All you needs to know about Autism Spectrum. Causes, symptoms and prevention

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behaviour. The term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity

However, autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood and eventually causes problems functioning in society.

In this article, we will look into the causes, symptoms and preventions of Autism Spectrum disorder.

CAUSES

Many factors may be connected to autism, but no conclusive causes have been found. the fact that symptoms and severity vary, there are probably many causes.

Genetics Factor- Some genetic mutations seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously. Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum disorder. For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic changes (mutations) may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder.

For an instance, In studies of identical twins, if one has autism, there’s up to a 95% chance the other twin will have it as well. For siblings of a person with autism, chances of having the condition are higher than for the general population.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR- Exposure to pollutants and toxins during fetal development may put the child at higher risk of developing ASD. As well as, other events that may occur before and during birth, such as low birth weight, maternal illness, birthing difficulties, and age of parents at conception.

SYMPTOMS

Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique pattern of behaviour and level of severity from low functioning to high functioning.

Some children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty learning, and some have signs of lower than normal intelligence.

Other children with the disorder have normal to high intelligence they learn quickly, yet have trouble communicating and applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting to social situations

Behaviours of people with autism spectrum disorder

Acts of self-injury
Abnormal eating, drinking, or sleeping habits
Lack of fear, or irrational fears
Limited activities and interests
Mood abnormalities
Short attention span
Unusual responses to stimuli (lack of interest or oversensitivity)

PREVENTIONS 

There’s no way to prevent autism spectrum disorder, but there are treatment options. Early diagnosis and intervention is most helpful and can improve behaviour, skills and language development.