Autism is a neurological condition which affects social behavior of an individual. Although, cognitive issues are rare in autism, non-existent social interaction can lead to slow mental development. In extreme cases, fits or seizures can also be experienced which are triggered mostly by overwhelming social situations. It is important to take measures to deal with the disconnect and loneliness that the autistic children experience so that they can have a normal life too. You can also visit or book a doctor online for your child’s health concerns.
Early signs:
Signs of autism can appear as early as infancy. If these signs are noticed at an early stage, then the child can be helped effectively and in time. Following are some of the earliest signs of autism:
- The child is non-responsive which means that the child does not make any facial changes when called out by caretakers.
- The child is unable to express emotions of joy or of pain and mostly maintains a neutral expression.
- The child avoids touch and does not enjoy physical contact even with the parents.
- The child may speak scarcely or not speak at all even in later years of childhood
- When the child does speak, the language might not be very clear, and the speech is likely to be filled with abnormal pauses.
- Autistic children lack hand gestures or any sort of body language and tend to have a stiff posture.
If your child has any of the above symptoms, visit or book a doctor online at your earliest.
Coping strategies:
Autism spectrum disorders have been researched quite extensively which has led to the development of a lot of therapies that can improve life quality for autistic children. Although these therapies require an expert supervision, but as a parent you can also use some of these practices at home to help your child cope in a much better way. Some of these approaches are explained below:
Behavioral therapies: Behavioral therapies find their roots in conditioning and are a great way to induce behavioral changes in individuals. Along with seeing a behaviorist, the parents should create a motivation for the child by positive reinforcements to engage in social interactions.
Floor time: A part of the play therapy, floor time is an activity where the autistic child can play with a trusted adult. The game is selected according to the child’s choice. This therapy works wonders when it comes to improvement of social skills and communication.
Speech therapy: Because of internal neurological problems the autistic children speak rarely which often results in disoriented and delayed speech. A main part of the communication is speech and it is thus necessary to target this aspect separately. Speech therapy can not only train vocal cords but it can also help organize thoughts which is the key to better speech.
If you are seeing symptoms of autism in your children, you should visit a psychologist or book a doctor online as soon as possible. You can visit our website oladoc.com to read up on the autism and look for top psychologists in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. You can also call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 to get directed to the specialists that are suitable for your specific concerns.
