2023-04-19 18:00:13
- Children living with autism spectrum disorder have affective area and social communication disorders, as well as repetitive and restricted behaviors.
- Worldwide, it is estimated that one in every 115 children in the world may suffer from this condition.
- Not all patients are candidates for the use of medications.
Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder, is a brain condition that affects the way a person communicates and socializes with others. According to the National Council for the Development and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, worldwide one in 115 children is born with this condition.
In this regard, the Dr. Adalberto González Astiazarán, chief of pediatric neurology at the ABC Medical Center, states that the patient living with autism has a deficient affective structure. Therefore, he fails to establish proper relationships and his communication codes are restricted compared to other people.
Problems achieving an accurate diagnosis
It also mentions that autism is not easy to diagnose and, although there is currently information that helps to generate it, such as knowing the recurring manifestations in this type of patient, there are no essential elements for diagnosis.
Based on the above, there may be a risk of doing it in the wrong way or even overdiagnosing, a situation in which treatment and follow-up generate unnecessary costs and damage to the patient.
Some of the symptoms that are related to this type of patients can be explained with depression, anxiety disorder, attention deficit at an early age or even epileptic seizures. For all the above, the specialist affirms that up to 93% of the cases can have an error in the diagnosis.
“Once the existence of affective and communicative disability is documented, it is of great importance to recognize autistic traits. They include hand flapping in young children, lack of eye contact, isolated social behavior, obsessive behaviors or stereotypes, which are involuntary and purposeless movements but are performed the same with each repetition.
It is important to mention that presenting one of these symptoms is not synonymous with autism. To achieve an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to have a clinical part through physical examination and another part of working hypotheses that are carried out with questionnaires, managing to establish central criteria that help to evaluate the possibility of another type of neurological pathology that may be influencing the conduct.
“The interaction with the patient who has autism must respect their way of being, their breaks, their routines. The doctor, upon witnessing the patient’s behavior, will offer security in his routines, because, when modified, they cause him anxiety. For this reason, cautious and attentive work is required”.
Depending on the particularities of each patient, the treatment that will be offered will be specific. You can start with a training through facilitated communication codes or sign language. Also, if there are behavioral or emotional manifestations, sleeping patterns, ability to focus or concentration, it will be necessary to evaluate them individually.
“Although drug treatment may be considered, not all patients with autism are candidates for the use of drugs.”
It is also important to assess the possible presence of other comorbidities, such as epilepsy, which could give an autistic profile without being so. Given this, it is important to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each child so that a multidisciplinary team establishes the appropriate treatment for each case where methodical, obsessive and rigorous traits can be presented, which not only affect the patient, but also their family or the people around you.
Also read:
This is the multidisciplinary therapy offered by the IMSS to patients with autism
McDonald’s creates a menu for people with autism and this is what it looks like
World Autism Awareness Day: 5 tips for caring for patients
#autism #cases #misdiagnosed