What is Autism?

What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder is defined as a neurodevelopmental and lifelong disorder. Autism stems from a neurological disorder that affects the brain's chemistry and structure and is associated with its emergence within the first 3 years of life. Autism is characterized by three distinctive behavioral patterns. The first is difficulties in social communication, the second is problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and the third is repetitive behaviors or restricted and obsessive interests.

What are the characteristics of autism?

• Inability to connect with others, as other children do
• Extreme self-absorption
• Marked resistance to being held
• Language problems such as mutism (inability to speak) and repetitive speech
• Excellent memory in some cases
• Specific food preferences
• Extreme fear responses to loud noises
• An obsessive desire to maintain repetition and sameness
• Unusual and repetitive physical movements, such as spinning around or rocking back and forth

Epidemiology

Autism is more common in boys than in girls. In individuals with autism, speech either does not develop at all, or even if it does develop, the language elements show qualitative differences compared to individuals with typical speech development. They experience problems in the semantic and pragmatic areas of language. Some examples of pragmatic language problems include asking questions, taking turns in conversation, and making eye contact with the person they are talking to. Their vocabulary is limited, and they do not use supportive communication such as pointing and facial expressions to aid verbal communication.

Restricted Motor Activity and Interests

Repetitive motor movements are observed. Examples of repetitive motor movements include hand flapping, rocking back and forth or side to side, spinning around, and arranging objects in a specific order and pattern. Their responses to pain and discomfort may be different.

Etiology

The causes of autism can be evaluated under three main headings

Genetic Risk Factors

Autism is explained by genetic differences or mutations passed down from other family members. Abnormalities in genetic coding can cause abnormal functioning in brain development. Cognitive development in autism is a highly controversial topic. Intelligence tests have been conducted, and it has been suggested that many individuals with autism have mental retardation.

Comorbid Disorders

Approximately 17% of individuals diagnosed with autism have obsessive-compulsive disorder, 25% to 70% have intellectual disability, 30% to 50% have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 28% have childhood schizophrenia, and 20% have epilepsy. Gastrointestinal problems are found in as high as 79% of cases.

Treatment Methods

No treatment method has been found to completely eliminate or reduce autism. The drugs Abilify and Risperdal have been approved to alleviate the hypersensitivity associated with autism. Another drug called Balovaptan has been found to improve basic social communication and interaction skills. It can be detected from the 12th month onwards.

Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis is the science of behavior. UDA-based teaching methods have been shown to bring significant progress in the development of language, academic, social, and play skills in children with autism. Children educated using behavior modification methods have shown increases not only in autism symptoms but also in IQ levels.

Discrete Trial Teaching

Discrete trial teaching is a behavior analysis-based method that contributes most effectively to the learning of children with autism.

Natural Environment Teaching

Natural environment teaching is also a behavioral teaching method, but the most important factor that distinguishes it from teaching through separate trials is that it is based on the child's interests.

Response training is one of the UDA-based natural teaching methods. Teaching takes place in the child's natural environment, is child-centered, and is structured according to the child's interests, motivations, and favorite games.

Applied Verbal Behavior Training

It is a branch of applied behavior analysis. Skinner states that language can be analyzed by separating it into functional units and says that each verbal unit will serve a different function. These verbal units are, in order, requesting, naming, echoing, and conversational skills.

Natural Developmental Behavioral Approaches

The Early Start Denver Approach is one of the early intervention approaches and can be applied from 12 months to 4 years of age. It uses a program that encompasses all areas of development. A checklist consisting of a four-level curriculum is applied. The learning list is created based on the results of testing this checklist. The main elements of the Denver approach are, in order: a group of interdisciplinary professionals, a checklist belonging to a developmental program that includes all skill areas. It focuses on interpersonal interaction. It maintains the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication. Cooperation with parents is important. Compared to traditional behavioral approaches, it strengthens the bond between the child and the parent.