autism can graduate very successfully from school, showing excellent knowledge in any one discipline.
Only in 30% of cases, babies suffering from this disease lag behind the school curriculum and have poor academic performance. As a rule, in such children, the diagnosis of autism was made quite late or a good rehabilitation program was not carried out to reduce the adverse symptoms of the disease and improve social adaptation.
Problems
Very often, children with autism have not only behavioral disorders, but also various pathological manifestations from the internal organs.
Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract
They manifest themselves in the form of possible diarrhea or constipation, which practically do not depend on the food that the child receives. Children with autism have special taste preferences. A gluten-free diet is effectively used to normalize adverse manifestations and stool disorders. This diet, which is limited in the amount of gluten, promotes well-coordinated work of the gastrointestinal tract and reduces the negative symptoms of indigestion.
You can learn more about the diet for autism by watching the following video.
Sleep disturbances
Babies have almost the same activity day and night. Such children are very difficult to put to bed. Even if they fall asleep, they can sleep for only a few hours. Very often babies wake up very early in the morning. During the daytime, they may refuse to sleep. In a number of cases, when exposed to strong psycho-traumatic situations, insomnia may increase or nightmares may appear, which further contribute to a violation of the general well-being of the child.
When is a psychiatrist consultation needed?
You should seek the help of a doctor immediately if the parents suspect the first signs of the disease in their baby. Only a psychiatrist will be able to accurately diagnose and recommend the necessary therapeutic treatment.
As a general rule, all children diagnosed with autism should see a doctor periodically. You shouldn't be afraid of this doctor! This does not mean at all that the child has severe mental disorders. Such observation is important primarily for the prevention of the development of unwanted distant symptoms of the disease.
In our country, children diagnosed with autism practically do not undergo any specialized rehabilitation programs. European specialists and doctors from the United States use a whole range of different psychotherapeutic techniques that can significantly improve the quality of life of a child with autism.
Medical psychologists, professional physical therapy instructors, defectologists and speech therapists work with babies from an early age. Throughout his life, such a patient must be observed by a psychiatrist.
At what age is the disease most often diagnosed?
According to statistics, the largest number of cases of newly registered disease occurs at the age of 3-4 years. It is at this time that the symptoms of social maladjustment of the baby begin to manifest themselves clearly.
There is scientific speculation that it will be much easier to identify cases of autism in children at an earlier age with the development of better diagnostic criteria.
Determining the first manifestations of the disease in newborns is a very difficult task even for an experienced pediatrician. To conduct a full examination and establish a diagnosis, it is required to organize a full-fledged medical examination, which usually involves at least 5-6 different specialists with the skills and knowledge in the treatment of autism in babies.
Diagnostics
It is difficult to diagnose the disease. In Russia, the diagnosis "autism" will most often be exposed upon detection of the following psychological disorders:
- social maladjustment of the child in the environment;
- pronounced difficulties in establishing new communications and contacts with other people;
- repetition of typical actions or words over a long period of time.
If the course of the disease proceeds in a typical or classic version, then the above symptoms occur in 100% of cases. Such babies require a mandatory consultation with a psychiatrist, and, if necessary, a detailed consultation with the involvement of specialists in related specialties who work with autistic children.
During a more detailed examination, doctors try to determine the presence or absence of not only the main signs, but also additional ones. To do this, they use several classifications of diseases.
For autism, the following are used:
- ICD-X is the main working document for Russian specialists.
- The DSM-5, or Diagnostic Statistical Manual of mental disorders, is used by psychiatrists around the world, including in Europe and the United States.
According to these medical guides, a child with autism should have at least six of the symptoms presented. To determine them, doctors resort to various questionnaires, according to which they assess the condition of the baby in a playful way. Such a study is carried out in the most gentle way so as not to injure the disturbed child's psyche.
An interview with parents is also required. This study helps to clarify the presence and nature of child behavior disorders that cause them anxiety.
Several psychiatrists, as well as a medical psychologist, conduct interviews with parents. Such diagnostic methods are mainly used only in Europe and the United States. In Russia, unfortunately, the diagnosis of autism is in an extremely deplorable state.
Babies with this disease remain unexamined for a long time.
Over time, their negative manifestations of social maladjustment intensify, apathy and the inability to establish contacts with people around them may grow. In our country, working diagnostic criteria have not yet been developed, by which such a diagnosis would be easily established. In this regard, there are few cases of establishing a correct and timely diagnosis.
Is it possible to test at home?
It is almost impossible to conduct a full examination of the house. During such testing, you can get only a rough answer. The diagnosis of autism can only be made by a psychiatrist. To do this, he uses several different tests that are used to diagnose the disease, as well as various other techniques to clarify the degree and level of damage.
When testing at home, parents can often get false results. Very often, the information system automatically analyzes the responses without applying a differentiated attitude to a particular child.
To make a diagnosis, a multi-stage medical examination is required for the presence of autism in the baby.
How to treat?
Currently, no specific treatment for autism has been developed. Unfortunately, there is no special pill or magic vaccine that would reliably protect the baby from the possible development of the disease. A single cause of the disease has not been established.
Lack of understanding about the primary source of the disease does not allow scientists to create a unique medicine that would completely cure kids with autism.
Treatment of this mental illness is carried out in a complex, taking into account the symptoms that have arisen. Such psychotropic drugs are prescribed only by a psychiatrist. They are written out on special prescription forms and are issued under strict account in pharmacies. The appointment of such drugs is made in courses or for the entire period of deterioration of the condition.
All treatment methods can be divided into several groups:
- Medical treatment. In this case, various medications are prescribed to eliminate the adverse symptoms that occur in different stages of the disease. Such drugs are prescribed by a doctor only after examining the baby and possible additional examinations.
- Psychological consultations. A child medical psychologist must work with a child with autism. Using various psychological techniques, the specialist will help the baby cope with the emerging outbursts of anger and auto-aggression, as well as improve the inner feeling when integrating into a new team.
- Fortifying wellness procedures. Children with autism are not at all contraindicated in sports. However, they should be engaged in special groups with professional instructors or trainers who are trained in the elements of working with “special” children. Such children can show excellent results and achieve good sports achievements. Success is only possible with the correct pedagogical approach.
- Speech therapy classes. With a baby under 3 years old, a speech therapist must necessarily conduct classes. In such lessons, children learn to speak correctly, refuse to use multiple repetitions of words. Speech therapy classes allow you to improve the baby's vocabulary, add even more words to his vocabulary. Such educational games help children to better adapt to new teams and improve their social adaptation.
Drug treatment
Prescribing various medications on an ongoing basis for children with autism is not required. Such drugs are used only to eliminate the negative manifestations of the disease. In this case, untimely treatment can lead to the development of various adverse consequences and even worsen the baby's condition.
The most commonly prescribed medications for babies with autism are:
Psychotropic drugs and neuroleptics
They are used to treat attacks of aggressive behavior. They can be prescribed for a course appointment or once to eliminate a violent outbreak of auto-aggression. Psychiatrists choose various drugs that can eliminate the negative symptoms of the disease. For example, antipsychotic drugs "Rispolept" and "Seroquel" can cope with acute attacks of strong aggression and calm the baby.
It is important to note that the appointment of antipsychotic drugs on an ongoing basis is carried out only in severe disease. In this case, the severity of symptoms is excessively high.
Long-term use of any antipsychotic medication can cause addiction and various side effects. In order to prevent this, doctors resort to prescribing a course application.
To eliminate anxiety attacks or improve mood, the doctor may prescribe special drugs that affect the level of endorphins. These drugs also have a number of contraindications. They are applied only in the case when various psychological methods of behavior correction were carried out, but they were not successful and did not lead to an improvement in the child's well-being.
Probiotics for the treatment of dysbiosis
In babies with autism, in 90% of cases, doctors register persistent irritable bowel syndrome or dysbiosis. In this case, the microflora in the gastrointestinal tract is disturbed. There are practically no useful lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in it, but microorganisms of the pathogenic flora reproduce well. Very often, such children also have an increased growth of yeast.
To eliminate these adverse symptoms, doctors resort to prescribing various drugs enriched with lacto- and bifidobacteria. Babies are prescribed: "Bifidobacterin", "Acipol", "Linex", "Enterol" and many others. The appointment of these funds is carried out after an additional study - bacterial culture of feces and a test for dysbiosis. The drugs are prescribed for a course appointment. Usually it is designed for 1-3 months of daily use.
In the diet of a child with dysbiosis, in addition to medicines, it is imperative to include fresh fermented milk products with a high content of microorganisms beneficial to the intestines.
You can also make them at home. In this case, the useful properties of the product are not lost, and it can be safely given to the baby.
The effect of the use of fermented milk products occurs, as a rule, by the end of the first week.
Vitamin therapy
Children with autism have a pronounced and almost constant deficiency of a number of vitamins: B1, B6, B12, PP. To eliminate this condition, the appointment of a complex of biologically active substances is required. Such vitamin and mineral preparations can eliminate the deficiency of any vitamins, as well as normalize the microelement composition inside the body.
Because toddlers with autism are very addicted to a particular diet, their diet is often very monotonous. This leads to insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals from outside.
In order to improve this condition, a daily addition of various vegetables and fruits to the diet is required, especially in the summer. These products contain a high content of various vitamins and trace elements, which is vital for the baby.
Sedatives
They are used to eliminate anxiety. Very often, when exposed to a strong psychotraumatic situation, a sick child may experience a strong panic state. In this case, psychiatrists prescribe psychotropic drugs that can effectively eliminate this manifestation. The course appointment of such drugs is not required. Only a single dose is enough.
It is very common for babies with autism to sleep poorly. It is difficult for them to fall asleep. Sleep duration can be no more than 6-7 hours a day.
This is not enough for a small child. To improve nighttime sleep as well as normalize circadian rhythm, doctors recommend using mild medications that calm the nervous system and help you fall asleep faster.
It is safe for toddlers to use a variety of sedative herbs. Such natural medicines practically do not cause side effects and do not have numerous contraindications. To normalize sleep, decoctions of lemon balm or mint are used. You can give these herbs to your baby in the form of tea. It is better to drink such a sedative medicine no later than 2-3 hours before bedtime.
The appointment of sedative drugs is allowed only for severe sleep disorders. Usually, these drugs are prescribed for a long time. It is not advisable to use these drugs in milder forms of the disease, since they can have a pronounced tranquilizing effect or be addictive. The prescription of drugs is done by a psychotherapist after a preliminary examination.
Psychologist help
The use of various psychological techniques is an important element of therapy for children with autism.... American experts who conduct daily classes with sick babies recommend that such classes be held at least 2-3 times a week.
It is better that a psychologist also has a medical education. In this case, it can quickly navigate him when a deterioration occurs and send the baby for consultation to a psychiatrist.
The psychologist does not prescribe drugs. He treats only with words. Usually, for toddlers with autism, the first appointment with a specialist is very important. It is at this time that one can understand whether such classes will be successful and whether the child will find a common language with the psychologist.
In order to penetrate into the inner world of a child with autism, a psychologist must very delicately make friends with him. Only in this case the baby will make contact.
Often, treatment may not bring a pronounced positive effect in the absence of primary contact between an autistic child and a psychologist.
All classes are held in a specially equipped room. Often, for work with children with autism, all lessons are held in only one room. This contributes to a more relaxed and comfortable environment for the child.
Psychologists try not to move or rearrange toys for no reason, as this can bring severe mental discomfort to the baby.
Usually, playful forms of conducting classes are chosen. During such games, children are as "open" as possible and can demonstrate real emotions. The duration of each lesson is usually no more than an hour.
With longer communication, the baby may become very tired and unwilling to contact a specialist.
Working with toddlers with autism is usually carried out throughout the child's life. In this case, only the types and forms of psychological techniques change.
Very often, psychologists become real family members or very close friends. In America, several cases of family visits to psychologists have been reported. In this case, not only the child suffered from autism, but also one of the parents.
It is important to note that family activities also have a good therapeutic effect.
Classes with a psychologist with kids up to 3-5 years old are often held together with one of the parents. Usually, the parent is chosen with whom the baby has a closer relationship. The psychologist in a playful way creates various everyday situations that can occur in everyday life. During such a game, he teaches the kid how to properly respond to new people. Children learn to communicate better with other toddlers, and also acquire new useful skills that can be useful to them every day.
Classes
To improve the integration of a child with autism into society, it is necessary to carry out additional activities that will help him in this. Typically, such a complex of various activities is compiled in conjunction with a child psychologist or on the recommendation of a psychiatrist.
Usually, before choosing any hobby that will be interesting to the baby, a good analysis of his abilities and a qualitative assessment of the level of health and physical development are required. Not all toddlers with autism will complete the same tasks with the same interest. The correct choice of activities greatly improves the prognosis of treatment and has a beneficial effect on the mental and mental development of the baby.
Typically, children with autism are recommended various remedial activities that can improve the child's social integration in society. Sports are recommended for babies. However, not all sports workouts can be selected. For kids with autism, calm sports are more suitable: learning to swim, playing chess or checkers, golf. It is worth choosing those sports where you need to focus on one particular subject.
Sports that require high speed or a high risk of injury are best left. Kids with autism should avoid running, jumping, boxing, and various power wrestling.
Team games will not work either. It is better to give preference to quieter sports that will help improve the health of the baby and have a positive effect on his nervous system.
Kids with autism are very fond of various animals. In such children, doctors often note even a certain "cult" of animals. An autistic toddler may have a whole collection of kitties or dogs. Direct contact with and touching pets can create strong positive emotions in the baby and even improve the prognosis of treatment.
It can be beneficial for children with autism to spend time with a variety of animals. Doctors recommend hippotherapy or dolphin therapy sessions. Such contact with animals will bring great joy to the baby and will have a positive impact on his development.
When a baby touches any living creature, special endorphin molecules begin to be produced in the cerebral cortex, which cause a sea of positive emotions in him.
Whenever possible, these activities with animals should be done as often as possible. It is better for the child to have the opportunity to constantly observe living things and communicate with them. While communicating with a dog or a cat, the baby learns to contact with the environment. This has a positive effect on his ability to make new contacts and improves social adaptation in society.
What toys should I buy?
Often, parents are puzzled over what gift to give their child, who is diagnosed with autism by doctors. It seems that every new toy practically does not bring any joy to the child. However, this is not quite true. Every child with autism has his or her own personal attachment to a particular type of toy.
Often, boys choose different planes or ships, and girls choose different animals or dolls. It is important to note that autistic toddlers can be delighted with donated animals. The main thing is to determine which particular animal your child likes. Usually this does not pose any difficulty: an autistic kid will never let go of the toy he likes in the form of an animal.
If a once donated plush dog is the child's favorite, then any other dogs will also cause a stormy delight.
Babies diagnosed with autism are not at all inclined to hoarding. They only need 2-3 different toys for a state of comfort and happiness. A huge number of different gifts can even scare them!
Children under three years old should choose toys that improve the fine motor skills of their fingers. Typically, kids with autism perform poorly on any drawing or sculpting task.
You can try to get the kid interested in collecting various puzzles, consisting of large and bright parts. Constructors are perfect, from the elements of which you can build numerous combinations of shapes.
For babies aged 1.5-2 years, rugs are perfect, which consist of several large parts. The upper surface of such products has slight elevations or irregularities. This is necessary so that the legs are massaged while walking. This effect has a beneficial effect on the entire musculoskeletal system of the child. Choose a rug should be more neutral colors, avoiding overly bright colors.
For older children and especially those prone to aggression, you can choose a spinner. This trendy toy normalizes the nervous system and even allows you to fight the effects of stress. Toddlers often like to spin a spinner, as any repeated actions bring them peace of mind and even positive emotions.
In adolescence, it is better not to buy computer games for your child. Most of these toys can cause a spontaneous attack of aggression in a baby or, on the contrary, increase an apathetic state.
Very often, children with autism love to play computer games, as this does not require any real contact with the outside world. However, the consequences can be very negative.
Can autistic people have healthy children in the future?
Scientists note a pronounced genetic pattern in the possibility of inheriting the disease. There are also theories about the presence of special genes that are responsible for the development of the disease in babies in whose families cases of autism have previously been identified.
Autistic people can have healthy children. Gene inheritance occurs at the stage of intrauterine development. If the baby was born in a family where only one of the parents has autism, then he may well be healthy.
If both parents have autism, the chance of having a sick child is 25%, and the chance of having a child with this gene is 50%. This disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.
If in such families more than one baby is born, then the risk of having sick babies may increase. It also increases when exposed to various provoking factors on the unborn child during intrauterine development in the body of a pregnant mother.
To determine latent autism in newborns, the heel method is used. It suggests the presence of this mental illness in the baby. It is usually carried out with autistic parents or in cases where there is a suspicion of the possibility of developing the disease in a born child.
Is the child given a disability?
In Russia, the diagnosis of "autism" involves the establishment of a disability group. However, it is not shown to all kids. In our country, special medical and social criteria are used that take into account various factors.
The decision to establish a group is made strictly collegially. Specialists of several specialties are involved in this: psychiatrist, psychologist, rehabilitologist.
In order for a child to be diagnosed with a disability group, it is required to provide all the necessary medical documentation to the medical and social examination authorities. In the child's card of the baby, the conclusions of the psychiatrist and child psychologist who supervised him must be present. In this case, medical experts can have a more informative picture of the age of the disease.
Before undergoing a medical and social examination, the baby is often assigned additional tests and examinations. This can be both various laboratory tests and specialized studies of the brain, which make it possible to clarify the nature and degree of disorders. Usually, in our country, an EEG or an electroencephalography of the brain is prescribed.
Using this method, it is possible to establish various disturbances in the conduction of nerve impulses in the cerebral cortex. The method is quite informative and is quite often used in children's psychiatric and neurological practice.
The test results allow doctors to determine the nature and extent of the disorders resulting from the disease.
Not all forms of autism can be assigned a disability group. As a rule, it is determined in the presence of persistent disorders of nervous activity, which lead to a pronounced maladjustment of the baby.
The level of mental development and intelligence also significantly affect the prognosis of the course of the disease and the establishment of the group.
Disability is often established after three years. Cases of establishing a group at an earlier age in Russia practically do not occur and are episodic in nature.
Autism is a disease that in most cases occurs without persistent periods of remission. This leads to the fact that the disability group is usually established for life.
Children with mental disabilities must undergo a whole range of rehabilitation measures. Speech therapists, psychologists, rehabilitation doctors are engaged with such babies. The rehabilitation course is usually designed for a fairly long period, since the treatment of the disease is carried out throughout the life of a person with autism.
Parents who have faced the establishment of a disability group for their baby often note some difficulties in carrying out a medical and social examination. Most often they note: a huge amount of pre-prepared medical documentation and long queues for examination. The disability group was not always established during the initial visit. Often, it was only on the second or third attempt that medical experts made a positive decision about the presence of disabling signs in a child.
Establishing a group is a complex and often controversial task. However, for toddlers with autism, this step is often forced, but really necessary. To conduct full-fledged classes with a child, rather large financial costs are required: training with a psychologist, consultations with a speech therapist, hippotherapy courses, the use of special psychotropic drugs. All this without a disability group becomes very difficult and financially burdensome for many families.
Tips
For parents raising autistic kids, the main thing is to understand that this disease will remain with the baby for life. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for autism.
Autistic kids, with the right approach, develop well and from the outside do not even differ at all from their peers. Only a few strangers can notice that the baby is slightly different from others. However, they often think that such a child is simply too spoiled or has a bad temper.
In order to improve the quality of life of the baby and help him in social adaptation, use the following tips:
- Try to communicate correctly with your child. Autistic kids categorically do not perceive heightened tone or swearing. It is better to communicate with such children in the same calm tone, without the use of curses. If the kid did something wrong, try not to overreact and aggressively, but simply explain to the child how to do this action correctly. It can also be shown as a kind of game.
- Both parents should be involved in raising a child. Even despite the fact that, as a rule, the baby chooses to communicate with dad or mom, both of them should participate in his life. In this case, the child feels more comfortable and gets the correct idea about the organization of the family. In the future, when creating his own life, he will largely be guided by the principles laid down in childhood.
- Potty training can be tricky for kids with autism. Usually child psychologists help with this. In a playful way, they create a similar everyday situation and work out the correct sequence of actions with the baby. For self-study at home, remember to potty train your child gradually and consistently. Never raise your voice or punish your baby if he does something wrong. In the case of a child with autism, this measure will not lead to a positive result.
- You can only teach a kid with autism to read through daily activities. Try to choose educational books without overly bright pictures. A huge variety of colors can alert and even frighten a child. Choose editions without colorful pictures. Learning is best done in a playful way. So the baby will perceive this process as a normal game.
- During a severe tantrum, the baby must be gently reassured. It will be better to do this by the family member with whom the child has closer contact. If the child is overly aggressive, then try to quickly take him to the nursery. A familiar environment will help your baby to calm down easier. Never raise your voice at a child trying to shout to him! This will not lead to anything good. Explain to your baby that he has nothing to fear, and you are there. Try to shift your focus to another event or subject.
- Make sure to connect with your autistic child. The child communicates calmly only with the people closest to him. To do this, never ask your baby a million questions. Hugging too often will also not lead to contact. Try to spend more time with your baby just by watching them play. After a while, the child will perceive you as part of his game, and it will be easier to make contact.
- Teach your child to have the correct daily routine. Typically, autistic toddlers have a well-organized routine. This gives them a feeling of complete comfort and security. Try to get your child to fall asleep and wake up at the same time. Be sure to follow the feeding schedule. Even on weekends, keep your baby's usual routine.
- Be sure to undergo regular examination and observation by a child psychotherapist and psychologist. Such consultations are very important for assessing the prognosis of the disease and establishing the dynamics of the child's condition. Typically, young patients with autism should see a therapist at least twice a year. If you feel worse, more often.
- Provide proper nutrition for your baby. Taking into account the peculiarities of the disturbed microflora, all kids with autism need to eat fermented milk products. They must be as fresh as possible. It is in this case that the concentration of beneficial lactobacilli and bifidobacteria will be sufficient. Only such products will be useful for the child and improve his digestion.
- From the very first days of your child's birth, try to show him care and affection more often. Kids with autism respond very poorly to various bodily manifestations of love and affection. However, this does not mean at all that it is not necessary to do this. Doctors advise hugging and kissing the child more often. This should be done without causing him mental pressure. If the baby is not in the mood, it is best to postpone the hug for a while.
- Give your baby a new friend. Most autistic children are very fond of pets. Communication with fluffy animals brings the baby not only positive emotions and has a beneficial effect on the course of his illness, but also has a real healing effect on tactile sensitivity. A cat or dog will become real friends for the baby and help him to make contacts easier not only with animals, but also with new people.
- Don't scold your child! Any increase in voice is perceived by a child with autism very painfully. The reaction can be the most unpredictable. Some babies become very apathetic and become more indifferent to everything that happens in everyday life. In other children, an overly violent attack of aggression may occur, which may even require the use of medication.
- Try to choose an interesting hobby for your baby. Very often children with autism draw beautifully or play musical instruments. Studying at a specialized art school will help your child achieve high professional success. Often these kids become real geniuses. Be sure to monitor the load that falls on the baby. Overdoing it can lead to severe fatigue and impaired attention.
- Do not move furniture in the children's room and throughout the apartment. Try to keep all toys and items that belong to the child remain in place. Strong permutations can cause an autistic toddler to experience true panic attacks and excessive aggression. Be careful when purchasing new items, without drawing too much attention to it.
- Don't limit your child to just being at home! Kids with autism don't have to be surrounded by four walls all the time. This will only exacerbate the inability to make new friends and acquaintances. Gradually expand the conditions where the baby spends a lot of time. Try to motivate him for a walk, visit close relatives. However, this should be done gradually, without psychological pressure. The baby should be very comfortable in the new environment.
Autism is not a sentence. This is just a disease that requires increased and special attention to the baby who is sick with this mental illness.
The correct approach to organizing life and establishing personal contact helps these children feel more secure and improves the prognosis of the course and development of the disease.
Moms and dads should remember that a baby diagnosed with autism needs your attention and care every day throughout its life. Such children are often called "special", as with them you need to build a unique approach.
Kids with autism, with good rehabilitation, integrate quite well in society and are quite successful in later life.
Yana Summ (ex-wife of Konstantin Meladze) in the next video on my own experience talks about what to look for in order to suspect autism in a child.
You will learn a lot of nuances about autism by watching the programs of Dr. Komarovsky and Living Healthy.
When preparing the article, materials from the site "autism-test.rf" were used.
