Autism in a child: symptoms, causes, therapy

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 1% of children. It is characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms, both in terms of their variety and severity. Therefore, at present, it is correct and factually correct to use the name of autism spectrum disorders. Three categories of symptoms include developmental abnormalities in a child with autism. These include disturbance of social contacts, disturbance of verbal and non-verbal communication, and stereotypical behavior.

Wondering what an autistic child looks like, behaves or plays with? Or maybe you want to know where you can entrust a child with autism to the care of professional help?

The causes of autism in children

The causes of autism are very complex and not fully understood. It is believed that a combination of many factors contributes to the development of autism in children. Both the genetic component is important, although one specific gene that causes autism is not given. In many genetically determined diseases, we can deal with autism spectrum disorders as one of their symptoms or it happens that autism is their only manifestation.

Among the causes of autism in children, environmental factors such as:

• exposure to stress;
• higher age of parents;
• burdened pregnancy history (in particular worse nutritional status of the mother - nutritional deficiencies, obesity);
• infections, metabolic, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders;
• taking medications during pregnancy, especially valproic acid and antidepressants;
• burdened fetal-perinatal interview;
• environment pollution.

The above-mentioned factors have an individual impact on the occurrence of autism spectrum disorders, the basis of which (according to the current state of knowledge) consists of many abnormalities in the nervous system. Starting from the structure of cells, through their architecture, connections and networks created between them and their activity, including neurotransmission. These processes take place in a very complex and not fully explained way.

What does a child with autism look like?

Autism is still little talk about. Hence, doubts and questions such as: what does an autistic child look like, do some features of his appearance make him stand out from his peers? Such questions should be answered in the negative. Answering the question: what does a child with autism look like, we can safely say that when it comes to external appearance, autistic children do not have any special features. 

Autism in children: symptoms

Wondering how a child with autism behaves? By being vigilant while observing our little one, he may spot certain behaviors that suggest that children are developing autism.

Autism in children: the first symptoms of autism 

Symptoms related to it can be noticed already in the second half of life. It belongs to them reluctance to body contact. The child is usually hard to calm down on his hands, he is reluctant to reach out to other people, poorly makes eye contact. Moreover, the toddler usually does not vocalize muchwords spoken in accordance with the intention and context appear late, rarely reports his needs. In children with symptoms of autism, the following is more common: food selectivity and difficulties in introducing solid foods.

When it comes to how a child with autism plays, in the case of a one-year-old child, typical imitation games, gestures such as eg. bye-bye, mows-mows, playing with the plot (e.g. role-playing). The child has a problem with accepting changes and deviations from the routine.

Autism in children: symptoms of autism in a 2-year-old

Around 2 years of age, some children notice the so-called recourse. Often a change in behavior is noticeable. The child may be withdrawn. A less varied range of behaviors can be observed. If the child has spoken some words before and learned new ones, it happens that this process slows down or even goes backwards.

Autism in children: symptoms of autism in a 3-year-old

Usually, the symptoms of autism in a 3-year-old are already clear. The child does not speak or expresses himself inadequately, incl. whole phrases or word endings are often repeated. Among the symptoms of autism in a 3-year-old, the atypical intonation of the baby's speech is also mentioned. The child does not understand abstract expressions, often does not use the pronoun I, does not point with a finger, his eye contact is inadequate or does not make it at all. The speech of an autistic child is seldom used to initiate a conversation.

How does an autistic child behave and play? 

One of the daily activities of childhood is play. The question may arise in parents' minds - how does a child with autism play? Can he find himself among his peers? The child has typical stereotypical behaviors (repetitive, always looking similar) e.g. shaking hands, arranging toys, staring at the wheels of cars instead of driving them. A small range of behaviors and preferences is noticeable. The child often eats very selectively, as does the way he dresses - he has few clothes that he wants to wear, his games are very repetitive. He can't get along and doesn't know how to play with other children. She reacts with crying or anger to any deviation from the usual schedule of the day.

What don't autistic children do?

There is no one-size-fits-all list for what autistic children don't do and what they do. Autism is a wide spectrum of symptoms. Every child is different. However, there are behaviors that occur less frequently in children with autism. As mentioned above, what most autistic children do not do is establishing proper social contact. Even if they make eye contact, it is disturbed - airy, often inadequate to the situation. In the conversation, problems often arise with understanding jokes, irony, abstract expressions. Children do not have a well-developed theory of mind - therefore, it is difficult for them to guess what other people might know and think. Autistic patients cannot understand and sympathize with other people's feelings.

Children with autism usually do not have a wide variety of interests. However, quite often they focus on a topic and explore it in great detail, e.g. they know the names, customs and other characteristics of a given species of dinosaurs, or the names of all types of aircraft and their parameters, often they want to talk about it without being interested or the subject is attractive to the interlocutor.

People with autism spectrum disorders are usually unable to make up stories and lie. These children are often not able to communicate their needs well and are rarely able to support communication with gestures, e.g. pointing with a finger or appropriate facial expressions, when something hurts them or they feel discomfort. Sometimes they become irritable, tearful and even aggressive towards themselves or those around them, instead of asking for help.

Treatment of autism in children

Unfortunately, the issue of treating autism in children remains unresolved so far. A cure for autism has not yet been invented. An accurate diagnosis as early as possible plays a key role. It is very important to perform a reliable differential diagnosis as some symptoms that may suggest autism may accompany other diseases and disabilities.

Examples include:

• some metabolic diseases;
• epilepsy with continuous discharges;
• intellectual disability;
• mutism.

Symptoms suggesting autism may also appear in children who are blind, deaf, or are deprived of care and closeness to other people. Therefore, sometimes it is not the treatment of autism in children that will come to the fore, but the focus on the treatment of other disorders. Especially that in the case of disorders other than autism spectrum disorders, the treatment should be different than in the case of autism spectrum disorders.

In patients with autism, more often than in the general population, we deal with various comorbid disease entities, e.g. epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune diseases, the treatment of which may positively affect the functioning and well-being of people with autism spectrum disorders.

Here comes the question: where to return taken care of child with autism? 

Appropriate systemic help can be obtained for children who have been diagnosed. That is why it is very important to seek help from a child psychiatrist or neurologist and undergo the required consultations and tests.

When considering where to care for a child with autism, it should be pointed out that there are currently many care points. These include kindergartens and schools dedicated to people with an autism spectrum. Early intervention centers are created for younger children, financed both from public funds and by various dedicated foundations.

Systematic, multi-profile care provided by educated professionals and a stable, supportive family environment is important. Quickly initiated and tailored to the child's needs, therapy can significantly help in improving the child's functioning. In order to select the appropriate interactions, it is worth consulting with the attending physician.

Autism and Early Treatment and Support

To sum up, autism spectrum disorders consist of disorders in social functioning, communication and stereotypical behavior, which, depending on the age and individual characteristics of the patient, can develop with a wide variety of symptoms. The causes of autism in children are complex and still not fully understood. There is no cure that can completely cure autism. In therapy, the key role is played by the multi-profile therapy started at the earliest possible stage and the support of the family environment.

Źródła:

Ann Katrin Sauer, Janelle E. Stanton, Sakshi Hans, and Andreas M. Grabrucker. Autism Spectrum Disorders, Exon Publications; 2021 Aug 20;
Barbara Steinborn, Developmental Age Neurology, ed. 1, PZWL Warsaw 2017.