Autism Disorder: Top 10 Questions Asked by People About it?

It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and it is one of the most common disorders, yet misunderstood. In Pakistan, awareness of autism is limited, but it is increasing with time; however, delays in therapies can cause severe issues.

Defining Autism Spectrum Disorder

It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s perception and socialization, and how the individual communicates and behaves in a social environment. The term spectrum refers to a variety of symptoms and severity of disorders, ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms of autism appear in early childhood, probably within the first three years of life. Every person having autism confronts their own symptoms and challenges.

In short, autism is a condition that refers to a group of neurodevelopmental disorders.

5 Common Symptoms of Autism

Symptoms of autism typically show in early adulthood. According to DSM-5-T, the diagnostic and statistical manual, the most prominent symptoms of autism are the following:

• Low socialization and deficits in interaction. It means that children with autism have trouble making relationships, like friendship, or being in gatherings. They cannot understand emotions.
• They have repetitive behaviors, for example, children with autism develop specific routines and perform repetitive movements.
• Autistic children have delayed speech. Their speech and language skills are delayed as compared to their peers and children of the same age. Moreover, repetition of words or phrases is common.
• Autistic children lack eye contact and have flat facial expressions. They also face difficulty in understanding social cues.
• The sensory sensitivities are also affected; for instance, autistic children are over-reactive or under-reactive to sounds, lights, and smells.

Is it possible for individuals with autism to live a normal life?

It is one of the biggest misunderstandings about people with autism that they cannot live a normal life. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s communication, interactions, and behavior. People face challenges on a daily basis; however, with effective support, people can live a meaningful life and can fulfill their needs. An important milestone in the life of autistic people is to live normally. To do this, individuals require consistent support. However, Autism does not go away, but people can live a normal life with persistent support and can manage their symptoms with the right tools and resources. 

How do I tell if I am autistic?

Self-identification of autism can be challenging. The following are the signs that can help in the identification of autism.

• Feeling anxious in social situations
• Deficits in understanding facial expressions or sarcasm.
• Repetitive patterns and interests.
• Effect on sensory sensitivities

If someone finds autistic symptoms in them, it is necessary to immediately contact a psychologist or a specified mental health professional.

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The rate of autism in Pakistan

Diagnosis and data collection are low in the area of autism in Pakistan, which is why statistics of autism spectrum disorder are scarce. However, according to the World Population Review, in Pakistan, 657 people out of 100000 are autistic. On the contrary, the diagnosis of individuals with autism is increasing in Pakistan, with the hope of getting more effective data; furthermore, therapeutic services in metropolitan cities of Pakistan are also increasing.

Can an autistic child become normal?

There is no cure for autism, but it can be managed with the right tools and resources and intervention. Many autistic children have shown improvement in behavior, interaction, and language skills. For this purpose, early intervention and consistent support are crucial.

Treatment of Autism

The following are the key methods that can be used for the treatment of autism.

• Applied behavioral analysis (ABA): It is a behavioral approach that focuses on changing behavior by understanding what happens before or after the behavior. It focuses on enforcing desired behaviors and discourages undesired behaviors—the focus is on the improvement of social, communication, and learning skills.
• Speech and language therapy: A developmental approach focuses on the development of verbal and nonverbal communication abilities.
• The other developmental approach is occupational therapy, which focuses on the improvement of daily life skills, for instance, eating and drinking. 
• Educational services are another key factor in the treatment of autism. Special educational services are provided to children with autism, which are tailored to the child’s cognitive and behavioral profile.
• Medications are also provided in some cases to manage the associated conditions like anxiety, aggression, or ADHD, with the consultation of a mental health professional.

How to find the best doctor for autism?

The following are the doctors who can be proven best for this purpose.You can consult developmental behavioral pediatrics, which specializes in child development.

• Child psychologist: They are clinical psychologist who specializes in child psychology. They diagnose the problem and provide therapy.
• Child neurologist or pediatric neurologist: They are the doctors who diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system.
• A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for the cure of autism.

Role of SehatYab in the Treatment of Autistic Children

SehatYab is one of the leading online mental health platforms that consists of psychologists specialized in child psychology and Autism. Moreover, SehatYab provides easy access to affordable therapy for those who live in remote areas and for those who are reluctant to take in-person therapies. Furthermore, SehatYab provides parental counseling, and its confidential online therapy sessions are helpful for families who fear judgment and are afraid of social taboos.

In conclusion, autism is a disorder that stays with a person throughout their life. People with autism face unique challenges, and there is no cure for autism. However, one can live life normally if he/she has proper and consistent support in their long journey of autism. Early diagnosis and intervention are necessary to manage this disorder.

In countries like Pakistan, awareness about mental health issues is very low; platforms like SehatYab are endeavoring to bridge the gap and working to make awareness about mental health reach every door.