Autism should be detected early

Autism is a disorder that affects the way a child acts, thinks, communicates and interacts socially.  Autistic children are affected in different ways from normal kids; some have mild symptoms and can live independently, while more severe cases need continuous support throughout their life to live and work. a To get more a precise explanation about the condition, Arabs today met Dr Ghinwa Rayes, a child psychology specialist, and had the following detailed dialogue: AT: How big is the prevalence of autism? GR: Autism affects one in every 175 children in the US, according to control and prevention disease centre. There are 300,000 children in schools who are suffering from this disorder. It is more common in boys than in girls and usually the child\'s condition is diagnosed between the age of 15 – 36 months, and sometimes when he is older. As for the Arab countries, I could not find statistics for the history of the disease. AT: What are the causes of autism? GR: Up until now nobody knows the reasons for the disease. Research mentions the possible responsibility of the chemical imbalance in genes, the brain or the immune system. Other causes, which are unscientifically proved, are food allergies, the increase of fungi in the digestive system, exposure to environmental toxins, and some vaccines, especially vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. However, studies have proven a link between the vaccine and autism. Of the few causes that lead to the disease, is being infected with PKU and TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS. There has been some progress over the past five years in the science of genetics. Scientists have discovered some genes that cause autism, however this is considered a complex issue, 5 to 15 of the genes that lead to infection of these disabilities in addition to environmental factors. AT: what are the symptoms of Autism? GR:Autism is a disease with a spectrum of symptoms that vary between infected children, between mild and strong infections with respect to their ability to communicate, think and interact socially. It is difficult to diagnose in many cases because the physical appearance of the infected child is normal and also because of children\'s development. The most prominent symptoms of autism are the following: - Defect in contact with others including delayed development of speech, as well as the child\'s tendency to repeat the same words with repeated frequency that lacks rhythm and tones. - Lack of social interaction. - Inclination of the child to repeat the same behaviors, and the same narrow circle of interests. -Abnormal movements such as making frequent shaking of hands. - About a third of the infected children develop autism during the first one or two years, and then the disease begins to have a deterioration of social speech, as well as tending to show the following: private playing , not caring for children who play around him, ordering things and sorting them by color, difficulty in maintaining eye contact with others. If the child constantly shows any of these symptoms, it is likely to be Autism and then usually more symptoms appear. Despite the different severity of the disease among children, the only common symptom between them is the lack of ability to communicate and interact with others. Other behavior of the patients is: - Sudden cessation of  talking i the long term. - Inability to achieve the needs to communicate with others. - Avoid physical contact with those around him - The tendency to stay alone - A child with autism rarely plays exciting and virtual games. - The tendency to perform repeated movements such as duplicate actions of throwing things and shaking and flapping movements of hands. - Long bouts of anger resulted from simple reasons. - Unjustified laughing or crying. - No signs of emotions. - Difficulty to change daily habits. - Not fearing risk. - Hyperactive or vice versa. - Shows strange reactions to sensory stimuli, especially sudden loud sounds. But you should know that not every child who has autism shows all of these combined actions, but rather may have parts of them. AT: How is autism diagnosed in children? GR:We can diagnose autism at birth or during pregnancy, but you should know that research has proved that if you have a child with autism there is a10% possibility  you will have another child with autism or similar disease. In general, the diagnosis of autism is not easy, therefore when it is suspected; parents should consult an expert opinion in this field and not to delay it. If there is one-year old child who does not make any gestures, you should not wait until he is half a year older to act. There is not one specific diagnostic test for autism, the doctor has several tests to rule out other diseases before making sure that is autism and may need to consult a psychiatrist. AT: What are early signs that may indicate Autism in young children? GR: One of the following signs should attract the attention of parents to consult specialised advice: - The little boy does not look at what his parents are referring to. - Delay in the acquisition of skill of smiling - The failure of eye contact with his parents. AT:  What do we do if we discover that our children are infected with Autism? GR: A specialist team will oversee the children. This team may include a pediatrician specialising in child development, a doctor of mental illness in children, a specialised doctor in speech and language, as well as a specialised professor in training children with special needs. Being under the supervision of such team is very important for the child as it provides him with needed therapeutic and education services. The team focuses on teaching the child how to communicate with others through speech and in other ways, such as sign language in order to remove the child from the circle of his limited interests and place him in a social atmosphere. Some children may need medications, such as antidepressants that reduce active movements, and others may need stimuli to ease hyperactivity, anticonvulsants or antipsychotic. This supervision is better in specialised centres which are available in most countries. It may be appropriate in the absence of such centres, to place the child in regular school or private school, providing teaching aids and educational support for such cases. The child\'s daily activities during the treatment include skills such as cooking, shopping, crossing the street, as well as other activities that are held in groups to encourage the children. The treatment programme also includes reducing wrenches for the child by providing the following :  few doors and routes,  baths near classes, special halls for teaching the tools of explanations and instructions, and special rooms for private learning. Some parents whose children have severe cases of autism feel that their lives and energies are being wasted and at the same time they can not keep their children in regular school, so it is better for these children to stay in Autism centres. The programmes also involve other remedies (It should be noted that the following means have not been scientific proven and you should consult your doctor before trying it): - A communication facilitaty, with the help of a computer, keyboard or a panel. - Using Secretin hormone. - Practice swimming with dolphins and music therapy. - Treatment by social skills training. - Some diets such as gluten and dairy free  products. - Some vitamins, anti-anxiety medications and cortisone. - Remove toxins from the house. AT: How can parents help their infected children? GR: Some parents get angry and try to reject the diagnosis when they know that their children are infected with Autism. In this case, there is a need for psychosocial support, and the parents should assist the child to grow as naturally as possible.  The person responsible for the child should learn that an autistic child primarily learns through playing and must, therefore, have someone play with him.  Here are some tips for dealing with autistic children: - Parents should try to be in compliance with the autistic child and there should be some sort of routine housework. - Give your child a place where he feels comfortable and safe. - Praise the child verbally , which in turn strengthens his self-confidence. - Gave him information through pictures, drawings, sign language and symbols. - Show him love and compassion as much as possible despite his rejection. - Try to include your child in a treatment group of children suffering from the same illness.