Autism: what is the disease, symptoms and causes

The word «autism» literally means that a person is «withdrawn into himself», that is, he has a difficult contact with the world around him. It includes Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which manifests as impairments in emotional expression, social interaction and communication with others.

Autism Spectrum Disorders are characterized by repetitive behavior and repetitive behaviors, cognitive and behavioral impairments. Each person with ASD manifests itself in a different way and is accompanied by individual manifestations depending on circumstances, general health and other factors.

Symptoms of Autism

A child with autism cannot build a logical chain of events, distinguish people and animals from inanimate objects. He is severely irritated by harsh light, sounds, smells and physical contact.

Such manifestations are common with ASD:

• Sleep disorders.
• Aggression directed at oneself or others.
• Lack of eye contact with others.
• Reduced interest in communicating with others.
• Delayed speech in the child. Even as an adult, a person with ASD may use a limited vocabulary and speak in one word or sound.
• No understanding of humor and jokes.
• Decreased intelligence. This trait is not present in people with Asperger's syndrome.
• Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Some types of autism:

• Classic Autism - Kanner syndrome manifests itself in socialization, communication and behavioral disorders to varying degrees.
• Rett syndrome is a severe disorder associated with abnormalities in the X chromosome. It occurs only in girls, since boys with this disorder do not survive pregnancy. The child's head growth slows down, all skills are lost, and speech does not develop.
• Asperger's syndrome - intelligence and speech are developed, there are difficulties with intonation, fixation on a particular activity, refusal to compromise, self-centeredness.

People with ASD are well developed physically, may have an attractive appearance. ASD can be seen in facial expressions, gaze, excessive or absent gestures, and the way a child or adult interacts with people.

Causes of autism

It is not known exactly why autism develops. It can be caused by several factors at the same time. Alleged causes of autism:

• Genetic predisposition and heredity.
• Taking certain medications by the mother just before and during pregnancy. These may be valproic acid medications used for epilepsy, bipolar disorder.
• It is believed that ASD can occur in a child with maternal pregnancy diabetes.
• Drugs given to a young child that contain aluminum salts and other toxic components. Heavy metals can accumulate in the brain and cause various disorders. Before using any medication for a child, you should study its composition and the risks of exposure to each component. Do not use medications without a doctor's prescription and exceed the dosage or duration of the course.
• Toxic environmental exposures if there are factory exhausts or harmful chemical production in the area.

To accurately determine that a child has ASD, it is necessary to see a doctor. He conducts several examinations, tests. He can also prescribe a CT scan, electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging. However, according to some experts, these types of diagnostics have a secondary importance. The key factor is behavior.