Such a disease as autism, in children, always appears before the execution of a three-year-old age. In some cases it is possible to suspect the presence of this disease in infancy, but this can not always be done. The reasons why children are born with autism are still not fully understood. Numerous theories that some physicians have proposed have not been confirmed as a result of various clinical trials.
The most common birth of a baby with this severe illness is explained by genetic predisposition. Meanwhile, an autistic child can be born even among absolutely healthy parents. Typically, a sick baby is born as a result of an unhappy pregnancy or is injured during childbirth. In this article, we will tell you how to determine autism in a child, and whether this disease can be cured.
Diagnosis of Autism in Children
Determining this disease in a newborn child can be very difficult. There are no medical analyzes and studies, or a special test for autism in children. To draw conclusions about the presence of certain deviations in the mental development of the baby is possible only in the course of continuous monitoring of his behavior and communication with the surrounding people.
To determine this ailment in a baby, it is necessary to evaluate the totality of its behavioral characteristics. As a rule, in the presence of autism in children, several of the following symptoms are observed simultaneously:
The development of speech and non-speech communication is broken, in particular:
- there are no gestures and active facial expressions, in some cases even speech;
- the child tries not to look into the eyes of the interlocutor, rarely smiles in return;
- the kid can not communicate with other children;
- often repeats the heard phrases, which in no way refer to this situation;
- in the child's speech there are problems with intonation or rhythm, excessive monotony.
Violation of the development of social skills, namely:
- there is no desire to communicate and be friends with peers;
- the child completely ignores the feelings, condition and even the existence of other people, including parents;
- does not see the need to share his personal problems with someone;
- usually does not imitate other people, does not repeat mimic movements.
The development of the imagination is disturbed, a limited range of interests arises. It can appear as follows:
- aggressive, nervous, unnatural, alienated behavior;
- the child does not suffer a sharp change in the environment. When moving or other similar circumstances, hysterics may begin;
- most of the time the kid plays with himself, in all cases prefers solitude;
- He does not dream, does not invent, and does not show any interest in the events imagined by someone;
- too much attached to a particular subject, including an irresistible desire to keep it in his hands all the time;
- always concentrates on only one thing;
- often feels like repeating the same actions many times.
In most cases, these signs are manifested at an early age, until the baby is 3 years old. As a rule, in such a situation, the child is diagnosed with "early childhood autism of Kanner", however, there are other types of autism in children, such as:
- Aspenger syndrome is a type of ailment in which speech and intellect are significantly preserved. As a rule, only parents and closest relatives know about the illness of such children.
Surrounding from the side do not notice any manifestation of the disease; - Rett syndrome is a type of autism that always runs very hard and leads to disability or sudden death. It occurs only in girls and in no way manifests itself at least up to 18 months.
Is autism in children treated?
Unfortunately, this disease is never cured in children completely. Nevertheless, when the first signs of illness are found, doctors take action and often achieve significant social adaptation of the child. In some cases, with a mild course of autism, the baby begins to interact successfully with others and reaches a completely ordinary existence.