Read also the main article “Autism Spectrum Disorder”

Autism: Parents should take charge!

Issue of Delayed Diagnosis

It has been found in studies that the mean age of diagnosis of Autism is around 5-6 years of age.

The sooner autism is diagnosed the better the long-term outcomes. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder and the features start at a very early age and can be diagnosed by the age of 2 years.

The delay in the diagnosis is mostly due to the fact that parents think that “children grow at their own pace” and “s/he will catch up”. However, it is always wise to consult a professional trained in assessing autism whenever one has a delay in different developmental milestones especially social smiles and bonding, language acquisition, and exaggerated interest in “objects” rather than fellow human beings.

The benefits of early diagnosis and intervention are profound and can greatly influence a child’s prognosis. A recent study, reported in ARRI, indicated that children who received early intervention beginning at 18 months displayed enhanced communication abilities compared to those for whom the intervention was started at 27 months.

Parents should take charge:

About 150,000 children are on the waiting list for assessment of Autism in the UK. The list is similar in the US as well.

Nepal is not an exception. We do not even know the actual prevalence of Autism in Nepal. Lack of trained professionals, a surge in the need for diagnosis brought about by the void of the COVID pandemic, and a lack of knowledge and skill on the part of physicians and medical officers in the rural parts make timely assessment more challenging in Nepal.

Delay in diagnosis has a profound effect on the outcome of ASD in the long term. A recent study has shown that early intervention beginning at 18 months of age resulted in improved communication abilities, social bonding, and language acquisition.

Parents must take charge in being aware of the condition and being able to at least screen for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders at an early age.

The tell-tale signs are a lack of interest in maintaining eye-to-eye contact, gazing away from humans towards objects, less interest in social plays, and repetitive behaviors. For more signs read

There are many screening tools available on the internet. Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT) and ASDetect are some of the widely used screening tools. These checklists allow parents to indicate the presence or absence of certain features and also record their severity. A final score can then guide the parents to decide if their child has features of Autism or not and can decide on more formal and professional diagnostic services with qualified professionals.

This is far better than “wait for the turn” and letting the child suffer with consequences.

Parents as therapists

Every parent should also be aware of some of the basic principles of how to handle these children.

The most important are:

The most important factor is to move away the child from gadget-based activities to proactive social interaction. Involving and letting children participate in social institutions and activities such as taking them to a restaurant, a movie, a mall, school, relatives, neighbors, churches, or other religious places, not only enhances their social skills but also stimulates and enriches their cognitive abilities.

Responding every time to their nonverbal gestures should be minimized and verbal communication with the child should be increased. Talking to them and telling them what they are pointing at instead of just providing the pointed object enhances language skills.

Letting the child jump on a trampoline or play in the swing stimulates the cerebellum. Vestibular stimulations of such kinds are shown to increase cognitive abilities and facilitate language acquisition.

In today’s rush world, it has become either “wait for your turn” or to take the opportunity and be a supportive and therapeutic parent to your children.

Read more:

Autism Spectrum Disorder | Psychology Nepal

Differences among Rett’s Syndrome, Tourette’s Syndrome, Autism and Down’s Syndrome: An Overview/

Understanding Rett Syndrome: A Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorder

References

1. Edelson, SM. Editorial – Addressing delays: proactive parent-led interventions during waiting periods. Autism Research Institute. https://autism.org/editorial-addressing-delays/ accessed 23 December, 2023