Autism spectrum disorder and what you need to know

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Autism spectrum disorder is a condition that affects brain development. When suffering from this disease, people will lose or reduce their ability to interact with society. Not only that, the person may also have symptoms of gastrointestinal disease. The following article will provide essential information about autism spectrum disorder.

1. Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders include autism, asperger's, dissociative disorders, and some unspecified pervasive disorders. People with Asperger's syndrome are thought to have reached the end of a mild autism spectrum disorder. These syndromes often appear in childhood and manifest when the person is exposed to society.
Children will often show symptoms of autism during the first year of life. However, there are some children who develop normally but by the 2nd year, they are found to have autism spectrum disorder. Although this symptom is difficult to treat, but if detected early and prevented, it will minimize the impact on the baby.

2. Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder

The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder appear with many different causes, so it is difficult to accurately assess the severity of the disease. Here are some common symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
2.1. Failure to develop communication and social skills: Anyone with autism spectrum disorder may have problems with communication and social interaction. You can recognize this symptom based on a number of signs such as:
There is a problem with hearing . Difficulty expressing emotions when communicating. Decreased ability to use language, slurred speech, stuttering,... Don't know how to prolong or bring up the topic of conversation. The voice is even without intonation. Misuse of expressive words and unconscious repetition. Not aware of the content when communicating. Do not actively interact with unfamiliar objects. Does not know how to use non-verbal communication methods. 2.2. Some abnormal behaviors appear: Whether in children or the elderly, when having autism spectrum disorder, it is difficult to control their own behavior. Maybe they will repeat an action over and over without remembering that they did it before. Here are some signs of loss of behavioral control:
Repeating certain movements such as clapping, twirling, or playing a seesaw,... Doing actions that hurt yourself without knowing. Easily excitable when changes appear even very small. The ability to coordinate agencies is less flexible. Can be attracted to an object. The senses are somewhat more sensitive but the touch is quite poor. It is not possible to capture the actions of others. Often focuses on one activity and ignores everything else around. According to observations, some children with autism spectrum disorder tend to be sociable and reduce negative behavior after adulthood. As the condition improves, these subjects will likely return to normal. However, for the target group with communication or language skills, things can be worse.

2.3. Some signs need help from a doctor: Every newborn has its own developmental milestones. Therefore, you need to observe to capture the change of your child every day. Children with autism spectrum disorder often show signs of developmental delay before turning 2 years old. If you have doubts or questions about your child's condition, take him or her to the doctor. Sometimes, the disorder will also disrupt the baby's natural development.
Usually, signs of autism spectrum disorder appear early when the child has language problems. If your child appears abnormal in the list below, contact the doctor for advice and support:
6 months old baby does not know how to express emotions when playing. Unable to imitate sounds or expressions by 9 months. Unable to speak single words according to instructions by 12 months. Did not know how to use the handle at 14 months. Did not speak any words by 16 months. Do not know how to pretend when 18 months. Can't say more than 2 words after 24 months. Doesn't get along with friends and people.

3. Origin of autism spectrum disorder

There are many causes of autism spectrum disorder. However, they are quite complex and difficult to define clearly. In particular, we should pay attention to 2 main causes: environmental and genetic factors:
Genetic factors Some genetic codes seem to be related to autism spectrum disorders. For children, this is also considered the main cause of autism syndrome. Others may develop symptoms due to genetic changes. Sometimes, genes that directly affect a child's brain are more dangerous than the severe symptoms that are warned.
Environmental factors According to scientific studies, some factors such as viruses, drugs or complications during pregnancy. Even environmental pollution can be a cause of autism spectrum disorder.

4. Risks and measures to prevent autism spectrum disorder

Risks for autism spectrum disorder can affect all children. However, there are certain factors that directly affect a child's risk:
Gender: Boys are four times more likely to get the disease than girls. Heredity: Having a family member with the disease increases the risk of developing the disease in the next generation. Other disorders: Sometimes, children with psychological or metabolic disorders can also lead to problems with autism spectrum disorder. Premature babies: Babies born less than 26 weeks have an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder. Reproductive age: Older parents increase the risk of many dangerous diseases, including autism spectrum disorder. This disorder is believed to interfere with daily life and present many dangerous complications. Therefore, we need to take early preventive measures to minimize the risk of infection for children. However, currently, there is no method to prevent autism spectrum disorder. Therefore, scientists encourage subjects who already have this syndrome to learn how to overcome and participate in many activities to improve their psychological well-being.

5. Autism spectrum disorder and symptoms of gastrointestinal disease in children

Children with autism spectrum disorder are at increased risk of many other diseases. Among them, gastrointestinal diseases can be mentioned. Therefore, these children need to be very focused on nutrition and food at each meal to minimize the symptoms of abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea.
Besides, the children may face a lack of nutrition, causing long-term effects. To ensure the nutritional needs of children with autism spectrum disorder, medical organizations have made the following recommendations:
Consult a nutritionist to ensure the most complete supplement maybe the nutrients the baby's body needs. Select foods and replace those that cause irritation. Practice and plan your child's meals well, and have family support. Gastrointestinal symptoms can be affected by autism spectrum disorder. However, you should balance the right nutrition and consult a specialist to minimize the gastrointestinal disease for your baby.
If a child shows signs of autism spectrum disorder, parents need to take the child to a specialist center for autism as soon as possible. Essentially, interventional education is considered the leading approach in autism treatment. Early intervention improves the child's integration and language abilities. Recently, stem cell transplant therapy has been opening up new directions in autism treatment and holds great promise in the future.
Autism stem cell transplant therapy performed by Vinmec Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology is gaining more and more positive results, thanks to continuous improvement in the method of implementation. Many cases of children with autism miraculously recover after years of intervention by other methods that have not worked.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference article: mayoclinic.org