Articles

Autism - a breakdown in social interaction and communication

By Ms. Arya Manoharan : Speech and Language Pathologist and Audiologist

Autism is the most common of a group of conditions called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs). PDDs involve delays in many areas of childhood development. The first signs of autism are usually noticed by the age of three. Children with autism often have extreme difficulty developing normal relationships with others. They tend not to share in the interests their peers have. In many cases these children are not able to interpret non-verbal cues of communication like facial expressions. Most people with autism have some impairment in language and many never speak at all.

About 8.7% of every 10,000 children are autistic and more than 1 in 300 children have some form of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). PDD means that some, but not all, symptoms of autism are present. Autism is a lifelong disease that ranges in severity from mild cases in which the autistic person can live independently, to severe forms in which the patient requires social support and medical supervision throughout his or her life.

Many individuals who are autistic also develop epilepsy, a brain disorder that causes convulsive seizures, as they approach adulthood. Other characteristics may include repetitive and ritualistic behaviours, hand flapping, spinning or running in circles, excessive fears, self-injury such as head banging or biting, aggression, insensitivity to pain, temper tantrums and sleeping and eating disturbances. Autistic individuals live a normal life span, but most require lifelong care and supervision.

Characteristics of Autistic Individuals

Children with autism may have problems with movement, communication, social skills and reacting to the world around them. Not all behaviours will exist in every child.

Movement: Problems learning to crawl walk or run, using their hands to pick up small things or write (for older children), Clumsiness, controlling arms, legs or mouth muscles to do things when they want to do (apraxia)

Communication: Not speaking or very limited speech, loss of words the child was previously able to say, difficulty expressing basic wants and needs, poor vocabulary development, problems following directions or finding objects that are named, repeating what is said (echolalia), problems answering questions, speech that sounds different (e.g., "robotic" speech or speech that is high-pitched)

Social skills: Poor eye contact with people or objects, poor play skills, being overly focused on a topic or objects that interest them, problems making friends, crying, becoming angry, giggling or laughing for no known reason or at the wrong time, disliking being touched or held

Reacting to the world around them: Rocking, hand flapping or other movements (self-stimulating movements) ,not paying attention to things the child sees or hears, problems dealing with changes in routine ,using objects in unusual ways, no fear of real dangers, being either very sensitive or not sensitive enough to touch, light, or sounds (e.g., disliking loud sounds or only responding when sounds are very loud; also called a sensory integration disorder), feeding difficulties (accepting only select foods, refusing certain food textures).

Tips for the Parents

Accept the Situation: If your child has been diagnosed with PDD by a physician you trust, then the best thing you can do is accept the situation.
Be mindful to interact with and teach your child in ways that are most likely to get a positive response. Remember, the earliest years are the toughest, but it does get better!

Educate Yourself: Learn from professionals and other parents how to meet your child’s special needs, but remember your son or daughter is first and foremost a child, life does not need to become a never-ending round of therapies.

Be sure to include related services, supplementary aids and services and a positive behavioural support plan, if needed.

Be patient and stay optimistic. Your child, like every child, has a whole life time to learn and grow.