Child and Adolescent Development and Autism Center (ÇEGOMER) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist Assist. Assoc. Dr. Neriman Kilit evaluated Autism Spectrum Disorder within the scope of Autism Awareness month.
Noting that autism is a disorder that must be diagnosed before the age of 3, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist Assist. Assoc. Dr. Neriman Kilit pointed out that the two main symptoms of autism are social and communicative disorders.
Touching on the symptoms that can start with a mutual smile and lack of finger tracking in autism spectrum disorder, Kilit said that the earliest diagnosis can be made between the ages of 18 months and 2 years.
Stressing that the most accepted treatment for autism disorder is special education, Kilit said that occupational therapy and speech therapy have a very important place in the treatment of autism.
Stating that autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, Kilit said, “Autism spectrum disorders are caused by structural and functional differences in the brain development process in the mother's womb, polygonically, that is, more than one gene is affected, and environmental factors also have a more or less effect on the emergence period and severity. It is one of the other neurodevelopmental disorders in which it is found.” said.
Two main symptoms of autism: “Social and communicative disorder”
Noting that the spectrum means a fan or umbrella, Kilit said, “When we evaluate from this perspective, autism spectrum disorder is the two main symptoms of autism; It is a disorder in which social and communicative disorders and limited interests manifest themselves differently in different individuals, with different intensities. Autism spectrum disorder is used to mean a disorder in which different outpatient manifestations occur and more than one and many patients come together. used the phrases.
“Autism has a genetic transition to bipolar and schizophrenia”
Stating that autism is currently classified as low-functionality to high-functionality according to the level of functionality, or from high-severity to low-severity according to its severity, Kilit said, “Autism spectrum disorders are among psychiatric disorders even more than bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with up to 90 percent genetic transmission. It is a genetically inherited disorder.” he said.
“Being a mother over the age of 40 increases the risk”
Pointing out the environmental factors of autism, Assist. Assoc. Dr. Neriman Kilit, “As environmental factors, many factors before, during, and after birth have been reviewed, but today, the most effective environmental factors are seen as the mother's age over 40.” said.
“The earliest diagnosis is around 18 months-2 years old”
Noting that in autism spectrum disorders, there are symptoms that can start with mutual smile and lack of finger tracking, he said that the earliest diagnosis can be made between the ages of 18 months and 2 years.
“Problems with social communication and speech arise”
Stating that the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder can be examined under two main headings, Kilit said:
“There are problems with social communication and speech in particular. There are symptoms such as no speech, no eye contact, not looking when their name is called, not being aware of other people, not initiating verbal or non-verbal communication with other people, lack of joint attention, and not using the index finger. It should be noted that due to the spectrum term mentioned above, these symptoms can manifest themselves from very low severity to very high severity.
“Becomes obsessed with one area and insists on sameness”
Stating that limited areas of interest are remarkable in autism disorder, Kilit said, “It is remarkable that individuals with autism have obsessions in one area, insist on sameness, and do not accept daily and instantaneous changes as spatial-temporal. Behaviors such as flapping wings or turning around, called stereotypical movements, may also occur in individuals with autism. In individuals with autism, unexplained crying and laughing attacks can be seen. used the phrases.
“The leading treatment, special education”
Stressing that the most accepted treatment for autism disorder is special education, Kilit said, “From the moment we are diagnosed with autism, we send them directly to special education. Apart from that, occupational therapy and speech therapy are also very important in the treatment of autism. Occupational therapies and behavioral techniques have also emerged among autism therapies in recent times.” he said.
“The diagnosis should be made before the age of 3”
Lock said that the diagnosis of autism should be made before the age of 3 and continued his words as follows:
“While it is mentioned that there is a normal development in some children until the age of 18 months-2 years, it can be seen that language development is not normal in some children from the beginning. When we look at autism in general terms, there is no mention of a bodily posture difference, but toe walking is one of the symptoms seen specifically in autism. We can most often diagnose autism around 18 months. The diagnosis of autism can be made even earlier than this. It is extremely important to start treatment as soon as possible after the diagnosis is made.”