Infantile Autism: A severe developmental disorders.

 

 

Child Autism is a complex disability of childhood. Professionals and parents are confused with autistic children, and failing miserably in any task of daily living but are able to solve a complicated puzzle for adults with ease.

Until early 1960, very few people who were not doctors, psychologists, special teachers, had heard of autistic children. But then even more so in recent decades the problems of these children have been studied and discussed.

      In 1943 an American psychiatrist, Leo Kanner described the syndrome as "infantile autism" to explain a "childhood psychosis." The word "autism" comes from the Greek word "autos" meaning "itself." Kanner used the term because the children went through a stage where they were very focused on themselves, and showed no interest in other people.

      This concept has changed and now we talk about autistic syndrome to designate "an evolutionary developmental disorder can be defined as difficulties in verbal and gestural communication, impaired reciprocal social interaction and a restricted repertoire of activities and interests repetitive patterns of behavior "(APA 1994)


      


      Males are affected 3 to 4 times more than girls. The disease begins at birth or during the first three years of life.

      Approximately 30-50% of children with autistic behavior, they also have a neurological problem, such as spasticity or epilepsy, this is known as co-morbidity of autistic syndrome.Studies in the United States and Britain have indicated that autistic children have parents with higher education than the average population, but this is a matter of controversy.
Causes of Autism
     In the study of the causes of autism have developed several theories that attempt to explain the origin of the autistic syndrome. None of them alone has done it, now it is considered that the etiology is multifactorial.

      Among the most widely accepted theories have had are, genetics, neurobiology and psychological.With regard to the genetic etiology, initially hailed as a mechanism of autosomal recessive (by family segregation analysis, and findings in monozygotic twins concordant), but is currently thought that there are fewer than 10 genes that act in a multiplicative, so that one speaks of Multiplicative inheritance.

      He also noted the so-called fragile X syndrome, ie the lack of substance at the distal end of the long arm of chromosome as the cause of the autistic syndrome.

      With regard to the neurobiological etiology of the abnormalities is spoken in neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin, which is increased in children with autistic syndrome (hiperserotoninemia) that alters brain function.

      Other studies speak of changes in the cerebellum, specifically changes in the number and size of neurons in the cerebellar nuclei, suggesting a developmental disorder in the synaptic relationships of these nuclei. Neuroimaging studies have shown abnormalities in brain volume (decreased) in the cerebral cortex and the limbic system. There are also immunologic findings demonstrating altered immunoglobulin levels, specifically low and immunoglobulin A deficient activity of the complement system.

      Psychological theories that have been used to explain the problem: the socio-affective, originally proposed by Kanner and then reassessed by Hobson in the 80's, the cognitive and Frieth Lesli and a third is the cognitive affective.

      Socio-affective theory of Hobson (1989), says that autistic people lack the constitutional components to interact emotionally with other people, such reactions are needed for "setting up a world of its own common" with others. The lack of results in social experience "fails to recognize that others have their own thoughts, feelings, and" severely impaired ability to abstract, feel, think symbolically.

      Cognitive theory posits that cognitive deficits are due to a disorder called metarepresentacional, which is responsible for children to develop a simulated game and can attribute mental states to other content.

      Cognitive-affective theory, suggests that communication difficulties and social, have their origin in primary affective deficit, which is closely related to cognitive deficits, this would explain by Mundy (1986), difficulties in assessing mental states and emotional needs of others.
Behavioral characteristics of autism
     Based on the definition of the American Association of Pediatrics, Childhood Autism features are:
* Abnormal Social InteractionAre given by the following:1 - Deficit in nonverbal behaviors, prosocial: no eye contact, changes in facial expression, body postures and gestures abnormal.2 - No relation to their peers.3 - Lack of spontaneous sharing games, entertainment or interests with other children.4 - Absence or very important gap in the social or emotional reciprocity.
* With regard to the Communication Disorders are:1 - Delayed evolution of language that can reach what is called verbal agnosia (an alteration of the encoding and decoding of language)2 - repetitive and stereotyped use of language, immediate echolalia and / or delayed (it is the repetition of words that tells the caller).
* For restricted and stereotyped interests are determined by codes of ritualized behavior, motor stereotypes and over-attachment to certain objects, which causes resistance to change, often expressed violently.
* With respect to cognitive impairment, there is great variability from a profound mental deficiency to superior capabilities. In some autistic irregularity was so marked that an exceptional talent (memorizing lists of phone numbers, addresses, music, drawing, etc..) Can coexist with a global mental incompetence.
The role of the pediatrician in the diagnosis of Autistic Syndrome
     The pediatrician is perhaps among physicians, which has a greater responsibility on the health of the population and must be a great clinician to diagnose and treat a patient, often by their degree of development is not able to communicate clearly.

      It is recalled that the doctor is the specialist doctor who is closest to the child and family, and who exerts more influence on them.

      So the doctor comes as a major element in the early diagnosis of autism is of great value for the prognosis of the disease, and should be part of the multidisciplinary team for treatment.
Parents of autistic children     Having a disabled child, whatever their problems (physical or mental), it is very hard to accept and manage. Parents may feel guilty, anxious, confused, and hopeless about the future of the child. All these emotional reactions are valid and legitimate, this is when the doctor comes to play an important role on the one hand provide emotional support and the other to provide professional help to try to overcome the problem.

      Autism is not very common to find in the street, in malls, in parks, in addition to many autistic children appear normal. Most people know little about it, making parents feel alone and strange in society. There is that partnerships have emerged aid and attention of parents of autistic children, to gain acceptance of the problem and subject to appropriate therapy for each case.
Autistic Syndrome Treatment
     So far there is no curative treatment of infantile autism, however there has been progress in the prevention of this disease to find possible causal factors.

      It is also used drug therapy for treating some coexisting conditions such as insomnia, hyperactivity, seizures, aggressive behaviors and etc..


      Currently using behavioral modification techniques, teaching social skills, social language training, operant conditioning, teaching specialist, etc., In short, a series of unique therapeutic strategies to minimize weaknesses and better social life.Do not forget that the parents of these children require much assistance, training strategies and resources for proper management of these children at home, and that autism occurs disabilities throughout life.Autism epidemiology     Studies conducted in developed countries like England, Denmark and the United States have indicated that 3 to 5 children in 10,000 have autism. In the U.S. there are about 60,000 autistic children under 18 years, most school age.