Autism: A disorder difficult to express, but treatable

“Difficult, difficult to explain, understand this is how I am. Wont you help?” This doesn’t even come close to fully explaining the emotions of someone with this condition. Our hearts are sure to tear into pieces if we could only fully comprehend the depth of their feelings.

You see them cry. You don’t know why. You see them angry. You don’t know why. This is due to their difficulty in expressing their emotions and forming relationships.

“If only everyone could see the world through our eyes. They too will feel what we feel.”

Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder present from early childhood which is characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships.

Research shows one in every hundred people suffer from some degree of autism.

How do you identify someone with autism?

Children with autism present a range of symptoms including delayed speech development, frequent repetition of set words or phrases, do not respond to their names despite having normal hearing, rejecting cuddles initiated by parents, reacting negatively when asked to do something, being unaware of other people’s personal space while being unusually intolerant of other people entering their own personal space, little interaction with other people including their peers, preferring to play alone, rarely using gestures or facial expressions when communicating and avoiding eye contact.

They often use repetitive movement such as flapping their hands, rocking back and forth or flicking their fingers and prefer a familiar routine and get upset of there are any changes to this routine.

Treatable:

Some forms of autism, unlike other neurodevelopment disorders, are treatable – especially if they are treated at an early age.

Research shows one third of children with autism get better through family intervention.

Most of the children show no outward signs and have normal brain functions of that of their peers.

Unlike other disorders, autism required behavioral changes rather than prescribed medication.

For example; some of the children have learning difficulties, some of the children are easy to lose their temper, some of the children are extremely stubborn – this can be treated through behavioral therapy.

The best thing is to get children diagnosed before the age of three and start behavioral therapy.

There are education center and doctors to treat autism – but the quality of services need more improvement. The government can play a major role in improving facilities and services needed to ensure no child is left behind, autistic or otherwise.