Autism – An Overview and How to Fight the Issue

Autism is kind of disorder of brain that often results in impaired thought process, acute discrepancy in expressing feelings, and social functioning. Autism affects a person’s aptitude to communicate, forming relationship with friends and family members, and learning responding to outer world. This brain disorder becomes apparent in children by the age of 3-5. This problem, in some instances, is called classical autism and it occurs due to developmental disorder, which is termed as autism spectrum disorders. Some other autism spectrum disorders include Rett Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, Childhood dis-integrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder [PDD-NOS] etc.

Extensive research and study has revealed the factor that autism is more evident in male children than in baby girls. And world estimation shows that 3-6 children out of 1,000 children suffer from this brain disorder. Although baby girls are less vulnerable to this brain disorder, those who are affected by autism, show severe symptoms and suffer from severe cognitive impairment.

Autistic children, in general, show some typical behavioral traits. These behavioral traits shows difficulty in social communication, display acute discrepancy with verbal and non-verbal communication, and display exhibit repetitive behaviors, obsessive interests, and narrow aptitude, etc.

Some children with autistic trait can function at higher degree of efficiency keeping their speech and intelligence level almost at perfect developing condition. However, there are several instances where the autistic children display severe cognitive disability, acute delay in language skill adaptation, and in some instances, some children show their complete inability to speak. There are some more behavioral traits observed with the victims of autism. These children nurture a tendency to be closed off or centering round some behavioral pattern in completely repetitive manners and display very rigid likes, dislikes, and thought process. As an immediate result of autism, the affected child will show his/her reluctance to make eye contact, seems to be deaf, and shows least interest to develop his language learning skill.

An autistic child will always be self-centered, most reluctant about outside world and happenings around him, but suddenly can be hyper and pro-active and may show his/ her tendency to hurt other people with any stimulation. The babies affected by autism will show some initial symptoms like constantly flapping their hands, indifferent for wounds like bruises and burns, fixated on a single activity without any interruption, and they can injure themselves without any particular intention.

The fundamental reason behind this problem is not medically clear yet; however, researchers and scientists have come to a conclusion that genetics as well as environment play pivotal role behind the autistic attack for the affected children.

Although autism is an irrevocable disorder and there is no definite curative method is discovered till date which can eliminate the problem from its roots. However, this is not the ultimate conclusion to fight this deadly brain disorder, some therapies and cognitive interventions have been proved especially useful in controlling this behavioral syndrome bringing substantial improvement for affected children. However, the result of these therapies and intervention varies from one child to another depending on the autism level and the ability of the child to cope with the intervention process. So there is treatment option to fight autistic attacks.

The latest concept of autistic treatment involves therapies and behavioral interventions depending process, the level of which largely depends on the level of behavioral discrepancy or coordinating ability of the affected child. In general the core discrepancies of the autistic children are impaired social interaction, acute problem of verbal and non-verbal communication ability, and stringent obsession for some particular objects or person and repetition of particular action and fixations of routines and certain processes. Although the initial traits of this disorder get evident by the age of 3 in an autistic child and in this level it is quite difficult to recognize these behavioral discrepancies, somehow as per the professional who deals with autistic children considers that early intervention is the best way to fight this problem.

For a group of autistic children the condition gets improved with their ascending age. Some children suffering from nominal rate of autistic attack may overcome the problems gradually and can lead a comparatively normal life. However, the autistic children having discrepancy in speaking may start suffering from the problem of epilepsy or seizure like brain dysfunction in their later stage; they need regular medication for pacification of their nerves.

Adolescence period creates turmoil for general autistic children. Some of the autistic children may display severe range of depression or some social behavioral problems during this time. In these instances, it is the duty of the concerned parents to keep a watch on the behavioral trait of their children and take the help of cognitive therapy like counseling etc. for helping their ward for social adjustment. However, the method of intervention will surely vary from one child to another; therefore the professional help of an autism specialist should be taken to fight the situation.

As per the statistics of autistic attack is concerned, latest survey reveals that only in United States, 400,000 individuals are suffering from life time brain disorder. Autism is one of the common developmental disabilities discovered till date and there is no discrimination for the victims of autistic attacks-even socioeconomic background also proves irrelevant for the infliction of this severe disorder in a child. Some specialists have expressed their view that a child may develop this brain disorder while he/she in the mother’s womb; therefore, the genetic discrepancy behind this problem is considered as prime stimulating factor.

This behavioral dysfunction is more evident for girls than boys. However, this problem may occur with all individual with all levels of intelligence and it is seen that 75% of autistic child belong to low-intelligence level while 10 % of affected child may display high level of intelligence specifically in learning mathematics.

However, the treatment for autistic children may include several factors like speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, social interaction training and concerned therapy, medication, and music therapy. The autistic children, depending on the cognitive and learning skill level may get to study in normal schools or in special schools. The study or learning method of an autistic child should be decided by a professional.