How to know that a child is autistic?

"There is one chance in 800,000 that your child is football star, but there is one chance in 150 of having autism" Many times we talk of autism, is mentioned, but really very few people who know what the symptoms.

What is autism?

The word autism means etymologically "trend away from the outside world and drive interest and attention to the inner self." Autism is part of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) that is characterized by the delay and changes in different areas of the child both social, cognitive and communicative level.

Key Features

Symptoms of autism focus on four key areas of the child's life: difficulty or lack of interaction with others, problems in the mechanisms of expression and communication, cognitive development and also often appear some kind of stereotyped behaviors character ( repetitive behaviors, routines, etc.).

One aspect that we must consider when we talk about autism is that it usually associated with other syndromes and, in turn, all the symptoms depend on the child's age and severity.

Origin of autism

The origin of autism remains to be determined, so far the studies on autism and scientists have said is that there is a biological cause only if it is related to several factors intermingle heredity, biology and birth.

The strongest hypothesis is that it is the combination of different generalized impairment of the functions of the central nervous system , rejecting that may be related to the attitude of parents regarding the child.

Symptoms age

In the first two years of life symptoms focus on food, sleep disorders, relationships with parents and sometimes, there may be slight delays in motor development. Regarding the relationship with parents, some of the behaviors that can occur is that the child does not look to parents to face or no eye contact in communication, not follow the mother around the house, do not take arms to catch it, among others. The child may be irritable with frequent crying.

After three years the child shows preference for objects than people, no eye contact during communication, usually playing stereotyped with no corresponding functionality toy, not responding to commands, language is absent and when present is peculiar. In turn, also be displayed hypersensitive to certain noises which covers his ears or may even reject physical contact.

Of the three children five years and have the classic symptoms of autism: cognitive deficits, severe withdrawal, lack of interest in interpersonal relationships and language disorders .

At six years could be a slight improvement in some aspects, the child may show more attachment to parents and their language evolves but pathologically. In the event that the child has developed some sort of self-injurious behavior or self-stimulation can increase or appear.

Intervention

It is essential to have fast detection of autism in order to receive the help they need, according to the Spanish association of autism, "no disability or lack of relationship but communication difficulties" and this can be treated with the appropriate professionals.

We must understand that this condition will last a lifetime because there is no cure, but it can help you live better, quality of life, teach him to communicate, to live independently (as many do).

The most important intervention is to help them to develop as a subject in their personal characteristics, respecting their individuality.

This video is one of the ones I like to explain autism:

Source: "Psychiatry children and adolescents: Method, rationale and syndromes" Mardomingo Sanz. / / Autismo.org.es

Images: esmas.com, cuidadoinfantil.net