Monday, March 25, 2024

What Is The Reason For Autism

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Autistic People May Act In A Different Way To Other People

What Causes Autism?

Autistic people may:

  • find it hard to communicate and interact with other people
  • find it hard to understand how other people think or feel
  • find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable
  • get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events
  • take longer to understand information
  • do or think the same things over and over

If you think you or your child may be autistic, get advice about the signs of autism.

Brain Development And Autism

The brain develops differently in autistic children compared with typically developing children.

In young children, the brain is developing all the time. Every time a child does something or responds to something, connections in the brain are reinforced and become stronger.

Over time, the connections that arent reinforced disappear theyre pruned away as theyre not needed. This pruning is how the brain makes room for important connections those needed for everyday actions and responses, like walking, talking or understanding emotions.

In autistic children, the brain tends to grow faster than average during early childhood, especially during the first three years of life. The brains of autistic babies appear to have more cells than they need, as well as poor connections between the cells.

Also, pruning doesnt seem to happen as much in autistic children. This means that information might be lost or sent through the wrong connections. The lack of pruning might also explain why the brain seems to be growing faster in autistic children than in typically developing children.

Its not yet clear what causes this difference in brain development.

Skin Suppression Causes Autism Know How It Does

Usage of skin creams that lead to skin suppression followed by hyperactive Insomnia. Though usage of skin creams is unavoidable in few professional and personal lives, one should take care of their skin and stay healthy. We can look at the story of a few people who have experienced skin suppression that causes hyperactive Insomnia. These five factors might lead to ADHD or autism in a few case studies.

Insomnia

Insomnia is touted to be an asleep ailment that usually affects millions of people worldwide. Someone with sleeplessness finds it spiny to fall asleep or stay asleep. According to the sources, grown-ups need at least 7 9 hours of sleep every 24 hours, depending on their age.

Examination shows that around 25 people in the country experience sleeplessness each vintage, but around 75 don’t develop a long-term problem. Short-term sleeplessness can lead to daylight fatigue, engrossment difficulties, and other challenges. In the long term, it may increase the trouble of variegated complaints.

Itching

A few conditions like psoriasis and eczema can make your skin burn and itch so poorly that it’s all you can suppose about. No volume of counting lamb will distract you. If you do fall asleep, fortunately, there are personalities you can do to soothe your skin. However, it’s informal to see your croaker, If you do not know what is causing the itch.

Digestive Problems

Gestation

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Can A Person Develop Autism After Early Childhood

Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

There is no official diagnosis called late-onset autism. In fact, the DSM-5, which lists and describes all developmental and mental disorders states that the onset of symptoms is in the early developmental period.

Still, there are plenty of articles out there about children who appear to regress after developing normally throughout their earliest years. And there are plenty of people who seem to develop autistic symptoms as teens or even adults.

So does regressive or late-onset autism actually exist? What do we know about it so far?

Rates Are On The Rise

Infographic: Do you know what causes Autism Spectrum ...

An estimated 1 in 40 children in this country have autism to some degree, according to a recent study from Pediatrics based on 2016 data. That’s about 1.5 million children between the ages 3 to 17. Nationwide, autism strikes three to four times more boys than girls the rates are about the same for kids of all races.

Although there seems to be an autism epidemic, the Pediatrics study attributes the increasing prevalence to more inclusive reporting. The definition of autism has been expanded in the past decade to include a wider spectrum of problems with communication and social interaction. “Ten years ago, many children with mild autism were simply not diagnosed,” says Adrian Sandler, M.D., a developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Mission Children’s Hospital, in Asheville, North Carolina, and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ committee on children with disabilities. Plus, there are more state and federal programs for autistic kids, giving doctors an incentive to diagnose and refer them. However, there may be additional, unknown reasons for the spike in autism rates, and researchers are investigating everything from environmental toxins to viruses to food allergies.

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What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with ASD often have problems with:

  • body language and eye contact
  • social interactions

In toddlers, parents might notice:

  • delayed speech
  • using only a few gestures
  • not responding when someone calls their name
  • avoiding eye contact
  • not sharing enjoyment or interests with others
  • unusual ways of moving the hands, fingers, or whole body
  • being very focused or attached to unusual objects
  • little to no imitating of others or pretending
  • unusual sensory interests
  • rituals such as repeating things over and over or lining up objects

Milder symptoms may not be recognized until a child is older and has problems with:

  • forming friendships
  • knowing how to act in different social situations
  • unusual, intense interests in specific topics or activities

No two people with ASD have the same signs and symptoms. Many things can play a role, such as language delays, thinking and learning problems, and behavioral challenges. For this reason, autism is described as a “spectrum.”

Are Siblings At Greater Risk For Autism Spectrum Disorder

The truth is that genetics do play a role in autism. When one child is diagnosed with ASD, the next child to come along has about a 20% greater risk of developing autism than normal. When the first two children in a family have both been diagnosed with ASD, the third child has about a 32% greater risk of developing ASD.

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What Is The Autism Spectrum

You might have heard people referring to autism as a spectrum. This just means that there are a number of ways that autism can be experienced.

While people on the autism spectrum share a bunch of similar traits, there are an equal number of differences between them, so the experience of living with autism varies greatly from person to person.

Dr Stephen Shore an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University, New York, put it best when he said:

If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.

The spectrum can range vastly from people who experience significant difficulties with cognitive function and have no or limited speech, to those who have developed a range of functional skills to support their everyday life.

Some of the key strengths identified in people on the autism spectrum are:

  • being detail oriented
  • maintaining a focus on a task and
  • seeing things from a different perspective.

My differences turned out also to include gifts that set me apart.

John Robison, New York Times Bestselling Author

If youre on the autism spectrum youll generally enjoy routine and predictability, and might also find yourself focussing on a specific area of interest, or following a particular passion. This can mean that people on the spectrum are highly successful in their chosen careers.

There are of course challenges that people on the autism spectrum face, these can include:

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

What Causes Autism?

Autism is not a single disorder, but a spectrum of closely related disorders with a shared core of symptoms. Every individual on the autism spectrum has problems to some degree with social interaction, empathy, communication, and flexible behavior. But the level of disability and the combination of symptoms varies tremendously from person to person. In fact, two kids with the same diagnosis may look very different when it comes to their behaviors and abilities.

If youre a parent dealing with a child on the autism spectrum, you may hear many different terms including high-functioning autism, atypical autism, autism spectrum disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder. These terms can be confusing, not only because there are so many, but because doctors, therapists, and other parents may use them in dissimilar ways.

But no matter what doctors, teachers, and other specialists call the autism spectrum disorder, its your childs unique needs that are truly important. No diagnostic label can tell you exactly what challenges your child will have. Finding treatment that addresses your childs needs, rather than focusing on what to call the problem, is the most helpful thing you can do. You dont need a diagnosis to start getting help for your childs symptoms.

Whats in a name?

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So What Does Cause Autism

At the end of the day, autism is a complex disability and as far as we know theres no single cause. Instead, its likely to be due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors .

What research has told us is, there do seem to be a few factors that can increase the risk of autism, such as:

  • Your childs sex: autism is four times more common in boys than girls.
  • Family history: families who have a child with autism have an increased risk of having another child with the disorder.
  • Other disorders: children with certain medical conditions have a higher risk of autism, or autism-like symptoms .
  • Extremely pre-term babies: babies born under 26 weeks may have a higher risk of autism.

While these factors may increase the risk, it is important to know that falling into one of these categories does not mean that you or your child will definitely develop autism.

Domain B: Repetitive Or Restricted Behaviour Interests Or Activities

Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities in at least two of the following:

  • Repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech.
  • Insistence on things being the same, inflexible and insistent on routine, or ritualised patterns of verbal or non-verbal behaviour.
  • Highly restricted, fixated interests that are uncommonly intense or focussed.
  • Extremely reactive or not reactive at all to sensory input, or an unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.

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Restricted Behavior And Play

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are often restricted, rigid, and even obsessive in their behaviors, activities, and interests. Symptoms may include:

  • Repetitive body movements moving constantly.
  • Obsessive attachment to unusual objects .
  • Preoccupation with a narrow topic of interest, sometimes involving numbers or symbols .
  • A strong need for sameness, order, and routines . Gets upset by change in their routine or environment.
  • Clumsiness, atypical posture, or odd ways of moving.
  • Fascinated by spinning objects, moving pieces, or parts of toys .
  • Hyper- or hypo-reactive to sensory input .

What Is The Difference Between Autism And Autism Spectrum Disorder

What is Autism

The term autism was changed to autism spectrum disorder in 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association. ASD is now an umbrella term that covers the following conditions:

  • Autistic disorder.
  • Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified .
  • Asperger syndrome.

People with ASD have trouble with social interactions and with interpreting and using non-verbal and verbal communication in social contexts. Individuals with ASD may also have the following difficulties:

  • Inflexible interests.
  • Insistence on sameness in environment or routine.
  • Repetitive motor and sensory behaviors, like flapping arms or rocking.
  • Increased or decreased reactions to sensory stimuli.

How well someone with ASD can function in day-to-day life depends on the severity of their symptoms. Given that autism varies widely in severity and everyday impairment, the symptoms of some people arent always easily recognized.

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Diagnosis Of Autism: What We Do Know

Autistic children benefit from early diagnosis, preferably in the first two years of life. Early diagnosis allows behavioral therapy or other treatments to begin early when it seems to be most effective. If you are concerned about your child, talk to your doctor about a referral to see a specialist who can help determine if follow-up is needed. Signs of autism may include symptoms such as:

  • no babbling or pointing by age 1
  • no single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2
  • no response to name
  • loss of language or social skills
  • poor eye contact

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Asd

Every person with ASD is unique, so the timing and severity of the first signs and symptoms can vary widely. Some children with ASD show signs within the first few months of life. In others, symptoms may not become obvious until 24 months or later. Some children with ASD appear to develop normally until around 18 to 24 months of age and then stop gaining new skills and/or start losing skills.

During infancy , a child may show symptoms that include:

  • Limited or no eye contact
  • No babbling
  • Appearing not to hear
  • Playing with toys in an unusual or limited manner
  • Showing more interest in objects instead of people
  • Starting language skills but then stopping or losing those skills
  • Showing repetitive movements with their fingers, hands, arms or head

Up to 2 years of age, there may be continuing symptoms from infancy. A child may also:

  • Focus only on certain interests
  • Be unable to have reciprocal social interactions
  • Move in unusual ways, such as tilting their head, flexing their fingers or hands, opening their mouth or sticking out their tongue
  • Have no interest in playing with other children
  • Repeat words or phrases without appearing to understand them
  • Have behavioural issues, including self-injury
  • Have trouble controlling their emotions
  • Like to have things a certain way, such as always eating the same food

Possible signs of ASD at any age:

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What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives others need less.

A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified , and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder.

What Is The Difference Between Autism And Adhd

What Causes Autism in Children

Autism and ADHD are sometimes confused with one another.

Children with an ADHD diagnosis consistently have issues with fidgeting, concentrating, and maintaining eye contact with others. These symptoms are also seen in some autistic people.

Despite some similarities, ADHD isnt considered a spectrum disorder. One major difference between the two is that people with ADHD dont tend to lack socio-communicative skills.

If you think your child may be hyperactive, talk with their doctor about possible ADHD testing. Getting a clear diagnosis is essential to ensure that your child is receiving the right treatment.

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When To Seek Professional Treatment

If you are concerned that your young child might have autism or bipolar disorder, your first step should include a visit to the pediatrician. Describe your child’s symptoms, and ask that your child be evaluated for these disorders.

Be sure that the person or team doing the evaluation has solid experience with both disorders, as it is easy to mistake one for the other or to miss signs of mental illness in a child with autism.

Adults seeking diagnosis and treatment should document symptoms carefully, with particular attention to these questions:

  • How long have these symptoms been present?
  • Have there been cycling episodes of mania and depression? When, how often, and for how long? .
  • Does the individual have suicidal thoughts?
  • Does the individual have difficulties with social communication, symptoms of sensory dysfunction , or speech delays?

Functional Impact Of Autism On A Person

For some people autism can impact all areas of life significantly, while for others it can impact certain aspects of life to a lesser degree. Because of this, autism is referred to as a spectrum and diagnosed based on both signs and characteristics, and the impact that these differences may have on a persons life over time

If the signs or characteristics shown by a person are causing significant challenges in social, personal, family, occupational or other important areas of a persons life then it is likely that the person will be diagnosed as having autism, or being on the autism spectrum.

If the signs and characteristics are not having a major impact on a persons life or relationships, and they are able to function in all social and interpersonal settings, its unlikely that autism will be diagnosed.

The specific behaviours that capture the criteria listed above and the degree to which they affect daily life differ between individuals and can be influenced by factors such as age, learning and available supports. Due to this variability, the DSM5 provides severity levels 1 to 3 for each of the two domains to reflect the degree to which the behaviours they capture interfere in the individuals daily life requiring support.

NOTE: It is important to remember that these severity levels are a snapshot of functioning at the time of diagnosis and may change over time as skills develop and/or demands change.

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