Imagine a world that does not completely reach you, to which you cannot react. For many people suffering from autism, this is a common experience. Their world is separated from their reality. Autism affects 1 in every 63 children and can be serious. It does not affect life span, so people may live with it forever. It is important to understand the causes, symptoms and treatments for autism. If you want to know more, keeping reading this article.
Autism: What Is It?
ASD, also know as Autism Spectrum Disorder or autism, is a disability that lasts a lifetime. It may manifest in completely different ways based on where a certain person sits along ‘the spectrum’, meaning how serious their condition is. People with autism may have trouble interpreting social cues or manners of speaking. Many people with autism are very intelligent and high-functioning people.
Autism is a very complex condition that usually appears from birth, which is why most parents are aware if their child is autistic within the first few years of their baby’s life, when their personality begins to develop. It is commonly identified by unusual social behavior, communication difficulties, low interaction skills and repetitive or compulsive behavior.
For many years, the cause of autism has been a widely debated topic, which is why it can be difficult to suggest preventive therapies. However, autism is highly hereditary, even though some environmental factors have been shown to have an impact as well
There is no medicinal cure or formal treatment for autism, even though there are many advances in behavioral therapy to help those who suffer maintain normal lives. In the past, the label of ‘autism’ denoted a very narrow idea, but today autism covers a wife ‘spectrum.’ This spectrum also includes Asperger’s syndrome, which has some similarities with autism.
Causes of Autism
As stated earlier, the condition is mainly hereditary, so most researchers think that certain mixtures of genes may prompt a child to become autistic. More research is being done to learn which specific genes make a person more susceptible. However, there are also some environmental factors that may increase the risk of developing the condition.
Symptoms of Autism
The signs and symptoms of autism usually appear before a child reaches three, and they may last a lifetime. The most common symptoms of autism include:
- Preoccupation with unusual objects or parts of objects
- Repetitive body movements
- Difficulty adjusting to changes in routine or familiar surroundings
- Lack of imagination
- Uncommon ways of playing toys and other objects
- Inability to make friends or preferring to play alone
- Difficulty in social interaction, including relating to people and other surroundings
- Difficulty with nonverbal communication, like facial expressions and gestures
- Inability to partake in a particular conversation
- Difficulty with verbal communication, including problems related to understanding and using language
Treatments for Autism
Pediatricians will commonly refer you to a child specialist in developmental disorders for an initial assessment. Some people may prefer to have this specialist also treat the condition, but they are free to seek treatments elsewhere, as well.
Some facts and options about treatments for you to consider are:
- Ask your family members, health practitioners and friends to acquire referrals.
- You might need to talk to more than one specialist to find one you trust.
- Remember that there is no standard treatment for autism. Different professionals have different practices and philosophies when taking care of their patients.
If you are not sure as to what treatment will be beneficial for the condition, you may try the home treatments for it. These home treatments include:
- Turmeric
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Gluten-free and sugar-free foods
- Probiotics
- Melatonin
- Fish oil
- Magnesium supplements
Always bear in mind that this condition is for a lifetime, so you must continue to take care of your child or family member, giving them the attention and treatment they need to live a happy, healthy life.
