4 Ground Breaking Management Strategies For Autism Spectrum Disorder

Every year on the 2nd of April, we observe World Autism Awareness Day to raise awareness about people with Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. It is a neurological condition that impacts how one interacts, communicates and behaves with others. While autism can be diagnosed at any time, it is also described as a developmental disorder as, in most cases, symptoms of autism appear in the first two years of life.

What you need to know:

What is autism spectrum disorder?
What are the signs and symptoms of ASD?
What are the causes and risk factors for ASD?
How is autism spectrum disorder diagnosed?
Treatment available for autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

What is autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder refers to a disability caused due to differences in our brains. Some people with ASD can have known differences, such as genetic conditions. While people with autism spectrum disorder can behave differently, there are almost no physical and apparent differences that set them apart from the rest. For example, On the vast autism spectrum, some people might have advanced conversation skills, while others can be nonverbal. Some can work and live independently, while others might need much support to get through their daily lives.

What are the signs and symptoms of ASD?

Here are some common autism spectrum disorder symptoms that you can experience. These symptoms are mainly two types— social and restrictive:

Social behaviors:

Making little to no eye contact
Pretending not to look or listen to people conversing
Randomly sharing interests or enjoyment of activities
Experiencing problems with the back-and-forth of a conversation
Talking about a favorite thing without noticing that others are not interested
Displaying facial expressions and body movements that don’t match what is being said
Being slow to respond to other’s names and verbal bids for attention
Difficulty in adjusting to social situations
Difficulty in making friends

Repetitive behaviors:

Repeating certain activities, such as specific phrases, known as echolalia
Having an interest in a diverse range of topics, such as details and facts
Being upset when there is a slight change in your routine
Being more sensitive than others regarding sensory input, such as light, sound, clothing or temperature

If you have autism, you are more likely to experience irritability and sleep problems.

What are the causes and risk factors for ASD?

While the exact cause of ASD is unknown, certain factors can increase the risk of developing ASD.

If you have a sibling with ASD
Having older parents
A history of genetic conditions such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome
Having a very low birth weight

How is autism spectrum disorder diagnosed?

Diagnosing ASD is quite tricky as there is no specific medical test to detect this condition. Doctors typically look at the child’s behavior and development to make a diagnosis. ASD can, at times, be diagnosed before 18 months of age. However, many children with autism do not get a final diagnosis until they are much older. This delay, however, indicates that many people with autism spectrum disorder might not get the early intervention that they need.

Treatment available for autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

While there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, it can be managed with some strategies such as:

Learning social and communication skills
Reducing behaviors that create problems in your daily life
Enhancing your strengths
Learning life and problem-solving skills for living independently.

Remember that early diagnosis can help improve your quality of life (QOL) and help manage autism spectrum disorder. While autism spectrum disorder symptoms do not go away, they can be managed, enabling you to live life to the fullest.

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