April 2 is World Autism Day, also known as "autism," and they have a nice name — "Children of the Stars." According to the data released by the China Association of Mentally Disabled Persons and Relatives and Friends, the number of autistic people in the mainland is about 14 million, of which about 2.349 million are children. Tens of millions of parents and families have been hit hard.
More than 3.5 million adults and children in the United States have autism, or 1 in every 68 newborns. According to the CDC, more and more people have been diagnosed with autism in recent years.
Many parents lack awareness of autism, resulting in inability to find out in time that their children have abnormalities and delay treatment, which eventually causes serious consequences.
In fact, the age of onset of autism is very early, and some are even diagnosed at the age of 1 or 2.
Because autism does not have the right instruments or blood tests, doctors usually evaluate your child's behavior for abnormalities through developmental screening and comprehensive diagnostic assessments, which may include hearing, vision, and the nervous system.
Symptoms of autism
Symptoms of autism vary from person to person. For some people, the symptoms of the disease are mild, while in others it may be more pronounced. But general symptoms usually tend to involve communication skills and social behavior.
Examples include being extremely introverted, not wanting to play with other children, or not making eye contact. Children with autism may repeat certain behaviors (such as clapping their hands) over and over again, or they may become addicted to specific toys, such as Thomas the Little Train.
Lack of language skills is one of the most widely known symptoms. But this is not always the case. If your child is very sensitive to noise, likes to lose his temper and doesn't react to what you say, be vigilant.
If your child has the above symptoms, it is recommended to need some autism test evaluation form (see comments section) to further determine whether there is autism.
Boys are more likely to get autism?
Studies have shown that the incidence of autism in boys is about 4.5 times that of girls.
Some think it may have something to do with people's stereotypes of boys and girls. A lot of times, people think that girls should be shy, and it doesn't matter if they don't like to talk and like to play by themselves. The impression of boys is that they should play with their friends, run around, and wreak havoc.
Some children may begin to develop autism before they are born
The exact cause of autism is unclear. But one view that most experts agree on is that a combination of genetic and environmental factors increases a child's risk of developing autism.
There is growing evidence that children may begin to develop autism before birth.
The study found that there are some "abnormal cells" in the brains of autistic people that begin to develop before babies are born.
There are also studies that suggest that certain medications taken during pregnancy increase the risk of autism, such as valproic acid, a prescription drug used to treat epilepsy.
Older mothers are more likely to give birth to a child with autism. And, if a baby's brother or sister has autism, then he is more likely to develop autism when he grows up.
Children with autism are at greater risk of other diseases
Studies have shown that people with autism are also at greater risk of developing other diseases. About 2 percent of people with autism have Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability, and as many as 39 percent of people with autism have epilepsy in adulthood. In addition, people with autism may also be more likely to develop anxiety, hyperactivity, depression, sleep problems, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Vaccination does not increase the risk of developing autism
The claim that vaccines cause autism stems from a small 1998 study that claimed to have found a link between measles, mumps and rubella vaccines and autism. The study was subsequently considered flawed, and the original journal that published the study retracted it. Subsequent studies have consistently found that vaccines are safe and have determined that there is no link between childhood vaccination and autism.
Early intervention is key
Although there is no cure for autism, early intervention is of great significance for the healthy growth of children. Helps children with autism grow up healthily. And, the sooner your child is treated, the more gains will be made in terms of communication and social skills.
Sometimes they also need medications to help control symptoms, such as antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs, or medications to help your child focus.
How do I determine if my child has autism?
Our country has its own criteria for judging autism, you can look for some autism assessment forms (visible in the comment area), follow the steps to compare and score, and assess whether your child has autism.
If you have autism, start human intervention as early as possible, this is important for children!