Autism is a developmental condition that has received increasing medical and societal attention in recent years, due to a steady rise in diagnosis rates and growing awareness of the condition. Advances in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment methods, as well as advances in support and care services, have highlighted the importance of detecting early signs of autism and the necessary procedures.
The incidence of autism among children varies from one region of the world to another. In Europe, the rate is estimated to be approximately one in 100 children. In Asia, estimates vary widely, ranging from 0.2% to 1%, depending on the country. These figures reflect variations in the available studies and data, as the differences may be related to multiple factors related to the methodologies used in the statistics.
What is the autism spectrum?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition associated with brain development that affects how an individual perceives the world and interacts socially with others, leading to difficulties in social interaction and communication, and characterized by limited and repetitive behavioral patterns. The term “spectrum” in ASD refers to the wide variation in symptoms and degrees of severity among affected individuals, making recognition of early signs of autism crucial.
ASD encompasses conditions previously considered separate, such as classic autism, Asperger’s syndrome, infantile disintegrative disorder, and unspecified pervasive developmental disorder. Some still use “Asperger’s syndrome” to describe a milder form of ASD. Early signs of autism begin in childhood and often lead to communication and social challenges in school, work, and daily life. Symptoms often appear during the first year of life, though some children regress or develop symptoms between 18 and 24 months. Intensive, early therapeutic intervention can significantly improve outcomes for many affected children.
What are the autism causes in children?
There is no specific cause that leads to the development of autism spectrum disorder and the appearance of one of the early signs of autism, as it is believed that this disorder results from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, and given the variety and severity of symptoms from one case to another, it is likely that several causes overlap in the development of this disease, including these causes:
- Genetic factors: Genes play an important role in the development of ASD. Several genetic mutations contribute to an increased risk of autism, and in some cases, the disorder is associated with genetic syndromes. Genes may also affect the development of the brain or the way its cells communicate, or determine the severity of autism symptoms.
- Environmental factors: The role of the environment in the development of ASD is still being researched, and scientists are studying how factors such as viral infections, the use of certain medications during pregnancy, and exposure to air pollutants affect the development of ASD.
- Gender: Studies show that males are four times more likely to develop ASD than females.
- Family history: Having a child with ASD in the family increases the likelihood of another child being born with ASD, as it has been observed that parents or relatives may exhibit traits associated with the disorder, such as mild social communication difficulties or repetitive behaviors.
- Premature birth: Babies born before the 26th week of pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder.
- Parental age: Some studies suggest that there may be an association between older parental age and an increased risk of autism, but this link has not been conclusively confirmed.
- Other disorders: Several psychiatric conditions or illnesses, such as Angelman syndrome, epilepsy, Reite syndrome, Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and tuberous sclerosis, may be associated with or cause early signs of autism and autism.
Early signs of autism in infants and toddlers
Early signs of autism often begin in infants and toddlers, but usually appear by the age of two years, and this is called psychomotor delay, one of the most important signs of early autism in infants:
- Reduced eye contact: Reduced eye contact in infants is an important indicator of early signs of autism. Infants usually make eye contact with other people from a very early age. By the time an infant is two months old, he or she is able to recognize faces and make skillful eye contact.
- Lack of gestural interaction: Children typically learn to gesture before they learn to speak, and children with autism use gesture and pointing much less than normal children.
- Lack of attention: The infant’s eyes do not follow moving objects.
- Infants not responding to their name: By the age of 6 months, most infants are aware of their names and respond to them, especially when their mothers say them, but limited or no response to their names is one of the early signs of autism.
- Reduced emotional response with facial expressions: Facial expressions are a non-verbal means of expressing thoughts and feelings, and infants with autism often do not change their facial expressions in response to the environment.
- Delayed speech and language: Infants and toddlers begin speaking at different ages, but infants with autism often say and understand fewer words than normal children by 12 months of age.
The early signs of autism in children are numerous and widespread, the most important of which are:
- High interest in certain topics or activities, adherence to a specific daily routine, and extreme discomfort when this routine is changed
- Difficulty making new friends with other children, as children with autism prefer to be alone
- Difficulty expressing thoughts, feelings, and requirements, and overthinking
- Difficulty understanding what others are thinking or feeling
- Delayed speech or loss of words
- Staying in a state of anxiety
How do you distinguish normal behavior from signs of autism?
Distinguishing between the behaviors of a normal child and those associated with autism spectrum disorder is an essential step in detecting early signs of autism, as many behaviors may appear similar in the early stages, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis or confusion between the two patterns, which is why it is important to observe minute details in social interaction, language, repetitive behavior, and the extent of response to the environment, among the most prominent differences that distinguish between the behaviors of normal and autistic children are:
- The child makes repetitive movements such as swaying, spinning, or flapping hands
- Engages in behaviors that cause him harm, such as biting himself or hitting his head
- Has coordination issues, i.e. makes odd movement patterns such as lopsided movements and walking on toes
- Uses strange or exaggerated body language
- He is fascinated by the details of an object, such as the wheels on a toy car, but doesn’t realize the function of the object
- He may be abnormally sensitive to light, sound, and touch, but indifferent to pain or heat
- Don’t get distracted by imitation or imaginative play
- Have certain food preferences, such as accepting foods with a certain texture or rejecting them because of a different texture
When should you consult a doctor?
Consulting a doctor is an essential step when any doubts arise regarding the child’s growth and general development or noticing one of the early signs of autism, in case parents feel that the child’s development is not proceeding normally compared to his peers, resorting to a specialized medical evaluation is a procedure that should not be hesitated, as the examination should not be delayed or hesitate to seek consultation, as early evaluation does not necessarily mean an issue but helps to reassure or take supportive steps if necessary, preferably with a pediatrician experienced in development and behavior or a specialist in developmental disorders.
The doctor can conduct an initial assessment or refer the child to other specialists if needed. Of course, the parents’ observations play the most important role in determining the nature and direction of the examination, and one should not wait for long periods of time in the hope that things will improve automatically, as initiating an assessment is an important precautionary step that may contribute to improving the quality of life for both the child and the family.
How to diagnose autism and the most important tests
Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is the most important step in order to improve the child’s developmental and learning outcomes. The earlier the condition is recognized, the greater the chances of effective intervention and early treatment, as detecting early signs of autism helps in developing an appropriate treatment plan that suits the child’s needs for the recovery process and gives the family a better understanding of the condition and how to deal with it. In many cases, early intervention reduces the severity of symptoms and improves quality of life in the long run. The steps to diagnose autism as early as possible are as follows:
Seeing a pediatrician
Seeing a pediatrician is the first step in the process of diagnosing autism and identifying early signs of autism. Each child receives an evaluation in tests, which in most cases may take 18–24 months, in order to ascertain their health condition accurately. These examinations and tests are done by the doctor asking the child’s family about their medical or health history, as well as some other important questions about their development and behavior. There may be children who need further testing, and the next appointment is likely to be with the team specializing in autism spectrum disorder:
- Child psychologist
- Speech-language pathologist
- Occupational therapist
- Doctors who specialize in growth
- Neurologists
Determining the degree of autism
Determining the degree of autism and early signs of autism One of the scales that has been used in order to diagnose autism and determine its degree specifically is the CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale), which consists of 14 domains in order to assess behaviors associated with autism with the 15th domain categorized for general impressions of autism, where each domain is divided into scales ranging from 1–4 and higher scores are associated with a higher level of impairment, the total score is likely to range from 15–60 as a maximum and the determination of the degree of autism on the following basis:
Scores below 30: Indicates that the individual is in the non-autistic range.
Scores from 30–36.5: Indicates mild to moderate autism.
Scores from 37–60: These scores indicate severe and very severe autism.
What are the three levels of autism?
After learning in detail about how to diagnose autism and determine its degree, these levels that can be included in this type of mental disorder and that help in the diagnosis of early signs of autism are divided based on the severity of autism and the amount of support they need in their daily lives:
- First level : This is the mildest level of autism. Symptoms include difficulty communicating appropriately with others, difficulty moving from one activity to another, and having trouble organizing and planning, which prevents independence.
- Second level: Those with this level of autism will have more pronounced issues than the previous level, such as issues with verbal and social communication, difficulty concentrating or moving from one activity to another, and repeating the same things over and over again.
- Third level: This is the most severe form of autism, as it may have the same symptoms as the other levels, but they are more severe and extreme.
Autism treatment methods and the importance of early signs of autism intervention
There is no cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and there is no single method that suits all cases, but treatment aims to minimize symptoms and enhance the child’s abilities to learn and grow properly. Early intervention, especially in the preschool years, is one of the most important factors in improving the quality of a child’s life, as it helps to acquire social and behavioral skills, enhances adaptability, and increases the chances of integration into the community and school later. Treatment methods vary between home and school interventions according to the needs of the child, which may change over time, as treatment options may include the following:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Many programs address the social, language, and behavioral difficulties associated with ASD. Some programs focus on reducing problem behaviors and teaching new skills, while others focus on teaching children how to behave in social situations or communicate better with others. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can help children learn new skills and generalize these skills to multiple situations through a reward-based motivation system.
Pedagogical remedies
Children with ASD often respond well to highly structured educational programs. Successful programs usually include a team of specialists and a variety of activities to improve social, communication, and behavioral skills, and preschoolers often show good improvement.
Family therapy
Parents and other family members can learn how to play and interact with their sick children in ways that stimulate social skills, address behavioral issues, and teach them daily living and communication skills.
Medicines
There is no medication that can improve the core signs of ASD, but there are certain medications that help control the symptoms. For example, certain medications may be prescribed for your child if they are hyperactive, antipsychotic medications are sometimes used to treat severe behavioral issues, and antidepressants may be prescribed to treat anxiety.
Other remedies
Speech therapy to improve communication skills, occupational therapy to teach activities of daily living, physical therapy to improve mobility and balance, and your psychiatrist may recommend behavioral therapies.
In the end, it is very important that we detect the early signs of autism because early detection helps the child to get the right support at the right time, the earlier we start, the more chances the child has to develop his skills and integrate better in society and get better treatment, as the role of parents and teachers is great in noticing these signs and communicating with specialists is the first step towards helping the child. Awareness and attention make a real difference in the journey of treating children with autism.
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