About Autism

About Autism

Our Understanding About Autism

Year Technology Development Rate of Autism
1970 1 in 10,000 children
1971 Colour TV common in USA 1 in 5000 children
1985 1 in 2500 children
1995 1 in 500 children
1992 Cable tv is common in USA 1 in 500 children
2001 Computer and Internet common among public 1 in 250 children
2004 1 in 160 children
2005 Mobile phones common among public 1 in 160 children
2007 Face book common among public 1 in 150 children
2009 1 in 110 children
2012 Mobile internet 1 in 80children
2016 Unlimited internet 1 in 64 children
2018 1 in 44 children
2020 lock down complete online and no play schools 1 in 25 children

When we look at these numbers we were able to doubt, why there is a sharp increase in number of cases after 1980 and also we evident that booming of communication technology developed during this period.

This technology development helped people to communicate with people at longer distance but they stopped people to communicate with the families.

Causes what we suspect:

Migration:

Due to technology development people getting job in major cities and foreign countries. Where the local language is different of mother tongue. In this scenario the child from migrated families are not get adequate speech stimulation, which leads to speech delay in most of the children from migrated families.

Nuclear Family:

Due to job and urbanisation most of the joint families split and formed nuclear family. In nuclear families, mostly the father and mother are busy at their work and amount of time spent with the child is also less and number of family members are very less to give adequate speech stimulation for the child.

Excessive TV or mobile usage:

When there is less number of family members at home mostly the family members engages in excessive usage of TV or mobile for entertainment or child will be left alone in front of TV or smart phone to avoid disturbance in work.

Moreover if we introduce TV or smartphones to children below 2 years they stop listening to sounds and communication around them. They can hear the sound but not able to understand the meaning of the sound.

This is the first error happens in children with autism.

Symptoms:

  • Poor eye contact.
  • Poor response to name call.
  • Does not follow commands.
  • Likes only TV advertisement.
  • Delayed speech.
  • Unusual interest, like lining up toys, blocks.
  • Doesn't express his/her emotions or understand it.
  • Dislikes change in routines. Causes tantrum if routine changed.
  • Hand flapping
  • Toe walking
  • Rocking of body and head
  • Spinning wheels or objects
  • Hyperactive and inattention
  • Behaviour problems like self-biting, head banging, temper tantrums etc.
  • Tactile defensiveness or seeking tactile pleasure by touching smooth surfaces.
  • Closing ears for loud noises or seeking noises.

Here we give few important developmental milestones and warning signs, which helps to identify autism at very early stage.

AT 2 MONTHS:

Normal

  • Turns head towards sound.
  • Begins to smile at people.

Warning signs

  • Does not responds to sound.
  • Does not smile at people.

AT 4 MONTHS:

Normal

  • Follows moving things with eye from side to side
  • Recognize familiar people

Warning signs

  • Does not follow moving things
  • Does not recognize familiar people.
  • Stares at one place for longer period of time.

AT 6 MONTHS:

Normal

  • Respond to own name
  • Likes to play with parents
  • Makes sound to express joy and displeasure

Warning signs:

  • Does not respond to name call.
  • Shows no affection for parents
  • Does not respond to sound around them.

AT 9 MONTHS:

  • Afraid of strangers
  • Understand “NO”
  • Imitates sound and gestures

Warning signs:

  • Does not afraid of strangers
  • Does not understand “NO”
  • Does not imitates sound and gestures

AT 1 YEAR:

  • Cries when parents leaves
  • Ask for needs by pointing finger
  • Respond to simple command
  • Says single word like mama, dada
  • Uses simple gestures.

Warning signs:

  • Does not cry when parents leaves
  • Does express needs by pointing finger.
  • Does not respond to simple command
  • Does not utter a word.
  • Does not use simple gestures

AT 18 MONTHS:

Normal

  • Says many single word.
  • Simple pretend like feeding a doll.
  • Follow 1 step command
  • Point to body parts at least one

Warning signs:

  • Regression Of Speech. (Red Flag Sign Of Autism)
  • Does not follow commands.
  • Does not speak at least 6 words.

AT 2 YEARS:

  • Points to picture or object when they are named.
  • Say 2 word sentence.
  • Knows names of familiar people and body parts
  • Does not point to the object if named.
  • Answer simple question.

Warning signs:

  • Does not say 2 word sentence.
  • Does not knows the names of familiar objects.
  • Regression of learned skill.

Our Intervention Targets To Improve:

  • Social interaction skills: Helps to understand other people feelings and respond to them.
  • Communication and language skills : Helps to start and maintain conversations
  • Cognitive skills :Thinking skills(imaginative play)
  • Academic skills: Helps to develop reading, writing, drawing and Math.
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”Autism is like a wet concrete, seek intervention before it dries”

Earlier the intervention, cure is sure.

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