Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or simply, autism, is a term used to characterize a group of disorders that affect the normal development of the brain.
The developmental disorder starts by age 3 and leads to significant social, communication and behavioral changes. Features like difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, or rigid-repetitive behaviors are very common among autistic children.
However, it is often difficult for parents to come to terms fully with the diagnosis of autism in their children, and to manage the daily challenges the disorder brings in. With the country celebrating April as Autism Awareness Month, health experts from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) put forward some tips to help parents of autistic children accomplish their duties effectively.
- Be fully aware of the type and severity of autism disorder the child has - this will help provide a better form of treatment and care
- Sometimes, autistic children experience difficulties in successfully completing daily activities. So parents should always be ready to face daily challenges, and should take appropriate precautions beforehand
- As many autistic children do not easily get adjusted to sudden changes in their daily routine, parents should be careful in maintaining the same environment steadily
- Be honest while discussing the child's medical condition with a health practitioner, or while the child is undergoing a medical examination
- Understand the child's sports interests and organize regular physical activities
- Become an ideal parent to take care of your autistic child by maintaining good care of your personal health
According to a recent report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 50 school children in the U.S. has autism. The new report, based on parental interviews, showed a sharp increase in the number of autistic children within a short period of one year. According to a 2012 CDC estimate, only one in 88 children had the disorder.
Autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) are the most common types of autism found among children. Until now, no medical or blood test is available for an early diagnosis of the condition. The child's behavior and development are some factors used by health practitioners to determine the disorder.
According to health experts, an early diagnosis of the disorder helps in better treatment. Research has been going on for a long time to find out the factors that lead to this occurrence and detect it early. Countless studies have shown that many factors - maternal fever, smoking habit in pregnancy, use of anti-epileptic drug Valproate in pregnancy, exposure to preservative propionic acid, (PA) maternal deficiency of vitamin D and early exposure to heavy metals like lead and mercury - play a major role in autism.
