They live around us, but they have a heart that can only see their own world; they are indifferent to other things, but they are focused on what they like for a long time. They are the "children of the stars."
April 2 is World Autism Day, and the number of children with autism in China exceeds 2 million. How to find and cure autistic children in time and embrace the "children of the stars"?
Visitors view paintings by children with autism. Photo by Wei Liang
Children with autism under the age of 12 in China or more than 2 million
How to detect autism early?
Autism is also known as autism. According to the "Report on the Development of China's Autism Education and Rehabilitation Industry" released in 2019, the incidence of autism in China reached 0.7%, and there were about 10 million people with autism spectrum disorders that year, of which more than 2 million children under the age of 12 were about 2 million.
Wang Jing, deputy chief physician of the Department of Mental Health Care at Beijing Haidian Hospital, said that the main symptoms of autism include social and language disorders, as well as repetitive stereotyped behaviors.
When children are found to have little or no eye contact, poor language communication, always unsociable, playing alone in the corner, and having strange movements and interests, they need to pay attention.
Doctors say that the early manifestations of autism can be summarized as "five noes" ("five less").
No (less) looking: abnormal eye contact, decreased attention to people, especially the human eye;
No (less) should: young children turn a deaf ear to the call of their parents;
No (less) refers to: lack of proper body movements, inability to make requests for something of interest;
No (less) said: Most children with autism have delayed language function;
Inappropriate: Refers to inappropriate use of objects and associated sensory abnormalities, including rotation, arrangement, and continuous visual exploration of objects.
Zhang Lili, an attending physician in the health department of the Capital Pediatric Research Institute, also said that even three or four months old babies respond when the mother is breastfeeding or smiling at the baby. If the child hears the voice and ignores, does not look, does not speak, does not laugh, and cannot recognize, it may also be a manifestation of autism.
Data chart: The picture shows a special education center in Xi'an, an autistic child playing. Photo by He Tong Image source: CFP Visual China
Pampering the "Children of the Stars" What do parents do?
Wang Jing introduced that in the face of autism, parents are the first line of defense for children, and it is very important to do early screening. Parents need to take their child to the hospital where the diagnosis is made by a professional doctor.
At present, there is no specific drug for the treatment of autism, but social training is used, and if there is no intervention, it may be difficult for these children to integrate into society and adapt to society. Be sure to detect early and intervene early.
Zhang Lili also stressed that the earlier the intervention, the better, and there is no doubt about the immediate intervention of the diagnosed child. Parents should not hold the idea of "waiting" and "looking again", whether diagnosed or suspected of diagnosing autism, they should intervene as soon as possible.
Wang Jing introduced that there are some prevention and treatment measures for autism, such as strengthening perinatal health care and implementing eugenics; creating a harmonious and warm family atmosphere; instilling a correct outlook on life in children; cultivating children's listening and speaking ability and improving their language function; parents should not intervene prematurely and should give appropriate encouragement to children's attempts; mobilizing children to help with housework, choosing competitive activities that are easy to master, and so on.
The picture shows the public watching the exhibition of children with autism. Photo by Chen Zhiwei
Are children with autism all geniuses?
The doctor also said that many people have certain misunderstandings about autism:
Is autism a psychosis?
Many people treat autism as a mental illness, look at people with autism differently, and even refuse to associate with them. In fact, people with autism are simple and kind, but sometimes they may express themselves in a different way than normal people.
- Can't people with autism go to school normally?
The best intervention time for autistic patients is 2-6 years old, as long as it is found in time, early scientific intervention, and formal treatment and rehabilitation training, autistic children can go to school normally.
Are children with autism genius?
The actual situation is that less than one in a thousand people with a certain talent in the autistic population, about 50% of autistic children have different degrees of intellectual disorders, early detection, early intervention, early treatment, more love and understanding for autistic children is the best for children.
——Will Autism grow up to be better?
Autism not only does not get better with time, but if it is not treated in time, as you age, some manifestations will only become more and more serious, and eventually make the child gradually lose the ability to take care of themselves. Once parents find that their children have this tendency, they must take their children to seek professional treatment at the first time.
(Source: China News Network)