Today, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day. Maybe most of us have individuals with autism spectrum disorder in our environment or family. Sometimes we don’t know how to approach or talk to them. We can think about how an action or word we say will affect the individual and their family. Let’s see together.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that usually begins at age 3 or earlier and persists throughout life. How autism occurs is still being researched and studied. Today, autism is thought to be caused by some nervous system problems that affect the structure or functioning of the brain. The other view is that it’s genetically based, but scientists don’t yet know which genes cause the disorder. It is also thought to be caused by some reasons before or after birth. As in every disease, early diagnosis in this neurodevelopmental difference is both individual and familial and its treatment. important for the course.

HOW IS AUTISM DIAGNOSED AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

At least six or more of the symptoms must be present for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, which is more common in boys than girls. Some of them;
*Don’t look when your name is called
*Eye contact
not doing *The situation where toys do not attract attention or do not know how to play
*Rotate some items
*Relevant speech by age group
* If he is making unusual movements, sorting and arranging items by color, etc.
* Shaking and fluttering movements or loud shouting * To events
overreacting * Sedentary
state of being alone (such as sitting alone for hours in a lonely environment) * Isolation from the environment
status social environment
* Excessive attachment to an object or toy
* To dangerous and painful events
being insensitive * Being insensitive to humor or overtones in the sentence
* Exhibiting rhythmic ongoing events such as clapping, jumping, and turning

The diagnosis of autism is made by doctors who are experts in this field. In our country, the experts who can make the diagnosis are child neurologists and child psychiatrists. Physicians perform tests and some tests to determine the level of autism spectrum disorder in the individual, and according to the result obtained, the relevant doctor, psychiatrist, and the individual’s treatment course. A personalized treatment program is prepared by a physiotherapist, speech and language therapist, child development specialists and dietitian.

IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR AUTISM?

Diagnosis is made as a result of examinations, examinations, observations and medical examinations. If the relevant physician deems it necessary, drug treatment can be started. However, these drugs are used to control unwanted movements in therapies or to control conditions such as depression and hyperactivity accompanying autism. NOT POSSIBLE YET.
* If the individual has a situation such as food allergy, a diet program by looking at the blood tests,
*sensory integration therapy accompanied by a physiotherapist,
*speech therapies accompanied by a speech and language therapist if there is a speech delay,
*Special sessions organized by child development specialists or group sessions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder
can be added to the treatment program.

The treatment requires a multidisciplinary study and the treatment is planned specifically for the child/person by the relevant team. The controls of the person are arranged by the relevant doctor and his team in the health institution. The therapies applied in the treatment, if used, the usage hours and control periods of the drugs should not be interrupted.

THE KEYWORD IS LOVE. LET’S BE CONSCIOUS. LET’S CREATE AWARENESS.