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 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.

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.  

The causes and risk factors of 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 it 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. 

Treatments available for 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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