World Autism Day: Know about the symptoms, causes, and treatment.

World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on April 2nd every year to raise awareness about autism and to promote acceptance and inclusion of individuals on the autism spectrum. World Autism Day is one of only seven official health-specific UN Days.

 

 

The theme for this year's World Autism Day is "Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and policymaking" which is an appeal to increase autism understanding so that society and the workplace will accept and support autistic persons.

 

Autism is an ancient term. It was changed to Autism Spectrum Disorder. The main reason was that not everyone had the same severity of autism. For example, if you see depression as a disorder and how it is clinically diagnosed, there are set criteria and everyone who gets diagnosed with depression fulfills all of those criteria. With autism, even if the significant symptoms were observed, how it affected the person and their life was very different. So it was decided to change it to autism spectrum disorder to show that it's a spectrum where people can fall rather than set criteria, plus there were different names for it. Like Autism or Asperger's.

 

Then, the causes of ASD are not known other than some neurological differences. So people with ASD have some differences in the way their brain works, it could be related to a neurotransmitter or the function of some part of the brain but it's not known. That's why they're also called neurodivergent. And people without ASD (when in comparison with people with ASD) are called neurotypicals.

 

There are different major symptoms such as: not being able to socially communicate, not maintaining eye contact, not understanding social cues, and not understanding the concept of other's personal space, then they also cannot emotionally connect with other people so they might come off as insensitive, then they make a lot of repetitive movements like sometimes repeating things that others say. They also have a rigid routine that they don't ever break and hate when someone else breaks it.

 

The severity, some people cannot function alone and need a lot of support even for daily self-care activities like brushing, bathing, and all. But some people can do all those things by themselves and require only some level of support. Then some people with ASD might have some intellectual impairment but others might not. Some also have very high IQs, some have really good artistic abilities. Some individuals with autism may also have sensory processing issues and may be hypersensitive or hypersensitive to stimuli like noise, touch, or light.

 

There is no one specific cause of autism, but researchers believe it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The question of whether there is a connection between autism spectrum disorder and childhood immunizations is at the center of one of the biggest debates in this field. Despite intensive research, there is no conclusive evidence that any immunizations are related to autism spectrum disease.

 

 

It is estimated that around 18 million people have Autism, In India. Statistics also indicate a rise in the number of children in India receiving an autism diagnosis. The nation's startling increase in Autism cases is the result of a combination of reasons, including low awareness, a lack of basic services, and inadequate diagnosis. ASD affects approximately 1% to 1.5 percent of children aged 2 to 9 years.

 

Autism can have significant psychological and physical impacts on individuals and their families. Children with autism may struggle with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem due to difficulties in social interactions and communication. They may also experience gastrointestinal issues, sleep disorders, and other health problems. The families of individuals with autism often face significant challenges in caring for their loved ones, including financial and emotional stress.

 

Most people with ASD are aware that they're somehow different from other people, when people treat them differently they realize it, and it can also hurt their feelings but people generally don't realize that. It's very hard for people to think that they're humans too, they can think too, and they can have a good life too so they just end up sort of belittling them. That's one of the causes of all the stigma around ASD.

 

As a society, there are several things we can do to support individuals with autism and their families. One of the most critical steps is increasing awareness and understanding of autism. This can involve educating the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about the needs and challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families. It can also involve providing support and resources to families and individuals with autism, such as early intervention programs, access to therapy and medication, and employment and education opportunities.

 

In conclusion, World Autism Day is an important opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of autism and the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families.