Improving the quality of life for Nigerians with autism

World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2 to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and promote the livelihood of people having autism. It also aims to encourage early diagnosis and intervention that can lead to improved outcomes for individuals with autism.

Autism affects people of all ages, races, and ethnicities. The Day aims to increase understanding ASD. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour, characterised by repetitive actions and issues with socializing. The day provides a platform to enforce inclusion for autistic people and reduce social stigma associated with ASD.

This year, the theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2023 is “Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking.”

The United Nations General Assembly in 2007 passed a resolution to adopt April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. It recognised the need to create and raise awareness about autism which affects individuals’ social interaction, communication, and behavior. The first World Autism Awareness Day was observed on April 2, 2008.

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socialises with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.

Autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood and eventually causes problems functioning in the society socially, could be in school or at work.

Often children show symptoms of autism within the first year. A small number of children appear to develop normally in the first year, and then go through a period of regression between 18 and 24 months of age when they develop autism symptoms.

While there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children.

Some children show signs of autism spectrum disorder in early infancy, such as reduced eye contact, lack of response to their name or indifference to caregivers. Other children may develop normally for the first few months or years of life, but then suddenly become withdrawn or aggressive or lose language skills they’ve already acquired. Signs are usually seen by age 2 years.

Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior and level of severity, from low functioning to high functioning.

Some children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty learning, and some have signs of lower than normal intelligence. Other children with the disorder have normal to high intelligence — they learn quickly, yet have trouble communicating and applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting to social situations. Because of the unique mixture of symptoms in each child, severity can sometimes be difficult to determine. It’s generally based on the level of impairments and how they impact the ability to function.

Some common signs shown by people who have autism spectrum disorder include: Social communication and interaction. A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have problems with social interaction and communication skills.

Such may fail to respond to his/her name or appears not to hear at times. He resists cuddling and holding, and tends to prefer playing alone, retreating into his/her own world. In other case, he has poor eye contact and lacks facial expression. He doesn’t speak or has delayed speech, or loses words or sentences he was previously speaking. Such has difficulty starting a conversation or keep one going, or only starts one to make requests or label items.

Some could speak with an abnormal tone or rhythm and may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech, repeating words or phrases verbatim, but doesn’t understand how to use them. Many in this condition don’t appear to understand simple questions or directions. They don’t express emotions or feelings and appear unaware of others’ feelings. They don’t point at or bring objects to share interest. Their approaches to social interaction are inappropriate, but passive, aggressive or disruptive. They have difficulty recognising nonverbal cues, such as interpreting other people’s facial expressions, body postures or tone of voice.

Autism spectrum disorder has no single known cause. Given the complexity of the disorder, and the fact that symptoms and severity vary, there are probably many causes, ranging from genetics to environmental.

Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum disorder. For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic changes (mutations) may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. Still other genes may affect brain development or the way that brain cells communicate, or they may determine the severity of symptoms. Some genetic mutations seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously.

Concerning environmental factors, researchers are currently exploring whether factors such as viral infections, medications or complications during pregnancy, or air pollutants play a role in triggering autism spectrum disorder.

There’s no way to prevent autism spectrum disorder, but there are treatment options. Early diagnosis and intervention is most helpful and can improve behavior, skills and language development.

However, intervention is helpful at any age. Though children usually don’t outgrow autism spectrum disorder symptoms, they may learn to function well.

There are many things one can do to help a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) overcome their challenges. The following parenting tips, treatments, and services can help as expounded by Ted Hutman, Ph.D. an Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Santa Monica, CA. et al.

“It’s true that ASD is not something a person simply ‘grows out of,’ there are many treatments that can help children acquire new skills and overcome a wide variety of developmental challenges. From free government services to in-home behavioral therapy and school-based programs, assistance is available to meet your child’s special needs and help them learn, grow, and thrive in life.

“When you’re looking after an autistic child, it’s also important to take care of yourself. Being emotionally strong allows you to be the best parent you can be to your child in need.

“Educate yourself about the treatment options, ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions.

“Become an expert on your child. Figure out what triggers your kid’s challenging or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. What does your child find stressful or frightening? Calming? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable? If you understand what affects your child, you’ll be better at troubleshooting problems and preventing or modifying situations that cause difficulties.

“Accept your child, quirks and all. Rather than focusing on how your autistic child is different from other children and what he or she is ‘missing,’ practice acceptance. Enjoy your kid’s special quirks, celebrate small successes, and stop comparing your child to others. Feeling unconditionally loved and accepted will help your child more than anything else.

“Don’t give up. It’s impossible to predict the course of autism spectrum disorder. Don’t jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. Like everyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.”

Just like ‘Times of India’ wrote, World Autism Awareness Day is an opportunity to raise a collective voice in support of people diagnosed with Autism. The increased awareness will help bring down the social stigma that segregates autistic people from the rest of the world. It encourages individuals, organisations, and governments to take steps to create a more inclusive and accessible world for people with autism.

In caring for someone with autism, we need to schedule ample time for communication. Language and social skills vary widely among people with ASD. People with autism often have trouble adjusting to changes in routines, schedules, and environments, participate in emotional preparation, give them personal space, remain calm and patient.

Depending on your child’s needs, speech therapy to improve communication skills, occupational therapy to teach activities of daily living, and physical therapy to improve movement and balance may be beneficial. A psychologist can recommend ways to address problem behavior.

Sheldon Reid said, “There are many treatments that can help children with ASD acquire new skills and overcome a variety of developmental challenges. These treatments don’t aim to cure ASD. Instead, they help improve your child’s ability to socialise and play, function academically, and move through everyday life with adaptive skills.

“Not every ASD treatment approach is effective for every child, though. It may take some time to tailor the treatment options to your child’s specific needs. But a little patience and persistence can make a big difference in your child’s life. Learning about the many treatments available can help you start to identify which approaches are best for your child and ensure he/she develops to his/her full potential.

“When it comes to early autism treatment options, there are a dizzying variety of therapies and approaches. Some autism therapies focus on reducing problematic behaviors and building communication and social skills, while others deal with sensory integration problems, motor skills, emotional issues, and food sensitivities.

“With so many choices, it is extremely important to do your research, talk to autism treatment experts, and ask questions. But keep in mind that you don’t have to choose just one type of therapy. The goal of autism treatment should be to treat your child’s unique array of symptoms and needs. This often requires a combined treatment approach that incorporates several different types of therapy.”

If all these steps are taken into cognisance in managing children with ASD, they’re bound to be useful to themselves and the society. By so doing, they’re incorporated into the society and  less stigmatised.