It was perhaps the portrayal of Raymond by Dustin Hoffman in the 1988 movie Rainman that brought the issue of autism front and centre for many of us. In the movie, Hoffman essayed the role specifically of an autistic servant; however it served to create general awareness and a discussion around autism itself. Autism is a developmental disorder that creates difficulty in interaction and results in repetitive, restricted behaviour. We try to get a sense of what it is like to live with autism spectrum disorder this World Autism Awareness Day, which was observed recently.
Parents and/or caregivers usually notice some symptoms during the first two or three years of a child’s life; though symptoms may manifest in the first year of life. In some cases, children seem to reach developmental milestones at the usual pace and then show symptoms.
Autistic children may show symptoms such as avoiding eye contact, playing alone and preferring not to interact with others. Repetitive behaviors and being upset or startled by any change are other commonly-noted symptoms. Delayed milestones and late or poor communication are other symptoms. Echolalia (repeating other's words) and ritualistic behaviour (sameness) are defining factors in autism.
The term mental retardation is thought of as pejorative and has largely been replaced by the term intellectual disability in common parlance as well as official literature. While children with intellectual disability typically have delayed milestones and low IQ which restricts learning and other skills, many children with autism have normal IQ. Children with autism form emotional attachments with some difficulty, display ritualistic behavior, while this is usually not true in those with intellectual disabilities.
Boys are five times as likely as girls to be diagnosed with autism and it could affect one in every 68 children. The prevalence of autism is growing. Autism is actually a spectrum of disorders that may be classified into low, medium or high functioning autism depending upon the IQ and the severity of the symptoms as well as the person's ability to function independently.
Autism cannot be cured, but it can be managed effectively. Medications and behavioral treatments can help autistic individuals live as normal a life as possible. Family therapy, anger management, sensory processing, animal assisted therapy are all seen to work, depending upon individual symptoms and severity. Therapy can improve social interaction, attention span and learning abilities. Some autistic people also have gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbances and/ or seizures. Appropriate medications can help deal with such problems.
It is important for parents not to be in denial of their child’s condition. It is best to acknowledge the issue and have a child screened for a definitive diagnosis and not to let the fear of social stigma impede the child's progress. Children with autism benefit from early interventions and treatments – the earlier the intervention, the better the outcomes.
Though there is no cure for autism, in some cases, autistic individuals may ‘lose the diagnosis’; in other words they no longer display the symptoms or fit the diagnosis of autism. It is observed that between 4 and 13% of autistic children lose their autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis; however researchers say that this doesn't always mean a complete "recovery" from developmental problems.
It is possible to be definitively diagnosed with autism as an adult. One could go through life struggling in some or another way; feeling like a misfit, thinking that all is not as it should be. Various different diagnoses such as dyslexia or ADHD or even Asperger's Syndrome could be made during the growing years, but may not be wholly accurate. It is important to remember that there is nothing to hide or feel ashamed about here. It is important to acknowledge and accept a condition for what it is and begin the process that will help an autistic person live as full and happy life as possible – no matter what age they are.
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