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| Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) / ADHD What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD? in Urdu |
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD ?
This lecture is about a children's condition that we need to talk about. I have a friend who has a child, and the diagnosis for this condition came a bit late. The condition is called Autism. In Autism, there are changes in the child's behavior. First of all, it's important to understand that any diagnosed condition is not necessarily dangerous. What is dangerous is when a condition is not diagnosed. Through my friend's experiences, I realized why it's important to educate people about this because many parents observe changes in their children but may not understand when to contact a doctor.
The purpose of this lecture is to inform parents that during the first 3 years of a child's life, there are developmental changes. As children grow older, there are changes happening inside them that parents should pay attention to. If parents feel that their 2 to 3-year-old child is showing signs of something different, it's essential to contact a pediatrician.
Autism is referred to as a Neuro Hormonal Disease. Neuro-hormonal means that there are hormones in the child's brain, along with genetic factors, environmental factors, and social factors that lead to certain signs. In other words, there is no specific single cause. The cause could be genetic, familial, environmental, or social. There could also be an issue with the balance of hormones in the brain, leading to certain signs.
These signs can be divided into two parts. One is about how your child behaves with others, and the other is about the child's own actions. If a child, aged 2, 3, or 4, is not interacting much with others, prefers to be alone, and has difficulty forming relationships with others, it could be a concern. It might seem like the child is playing, but if you notice signs that I'm talking about, indicating something might be wrong, it's important to contact a pediatrician or a specialist in children's health.
When a child faces a problem, others usually empathize with them. However, the child I'm talking about doesn't have these emotions inside. The typical feelings of understanding others' words or expressing their own feelings, which are common in children, might be lacking in this child. It becomes challenging for them to play with other children, form relationships, and engage in social issues. If you observe that your child, who is now 2 to 3 years old, is not showing these typical behaviors, it's essential to contact a pediatrician.
Another sign is that some children repeatedly engage in specific physical behaviors. For instance, some children may hit their heads, flap their hands in a repetitive manner (known as flapping hand movements), or touch other children excessively without any apparent reason. Sometimes, these children exhibit shouting or screaming when they encounter places with slightly brighter lights or where people are talking more. If you provide them with something that typical children enjoy, it may not stop their vocalizations.
So, these are some signs that should raise concerns and make you think that your child might be dealing with a condition known as Autism. Autism is a developmental disorder in children, and it's said that the earlier it is diagnosed, the better. It's not necessary that it only occurs in young children; sometimes, even older individuals may be affected. Young children with Autism can sometimes become very aggressive and engage in repetitive movements.
When you take your child to the doctor, they will first exclude certain possibilities, meaning they will check if the symptoms are not coming from, for example, a hearing problem. Sometimes, children with Autism also undergo tests such as audiometry to check for hearing issues because they may not respond to calls due to a lack of eye contact. When parents or someone calls them, they may not make eye contact and continue to stay in their own world.
Exactly, sometimes children with hearing impairment may not respond, and this factor needs to be considered. Additionally, there are instances where a child's overall development is not progressing as expected. In such cases, a doctor will investigate to determine the underlying cause. Occasionally, especially in girls, after the age of 5-6 years, there may be initial normal growth in both body and brain, but then a sudden halt in development occurs, accompanied by repetitive hand movements. This condition is known as Rett Syndrome (RTT). So, the doctor will examine to ensure that it's not Rett Syndrome (RTT) instead of Autism.
