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Autism Awareness

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition characterized by challenges with social interaction and communication, as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. The effects and symptoms of autism vary widely between individuals. Early intervention programs focusing on behavior, social skills, and overall development can help children with autism. Seeking support from professionals is important for developing an effective treatment plan tailored to each child's unique needs.

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Shikhar Dhawan Foundation
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92 views13 pages

Autism Awareness

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition characterized by challenges with social interaction and communication, as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. The effects and symptoms of autism vary widely between individuals. Early intervention programs focusing on behavior, social skills, and overall development can help children with autism. Seeking support from professionals is important for developing an effective treatment plan tailored to each child's unique needs.

Uploaded by

Shikhar Dhawan Foundation
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Autism

Awareness
a n S i n g h
Kir

y c h i a t r i c
(Ps

W o r k e r )
Social
Autism Spectrum
Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a
complex developmental condition
that involves persistent challenges in
social interaction, speech and
nonverbal communication, and
restricted/repetitive behaviors. The
effects of ASD and the severity of
symptoms are different in each
person.
Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Restricted and repetitive patterns of
Social interaction and
behaviors, interests or activities:
communication problems:
hand-flapping and toe-walking, playing with
toys in an uncommon way (such as lining up
including difficulties in normal cars or flipping objects), speaking in a unique
back-and-forth conversation, way (such as using odd patterns or pitches in
speaking or “scripting” from favorite shows),
reduced sharing of interests or having significant need for a predictable routine
emotions, challenges in or structure, exhibiting intense interests in
understanding or responding to activities that are uncommon for a similarly
aged child, experiencing the sensory aspects
social cues such as eye contact of the world in an unusual or extreme way
and facial expressions, deficits in (such as indifference to pain/temperature,
excessive smelling/touching of objects,
developing/maintaining/understa fascination with lights and movement, being
nding relationships (trouble overwhelmed with loud noises, etc), and others
making friends), and others.
Diagnosis and Risk Factors
A person with ASD might:

Not respond to their name by 12 months of age


Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane
flying over) by 14 months
Not play “pretend” games (pretend to “feed” a doll) by
18 months
Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or
talking about their own feelings
Have delayed speech and language skills
Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
Give unrelated answers to questions
Get upset by minor changes
Have obsessive interests
Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell,
taste, look, or feel
Social Skills
Social issues are one of the most common symptoms in all of
the types of ASD. People with an ASD do not have just social
“difficulties” like shyness. The social issues they have cause
serious problems in everyday life.

Examples of social issues related to ASD:

Does not respond to name by 12 months of age


Avoids eye-contact
Prefers to play alone
Does not share interests with others
Only interacts to achieve a desired goal
Has flat or inappropriate facial expressions
Does not understand personal space boundaries
Avoids or resists physical contact
Is not comforted by others during distress
Has trouble understanding other people’s feelings or
talking about own feelings
Communication
Each person with ASD has different communication skills.
Some people can speak well. Others can’t speak at all or only
very little.

Examples of communication issues related to ASD:

Delayed speech and language skills


Repeats words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
Reverses pronouns (e.g., says “you” instead of “I”)
Gives unrelated answers to questions
Does not point or respond to pointing
Uses few or no gestures (e.g., does not wave goodbye)
Talks in a flat, robot-like, or sing-song voice
Does not pretend in play (e.g., does not pretend to “feed”
a doll)
Does not understand jokes, sarcasm, or teasing
Other Symptoms
Some people with ASD have other symptoms. These
might include:
Hyperactivity (very active)
Impulsivity (acting without thinking)
Short attention span
Aggression
Causing self injury
Temper tantrums
Unusual eating and sleeping habits
Unusual mood or emotional reactions
Lack of fear or more fear than expected
Unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste,
look, or feel
Different Treatments
Intervention and Therapies
Early intensive behavioral intervention,
cognitive behavioral therapy, and social
skills training are types of behavior
programs.
Early intensive behavioral interventions
target children’s overall development.
Programs that use cognitive behavioral
therapy help children manage anxiety.
Coping Cat and Facing Your Fears are
examples of this type of program.
Social skills programs address social skills,
attention, and play. Programs such as
Skillstreaming help older children with their
social skills.
What Works Best?

Every child's needs are unique and


hence, they require a tailor-made plan
of treatment and combination of
therapies.
Speak up and ask for help!
When things get tough,
don't just push it. Ask
Support will always be
people, reach out to
available as long as we
health workers, and
ask for it.
seek the help of
professionals.
Reach us at Dr. Harjot Makkar's
Mind Heal
We have a team of Psychiatric Social Worker, Psychologists, Dietitian,
and Physiotherapist at our Neuropsychiatry Centre and Hospital.
Get your complete evaluation done!
Thank you for
joining us!

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