Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurobiological developmental disorder that manifests during early childhood and persists throughout life. It presents symptoms such as difficulties in communication, social interaction and stereotyped behavior.
Understanding autism is fundamental to detect its early signs and to intervene, improving, in most cases, the prognosis.
Early detection
During the first years of life, the basic brain circuits that will later support the rest of learning are developed. This development is altered in cases of autism. That is why it is so important to detect these neurodevelopmental difficulties as early as possible in order to intervene with early action therapies and take advantage of the brain plasticity of the first years of life.
It is desirable to establish the diagnosis of autism before the age of three, despite the difficulties that may exist when detecting neurodevelopment. To achieve the diagnosis it is necessary that the child has reached the maturational moment in which the first manifestations of autism appear. The elements to detect them are:
- Language difficulties
- Social interaction
- Little varied and repetitive range of interests.
However, the intensity of the symptoms is not the same in all cases and the more severe ones will become evident earlier.
Paying attention to the first symptoms
It is necessary to pay attention to the child’s age and how he/she deals with his/her environment. It is very common for children with autism to show little interest or inability to relate to other children or adults. Difficulties in social interaction are manifested by a high tendency to isolation and repetition of activities.
During the first year of life it is common for the child to present significant social attention difficulties along with:
- Presence of irritability
- Extreme passivity
- Absence of eye contact
- Lack of interest in others
- Failure to imitate gestures
- Facial expression not in accordance with the situation.
On the other hand, shared attention is also taken into account. That is, the ability to participate in the other’s interest by manifesting the ability to capture their attention and establish a common reference.
However, what is most common and at the same time worrying is the absence of language or its anomalous presence. The appearance of the first words occurs between 10 and 16 months of age. If after this time the child does not say any words or does not show any intention to communicate, a pediatrician should be consulted.
At later ages, language may be limited, both in form and content, with a tendency to monologue. They have difficulty understanding simple commands even though they express elaborate reasoning and knowledge. They may also be absent-minded, disorganized and have difficulty organizing themselves.
During the second year of life, the absence of imaginative tasks is the most important warning sign. Symbolic play reflects the child’s ability to imitate real-life situations or to use objects to simulate an action, for example, a pencil as if it were a microphone.
To all this, it is convenient to remember that in children from 0 to 3 years of age, attention should be paid when they present any of the following symptoms:
- Does not respond to his or her name
- Does not establish eye contact
- Their communicative intention is scarce, except when it comes to their specific interests.
- Absence of verbal or gestural language
- Shows preference for a game or object and resists change
- Shows exaggerated reactions to some sensory stimuli
- Is easily annoyed
- Presents stereotypies, such as walking on tiptoe or running in a circle
Permanence over time
For different reasons, autism is not always detected in the first years, but its symptoms do not disappear. The child’s new abilities may also be affected due to the continuous neurobiological development, that is why it is essential to identify its symptoms as early as possible.
Between 12 and 14 years of age, differences in social and emotional maturity are more evident. People with autistic traits are not aware of their difficulties in understanding norms and tend to focus conversations based on their interests and activities.
Adolescents with autism tend to have little interest in personal grooming and appearance, in addition to being poorly organized and planned, which leads to problems in school performance and functional adaptation in high school and the workplace.
Other interesting facts
The manifestations of autism may appear during the first months of life, but most cases are diagnosed between 3 and 4 years of age. It is important to identify the signs in order to establish a diagnosis and refer the child to the early stimulation center. Although not all cases improve with proper care, it is advisable to attend health check-ups to assess neurodevelopment.