You can notice signs of autism in a child in the first years of life. A characteristic sign is a reluctance to make contact, physical or social. As a result, the speech development of the child is inhibited, who simply does not strive to establish connections with the outside world.

The child does not show initiative in communication and avoids eye contact. Autistic people are characterized by echolalia - the repetition of words or phrases, which can falsely create the impression of mental retardation. However, in reality, mental retardation is observed only in a third of cases; usually autistic people understand the meaning of what is being said.

An autistic child does not strive to find a common language with peers, seems emotionally cold and detached. Autistic people are distinguished by hypersensitivity to sensory influences from the environment: light, sounds, smells, touches. High intensity impacts cause suffering akin to pain from physical damage.

Autists and society

Autistic people are rigid and find it very difficult to adapt to change. That’s why they protest against the disruption of the usual way of life and like to restore order themselves. They live according to a certain routine and demand that their loved ones strictly adhere to it.

Autistic people have difficulty understanding other people's messages, verbal or nonverbal. Therefore, they do not perceive humor, the figurative meaning of words. The meaning of what is said is taken literally.

In adulthood, the interests of autistic people are limited and usually include one specific area. They are well versed in this area and know the smallest details. With other people, they can only really talk about their interests, while not paying attention to their response.

Autistic people do not understand other people's problems and do not seek reassurance themselves. They prefer to spend time alone, indulging in what they love. This makes it very difficult for these people to make friends and maintain long-term relationships.

People with autism have impaired forecasting and planning skills, which are responsible for the frontal lobes of the brain. Often they simply cannot foresee the development of events, which can lead to life-threatening actions.

As for creative talent, there is a type of autism - Asperger's syndrome. People with this syndrome are distinguished by genius in some isolated area. Many autistic people are artists, musicians or scientists.

Currently, there are a huge number of diseases that are inherited. But it also happens that it is not the disease itself that is transmitted, but a predisposition to it. Let's talk about autism.

Autism concept

Autism is a special mental disorder that most likely occurs due to disorders in the brain and is expressed in an acute deficit of attention and communication. An autistic child does not adapt well socially and practically does not make contact.

This disease is associated with disorders in genes. In some cases, this condition is associated with one gene or In any case, the child is born with an existing pathology in mental development.

Causes of autism

If we consider the genetic aspects of this disease, they are so complex that sometimes it is not at all clear whether it is caused by the interaction of several genes or is it a mutation in one gene.

Still, genetic scientists identify some provoking factors that can lead to the birth of an autistic child:

1. Old age of the father.
2. The country in which the baby was born.
3. Low birth weight.
4. Lack of oxygen during childbirth.
5. Prematurity.
6. Some parents believe that vaccinations can influence the development of the disease, but this fact has not been proven. Perhaps it is simply a coincidence of the timing of vaccination and the manifestation of the disease.
7. It is believed that boys are more likely to suffer from this disease.
8. The influence of substances that cause congenital pathologies that are often associated with autism.
9. Aggravating effects can be caused by: solvents, heavy metals, phenols, pesticides.
10. Infectious diseases suffered during pregnancy can also trigger the development of autism.
11. Smoking, use of drugs, alcohol, both during pregnancy and before it, which leads to damage to reproductive gametes.

Autistic children are born for various reasons. And, as you can see, there are a huge number of them. It is almost impossible to predict the birth of a baby with such a deviation in mental development. Moreover, there is a possibility that the predisposition to this disease may not be realized. But no one knows how to guarantee this with 100% certainty.

Forms of manifestation of autism

Although most children with this diagnosis have much in common, autism can manifest itself in different ways. These children contact the outside world in different ways. Depending on this, the following forms of autism are distinguished:

Most doctors believe that the most severe forms of autism are quite rare; most often we are dealing with autistic manifestations. If you work with such children and devote enough time to activities with them, then the development of an autistic child will be as close as possible to that of their peers.

Manifestations of the disease

Signs of the disease appear when changes begin in areas of the brain. When and how this happens is still not clear, but most parents notice signs of autistic children already in early childhood. If you take urgent measures when they appear, then it is quite possible to instill in your child communication and self-help skills.

At present, methods for a complete cure for this disease have not yet been found. A small proportion of children enter adulthood on their own, although some of them even achieve some success.

Even doctors are divided into two categories: some believe that it is necessary to continue the search for adequate and effective treatment, and others are convinced that autism is much broader and more than a simple disease.

Surveys of parents have shown that in such children one can often observe:

These qualities were most often demonstrated by older autistic children. Signs that are still often found in such children are certain forms of repetitive behavior, which doctors divide into several categories:

• Stereotypy. It manifests itself in swaying of the body, rotation of the head, and constant swaying of the whole body.
• Strong need for monotony. Such children usually begin to protest even when their parents decide to rearrange the furniture in their room.
• Compulsive behavior. An example is nesting objects and objects in a certain way.
• Auto-aggression. Such manifestations are directed towards oneself and can lead to various injuries.
• Ritual behavior. For such children, all actions are like a ritual, constant and everyday.
• Restricted behavior. for example, it is directed only at one book or one toy, but does not perceive others.

Another manifestation of autism is avoidance of eye contact, they never look into the eyes of the interlocutor.

Symptoms of Autism

This disorder affects the nervous system, and therefore manifests itself primarily as developmental disorders. They are usually noticeable at an early age. Physiologically, autism may not manifest itself in any way; outwardly, such children look quite normal, have the same physique as their peers, but upon careful study, one can see deviations in mental development and behavior.

The main symptoms include:

• Lack of learning ability, although intelligence may be quite normal.
• Seizures that most often begin to appear during adolescence.
• Inability to concentrate.
• Hyperactivity, which may occur when a parent or caregiver tries to assign a specific task.
• Anger, especially in cases where an autistic child cannot articulate what he wants, or strangers interfere with his ritual actions and disrupt his usual routine.
• In rare cases, Savant syndrome occurs when a child has some phenomenal abilities, for example, excellent memory, musical talent, the ability to draw, and others. There is a very small percentage of such children.

Portrait of an autistic child

If parents carefully monitor their baby, they will immediately notice deviations in his development. They may not be able to explain what worries them, but they will say with great accuracy that their child is different from other children.

Autistic children differ significantly from normal and healthy children. The photos clearly demonstrate this. Already in the revival syndrome, they react weakly to any stimuli, for example, to the sound of a rattle.

Such children begin to recognize even the closest person - their mother - much later than their peers. Even when they recognize her, they never reach out, smile, or react in any way to all her attempts to communicate with them.

Such children can lie for hours and look at a toy or a picture on the wall, or they may suddenly become afraid of their own hands. If you look at how autistic children behave, you will notice their frequent rocking in a stroller or crib, and monotonous hand movements.

As they get older, such children do not look more alive; on the contrary, they differ sharply from their peers in their detachment and indifference to everything that happens around them. Most often, when communicating, they do not make eye contact, and if they do look at a person, they look at clothes or facial features.

They do not know how to play group games and prefer loneliness. May be interested in one toy or activity for a long time.

The characteristics of an autistic child may look like this:

1. Closed.
2. Detached.
3. Unsociable.
4. Detached.
5. Indifferent.
6. Those who do not know how to make contact with others.
7. Constantly performing stereotypical mechanical movements.
8. Poor vocabulary. The pronoun “I” is never used in speech. They always talk about themselves in the second or third person.

In the children's group, autistic children are very different from ordinary children, the photos only confirm this.

The world through the eyes of an autistic person

If children with this disease have the skills to speak and construct sentences, then they say that the world for them is a complete chaos of people and events that is completely incomprehensible to them. This is due not only to mental disorders, but also to perception.

Those stimuli from the outside world that are quite familiar to us are perceived negatively by an autistic child. Since it is difficult for them to perceive the world around them and navigate the environment, this causes them increased anxiety.

When should parents be wary?

By nature, all children are different, even completely healthy children differ in their sociability, pace of development, and ability to perceive new information. But there are some points that should alert you:

If you notice at least some of the signs listed above in your child, then you should show him to the doctor. The psychologist will give the right recommendations for communication and activities with the baby. Helps determine how severe the symptoms of autism are.

Treatment of autism

It will not be possible to almost completely get rid of the symptoms of the disease, but if parents and psychologists make every effort, it is quite possible that autistic children will acquire communication and self-help skills. Treatment must be timely and comprehensive.

Its main goal should be:

• Reduce tension in the family.
• Increase functional independence.
• Improve quality of life.

Any therapy is selected individually for each child. Methods that give excellent results with one child may not work at all with another. Improvements are observed after using psychosocial assistance techniques, which suggests that any treatment is better than no treatment.

There are special programs that help the child master communication skills, self-help, gain work skills, and reduce the symptoms of the disease. The following methods can be used in treatment:

In addition to such programs, drug treatment is usually used. Anti-anxiety medications are prescribed, such as antidepressants, psychotropics, and others. You should not use such medications without a doctor's prescription.

The child’s diet should also undergo changes; it is necessary to exclude foods that have a stimulating effect on the nervous system. The body must receive a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals.

Cheat sheet for parents of autism

When communicating, parents must take into account the characteristics of autistic children. Here are some brief recommendations that will help you establish contact with your child:

1. You must love your baby for who he is.
2. Always consider the child's interests.
3. Strictly observe the rhythm of life.
4. Try to develop and observe certain rituals that will be repeated every day.
5. Visit the group or class where your child is studying more often.
6. Talk to your baby, even if he doesn't answer you.
7. Try to create a comfortable environment for games and learning.
8. Always patiently explain the stages of the activity to your child, preferably supporting this with pictures.
9. Don't get overtired.

If your child has been diagnosed with autism, then do not despair. The main thing is to love him and accept him for who he is, and also to constantly study and visit a psychologist. Who knows, maybe you have a future genius growing up.

Recently, we are increasingly hearing about such a mental disorder as autism. Society has finally stopped turning a blind eye to this phenomenon and extended a helping hand to autistic people. An important role in this was played by the promotion of tolerance and educational activities.

Knowledge about what kind of disease this is, how to recognize it, whether it can be treated or not has become widespread. This made it possible to reduce the age of diagnosis and provide timely treatment. People with autism have a chance for successful socialization and a happy life despite their diagnosis.

I, too, could not ignore this disorder. The topic of my article today is autistic people. Who they are, how they behave, how to communicate with them - let's consider all these questions. I will try to answer them in simple and understandable words.

What is autism

Autism is a mental disorder characterized by disturbances in the emotional and communication spheres. It appears already in early childhood and remains with a person for life. People suffering from this disorder have difficulty with social interaction and demonstrate poor development of emotional intelligence.

Autistic people are withdrawn and immersed in their inner world. Communication with other people is difficult for them, since they are completely devoid of empathy. Such people are not able to understand the social meaning of what is happening. They do not perceive facial expressions, gestures, intonations of people, and cannot determine the emotions hidden behind external manifestations.

What do autistic people look like from the outside? You can recognize them by their distant gaze, as if directed inwards. Such people seem emotionless, like robots or dolls. When talking, autistic people avoid making eye contact with people.

The behavior of autistic people is often stereotypical, patterned, and mechanical. Their imagination and abstract thinking are limited. They can repeat the same phrases many times, ask the same type of questions and answer them themselves. Their life is subject to a routine, deviation from which is very painful. Any change is a big stress for autistic people.

The wonderful film “Rain Man” starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise is dedicated to this disease. If you want to see with your own eyes what autism looks like from the outside, I recommend watching this movie.

An individual with a mild form of autism is not much different from ordinary people. Because of his autistic traits, he may come across as strange, aloof, and “out of this world.” Sometimes neither he himself nor those around him are aware of the diagnosis.

Many famous people suffer from this disease, but this does not prevent them from living a full life. Among them are singers Courtney Love and Susan Boyle, actress Daryl Hannah, director Stanley Kubrick.

Symptoms of Autism

The diagnosis of autism is usually made in early childhood. The first manifestations can be noticed already in a one-year-old baby. At this age, parents should be alert to the following signs:

• lack of interest in toys;
• low mobility;
• poor facial expressions;
• lethargy.

As you grow older, more and more new symptoms are added, and a clear clinical picture of the disease emerges. Autistic child:

• does not like touching, is nervous at any tactile contact;
• sensitive to certain sounds;
• avoids eye contact with people;
• talks little;
• not interested in communicating with peers, spends most of his time alone;
• emotionally unstable;
• rarely smiles;
• does not respond to his own name;
• often repeats the same words and sounds.

Having discovered at least some of these symptoms in a child, parents should show him to the doctor. An experienced doctor will diagnose and develop a treatment plan. Professionals who can diagnose autism include a neurologist, psychiatrist and psychotherapist.

This disease is diagnosed based on observation of the child’s behavior, psychological tests, and conversation with the young patient. In some cases, MRI and EEG may be needed.

Classification of autistic disorders

Currently, instead of the term “autism,” doctors usually use the term “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD). It unites several diseases with similar symptoms, but differing in the severity of manifestations.

Kanner syndrome

“Classic” form of autism. Another name is early childhood autism. Characterized by all of the above symptoms. It can occur in mild, moderate and severe forms, depending on the severity of the manifestations.

Asperger's syndrome

This is a relatively mild form of autism. The first manifestations occur at approximately 6-7 years. It is not uncommon for the diagnosis to be made in adulthood.

People with Asperger's syndrome can lead quite normal social lives. They are not much different from healthy people and, under favorable conditions, are able to get a job and start a family.

The following symptoms are characteristic of this disorder:

• developed intellectual abilities;
• clear, intelligible speech;
• fixation on one activity;
• problems with coordination of movements;
• difficulties with “deciphering” human emotions;
• the ability to imitate normal social interaction.

People with Asperger's syndrome often demonstrate extraordinary mental abilities. Many of them are recognized as geniuses and achieve incredible levels of development in specific areas. They may, for example, have phenomenal memory or perform complex mathematical calculations in their heads.

Rett syndrome

This is a severe form of autism caused by genetic disorders. Only girls suffer from it, since boys die in the womb. It is characterized by complete maladjustment of the individual and mental retardation.

Usually, children with Rett syndrome develop normally until they are one year old, but then a sharp inhibition of development occurs. There is a loss of already acquired skills, slowing of head growth, and loss of coordination of movements. Patients have no speech, they are completely self-absorbed and maladjusted. This disorder is practically impossible to correct.

Nonspecific pervasive developmental disorder

This syndrome is also called atypical autism. The clinical picture of the disease is blurred, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. The first symptoms tend to appear later than with classic autism and may be less severe. Often this diagnosis is made already in adolescence.

Atypical autism may be accompanied by mental retardation, or may occur without loss of intellectual abilities. With a mild form of this disease, patients are well socialized and have a chance to live a full life.

Childhood disintegrative disorder

This pathology is characterized by normal development of a child up to two years of age. Moreover, this applies to both the intellectual and emotional spheres. The baby learns to speak, understands speech, and acquires motor skills. Social interaction with people is not impaired - in general, he is no different from his peers.

However, after he reaches the age of 2 years, regression begins. The child loses previously developed skills and stops in mental development. This can happen gradually over several years, but more often it happens rapidly - within 5-12 months.

Initially, there may be changes in behavior, such as outbursts of anger and panic. Then the child loses motor, communication, and social skills. This is the main difference between this disease and classic autism, in which previously acquired skills are preserved.

The second significant difference is the loss of the ability to self-care. With severe childhood integrative disorder, patients cannot feed, wash, or go to the toilet on their own.

Fortunately, this disease is very rare - approximately 1 case per 100,000 children. It is often confused with Rett syndrome due to the similarity of symptoms.

Causes of autism

Medicine does not provide a clear answer as to why people are born with this disease. However, scientists have identified congenital and acquired factors contributing to its development.

1. Genetics. Autism is inherited. If a person has relatives with autism spectrum disorders, he is at risk.
2. Cerebral palsy.
3. Traumatic brain injury received by a child during childbirth or in the first days after birth.
4. Severe infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy: rubella, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus.
5. Fetal hypoxia during pregnancy or childbirth.

Treatment of autism

Autism is an incurable disease. It will accompany the patient throughout his life. Some forms of this disorder exclude the possibility of socialization of a person. These include Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and a severe form of Kanner syndrome. Relatives of such patients will have to come to terms with the need to care for them throughout their lives.

Milder forms can be corrected provided a number of conditions are met. It is possible to mitigate the manifestations of the disease and achieve successful integration of the individual into society. To do this, from early childhood you need to constantly work with them and create a favorable environment for them. Autistic people should grow up in an atmosphere of love, understanding, patience and respect. Often such people become valuable employees because of their ability to immerse themselves in the study of a particular area.

All parents whose children have been diagnosed with this problem are concerned with the question of how long autistic people live. It is very difficult to answer, since the prognosis depends on many factors. According to a study conducted in Sweden, the average life expectancy of autistic people is 30 years less than that of normal people.

But let's not talk about sad things. Let's take a closer look at the main treatments for autism.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy has proven itself in the correction of autism not burdened by mental retardation. The sooner treatment is started, the better the result can be achieved.

The psychotherapist first observes the patient’s behavior and notes points that need to be corrected. Then he helps the child become aware of his thoughts, feelings, and motives for actions in order to isolate those that are unconstructive and false. Autistic people often have maladaptive beliefs.

For example, they may perceive everything in black and white. When they are given tasks, they may think that they can either do them perfectly or poorly. The options “good”, “satisfactory”, “not bad” do not exist for them. In this situation, patients are afraid to take on tasks because the bar for the result is too high.

Another example of destructive thinking is generalizing from one example. If a child fails to complete some exercise, he decides that he will not be able to cope with the rest.

Cognitive behavioral therapy successfully corrects these negative patterns of thinking and behavior. The psychotherapist helps the patient develop a strategy for replacing them with constructive ones.

To do this, he uses positive incentives, reinforcing the desired actions. The stimulus is selected individually; this role may include a toy, a treat, or entertainment. With regular exposure, positive patterns of behavior and thinking replace destructive ones.

Applied behavior analysis method (ABA therapy)

ABA therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis) is a training system based on behavioral technologies. It allows the patient to develop complex social skills: speech, play, collective interaction and others.

The specialist breaks down these skills into simple small actions. Each action is memorized by the child and repeated many times until it becomes automatic. Then they are combined into a single chain and form a complete skill.

The adult rather tightly controls the process of assimilation of actions, not allowing the child to take the initiative. All unwanted actions are stopped.

ABA has several hundred training programs in its arsenal. They are designed for both young children and teenagers. Early intervention before age 6 years is most effective.

This technique involves intensive training of 30-40 hours a week. Several specialists work with the child at once - a defectologist, an art therapist, a speech therapist. As a result, the autistic person acquires the necessary behavioral patterns for life in society.

The effectiveness of the method is very high - about 60% of children who underwent correction at an early age were later able to study in secondary schools.

Nemechek Protocol

American doctor Peter Nemechek established a connection between brain disorders and intestinal dysfunction in autism. Scientific research allowed him to develop a completely new method of treating this disease, radically different from the existing ones.

According to Nemechek's theory, central nervous system dysfunction and brain cell damage in autism may be caused by:

• widespread distribution of bacteria in the intestines;
• intestinal inflammation;
• intoxication with waste products of microorganisms;
• nutrient imbalance.

The protocol is aimed at normalizing intestinal processes and restoring natural microflora. It is based on the use of special food additives.

1. Inulin. Promotes the removal of propionic acid produced by bacteria from the body. According to experiments conducted on animals, its excess causes antisocial behavior.
2. Omega-3. Normalizes the body's protective functions and suppresses autoimmune reactions caused by bacterial overgrowth.
3. Olive oil. Maintains the balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, preventing the development of inflammation.

Since the method is new and quite unique, controversy continues to surround it. Nemechek is accused of colluding with dietary supplement manufacturers. We will be able to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of using the protocol only after many years. In the meantime, the decision remains up to the parents.

Speech therapy treatment

Patients with autism, as a rule, begin to speak late, and subsequently they do so reluctantly. Most have speech impairments, which aggravate the situation. Therefore, regular sessions with a speech therapist are recommended for autistic people. The doctor will help you pronounce sounds correctly and overcome the speech barrier.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms that interfere with normal life: hyperactivity, auto-aggression, anxiety, seizures. They resort to it only in the most extreme cases. Neuroleptics, sedatives, and tranquilizers can provoke even deeper withdrawal in an autistic person.

Conclusion

Autism is a serious illness that a person will have to live with for the rest of their life. But this does not mean that you need to resign yourself and give up. If you work hard with the patient from early childhood, you can achieve excellent results. People suffering from a mild form of autism will be able to fully socialize: get a job, start a family. And in severe cases, you can significantly relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

A person’s environment plays a huge role. If he grows up in an atmosphere of understanding and respect, he is more likely to achieve good results. Share this article with your friends so that as many people as possible learn about this disease. Let's create an environment together that makes everyone feel comfortable.

Autism cannot be cured. In other words, there are no pills for autism. Only early diagnosis and many years of qualified pedagogical support can help a child with autism.

Autism as an independent disorder was first described by L. Kanner in 1942; in 1943, similar disorders in older children were described by G. Asperger, and in 1947 by S. S. Mnukhin.

Autism is a severe disorder of mental development, in which the ability to communicate and social interaction primarily suffers. The behavior of children with autism is also characterized by strict stereotyping (from repeated repetition of elementary movements, such as shaking hands or jumping, to complex rituals) and often destructiveness (aggression, self-harm, screaming, negativism, etc.).

The level of intellectual development in autism can be very different: from severe mental retardation to giftedness in certain areas of knowledge and art; In some cases, children with autism have no speech, and there are deviations in the development of motor skills, attention, perception, emotional and other areas of the psyche. More than 80% of children with autism are disabled...

The exceptional diversity of the spectrum of disorders and their severity allows us to reasonably consider the education and upbringing of children with autism to be the most difficult section of correctional pedagogy.

Back in 2000, the prevalence of autism was thought to be between 5 and 26 cases per 10,000 children. In 2005, there was an average of one case of autism per 250-300 newborns: this is more common than isolated deafness and blindness combined, Down syndrome, diabetes mellitus or childhood cancer. According to the World Autism Organization, in 2008 there was 1 case of autism in 150 children. Over ten years, the number of children with autism has increased 10 times. It is believed that the upward trend will continue in the future.

According to the international classification of diseases ICD-10, autistic disorders proper include:

• childhood autism (F84.0) (autistic disorder, infantile autism, infantile psychosis, Kanner syndrome);
• atypical autism (with onset after 3 years) (F84.1);
• Rett syndrome (F84.2);
• Asperger's syndrome - autistic psychopathy (F84.5);

What is autism?

In recent years, autistic disorders have come to be grouped under the acronym ASD—autism spectrum disorder.

Kanner syndrome

Kanner syndrome in the strict sense of the word is characterized by a combination of the following main symptoms:

1. inability to establish meaningful relationships with people from the beginning of life;
2. extreme isolation from the outside world, ignoring environmental stimuli until they become painful;
3. insufficient communicative use of speech;
4. lack or insufficient eye contact;
5. fear of changes in the environment (“identity phenomenon”, according to Kanner);
6. immediate and delayed echolalia (“gramophone or parrot speech”, according to Kanner);
7. delayed development of the “I”;
8. stereotypical games with non-play objects;
9. clinical manifestation of symptoms no later than 2-3 years.

When using these criteria it is important:

• do not expand their content (for example, distinguish between the inability to establish contact with other people and active avoidance of contact);
• build diagnostics at the syndromological level, and not on the basis of formal recording of the presence of certain symptoms;
• take into account the presence or absence of procedural dynamics of the identified symptoms;
• take into account that the inability to establish contact with other people creates conditions for social deprivation, leading in turn to the appearance in the clinical picture of symptoms of secondary developmental delays and compensatory formations.

A child usually comes to the attention of specialists no earlier than 2-3 years, when the disorders become quite obvious. But even then, parents often find it difficult to determine violations, resorting to value judgments: “Strange, not like everyone else.” Often the true problem is masked by imaginary or real disorders that are more understandable to parents - for example, delayed speech development or hearing impairment. In retrospect, it is often possible to find out that already in the first year the child reacted poorly to people, did not take a ready pose when picked up, and when picked up was unusually passive. “Like a bag of sand,” parents sometimes say. He was afraid of household noises (vacuum cleaner, coffee grinder, etc.), not getting used to them over time, and showed unusual selectivity in food, refusing food of a certain color or type. For some parents, this kind of violation becomes obvious only in retrospect when compared with the behavior of the second child.

Asperger's syndrome

As with Kanner syndrome, they determine communication disorders, underestimation of reality, a limited and unique, stereotypical range of interests that distinguish such children from their peers. Behavior is determined by impulsiveness, contrasting affects, desires, and ideas; behavior often lacks internal logic.

Some children early discover the ability to develop an unusual, non-standard understanding of themselves and those around them. Logical thinking is preserved or even well developed, but knowledge is difficult to reproduce and is extremely uneven. Active and passive attention are unstable, but individual autistic goals are achieved with great energy.

Unlike other cases of autism, there is no significant delay in speech and cognitive development. In appearance, one notices a detached expression on the face, which gives it “beauty”, frozen facial expressions, gaze turned into emptiness, fleeting fixation on faces. There are few expressive facial movements, and gesticulation is poor. Sometimes the facial expression is concentrated and self-absorbed, the gaze is directed “inward.” Motor skills are angular, movements are irregular, with a tendency towards stereotypies. The communicative functions of speech are weakened, and it itself is unusually modulated, unique in melody, rhythm and tempo, the voice sounds sometimes quiet, sometimes it hurts the ear, and in general speech is often similar to recitation. There is a tendency towards word creation, which sometimes persists even after puberty, an inability to automate skills and implement them externally, and an attraction to autistic games. Characterized by attachment to home, not to loved ones.

Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome begins to appear between the ages of 8 and 30 months. gradually, without external reasons, against the background of normal (in 80% of cases) or slightly delayed motor development.

Detachment appears, already acquired skills are lost, speech development is suspended for 3-6 months. There is a complete collapse of previously acquired speech reserves and skills. At the same time, violent “washing-type” movements arise in the hands. Later, the ability to hold objects is lost, ataxia, dystonia, muscle atrophy, kyphosis, and scoliosis appear. Chewing is replaced by sucking, breathing becomes disordered. In a third of cases, epileptiform seizures are observed.

By the age of 5-6 years, the tendency towards the progression of disorders softens, the ability to assimilate individual words and primitive play returns, but then the progression of the disease increases again. There is a gross progressive decay of motor skills, sometimes even walking, characteristic of the final stages of severe organic diseases of the central nervous system. In children with Rett syndrome, against the background of a total collapse of all spheres of activity, emotional adequacy and attachments corresponding to the level of their mental development are preserved for the longest time. Subsequently, severe motor disorders, profound static disorders, loss of muscle tone, and profound dementia develop.

Unfortunately, modern medicine and pedagogy are not able to help children with Rett syndrome. We are forced to admit that this is the most severe disorder among ASD that cannot be corrected.

Atypical autism

The disorder is similar to Kanner's syndrome, but at least one of the required diagnostic criteria is missing. Atypical autism is characterized by:

1. quite distinct disturbances in social interaction,
2. restricted, stereotyped, repetitive behavior,
3. one or another sign of abnormal and/or impaired development appears after the age of 3 years.

More often occurs in children with severe specific developmental disorder of receptive speech or with mental retardation.

– a disorder of mental development, accompanied by a deficit of social interactions, difficulty in mutual contact when communicating with other people, repetitive actions and limited interests. The reasons for the development of the disease are not fully understood; most scientists suggest a connection with congenital brain dysfunction. Autism is usually diagnosed before the age of 3, and the first signs may be noticeable as early as infancy. Full recovery is considered impossible, but sometimes the diagnosis is removed with age. The goal of treatment is social adaptation and development of self-care skills.

General information

Autism is a disease characterized by disturbances in movement and speech, as well as stereotypical interests and behavior, accompanied by disruption of the patient’s social interactions with others. Data on the prevalence of autism vary significantly, due to different approaches to diagnosing and classifying the disease. According to various data, 0.1-0.6% of children suffer from autism without autism spectrum disorder, and 1.1-2% of children suffer from autism including autism spectrum disorder. Autism is diagnosed four times less often in girls than in boys. In the last 25 years, this diagnosis has begun to be made much more often, however, it is not yet clear what this is due to - a change in diagnostic criteria or a real increase in the prevalence of the disease.

In the literature, the term “autism” can be interpreted in two ways - as autism itself (childhood autism, classical autistic disorder, Kanner syndrome) and as all autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome, atypical autism, etc. The severity of individual manifestations of autism can vary significantly - from a complete inability to social contacts, accompanied by severe mental retardation, to some oddities when communicating with people, pedantry of speech and narrow interests. Treatment of autism is long-term, complex, and is carried out with the participation of specialists in the field of psychiatry, psychologists, psychotherapists, neurologists, speech pathologists and speech therapists.

Causes of autism

At present, the causes of autism have not been fully elucidated, but it has been established that the biological basis of the disease is a violation of the development of certain brain structures. The hereditary nature of autism has been confirmed, although the genes responsible for the development of the disease have yet to be determined. Children with autism experience a large number of complications during pregnancy and childbirth (intrauterine viral infections, toxemia, uterine bleeding, premature birth). It is assumed that complications during pregnancy may not cause autism, but may increase the likelihood of developing it if other predisposing factors are present.

Heredity. Among close and distant relatives of children with autism, 3-7% of patients with autism are identified, which is many times higher than the prevalence of the disease on average in the population. Both identical twins have a 60-90% chance of developing autism. Relatives of patients often exhibit certain disorders characteristic of autism: a tendency to obsessive behavior, low need for social contacts, difficulties in understanding speech, speech disorders (including echolalia). In such families, epilepsy and mental retardation are more often detected, which are not mandatory signs of autism, but are often diagnosed with this disease. All of the above confirms the hereditary nature of autism.

In the late 90s of the last century, scientists were able to identify a predisposition gene for autism. The presence of this gene does not necessarily lead to autism (according to most geneticists, the disease develops as a result of the interaction of several genes). However, the identification of this gene made it possible to objectively confirm the hereditary nature of autism. This is serious progress in the field of studying the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease, since shortly before this discovery, some scientists considered a lack of care and attention on the part of parents as possible causes of autism (this version has now been rejected as not corresponding to reality).

Structural disorders of the brain. According to research, patients with autism often exhibit structural changes in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, medial temporal lobe and cerebellum. The main function of the cerebellum is to support successful motor activity, however, this part of the brain also influences speech, attention, thinking, emotions and learning abilities. Many autistic people have smaller parts of the cerebellum. It is assumed that this circumstance may be responsible for the problems of patients with autism when switching attention.

The medial temporal lobes, hippocampus and amygdala, also often affected in autism, affect memory, learning and emotional self-regulation, including the emergence of feelings of pleasure when performing meaningful social actions. Researchers note that in animals with damage to the listed lobes of the brain, behavioral changes similar to autism are observed (decreased need for social contacts, deterioration of adaptation when exposed to new conditions, difficulties in recognizing danger). In addition, people with autism often exhibit delayed frontal lobe maturation.

Functional disorders of the brain. In approximately 50% of patients, the EEG reveals changes characteristic of memory impairment, selective and directed attention, verbal thinking and purposeful use of speech. The degree of prevalence and severity of changes varies, while in children with high-functioning autism, EEG abnormalities are usually less pronounced compared to patients suffering from low-functioning forms of the disease.

Symptoms of Autism

Mandatory signs of childhood autism (typical autistic disorder, Kanner syndrome) are a lack of social interactions, problems in building productive mutual contact with others, stereotypical behavior and interests. All of these signs appear before the age of 2-3 years, while individual symptoms indicating possible autism are sometimes detected in infancy.

Impaired social interactions are the most striking feature that distinguishes autism from other developmental disorders. Children with autism cannot fully interact with other people. They do not feel the state of others, do not recognize non-verbal signals, and do not understand the subtext of social contacts. This symptom can already be detected in infants. Such children react poorly to adults, do not make eye contact, and are more willing to fix their gaze on inanimate objects rather than on the people around them. They do not smile, react poorly to their own name, and do not reach out towards an adult when trying to pick them up.

Patients begin to speak later, babble less and less frequently, and later begin to pronounce individual words and use phrasal speech. They often confuse pronouns and call themselves “you,” “he,” or “she.” Subsequently, high-functioning autistic people “gain” a sufficient vocabulary and are not inferior to healthy children when taking tests of word knowledge and spelling, but they experience difficulty when trying to use images, draw conclusions about what is written or read, etc. In children with low-functioning forms of autism speech is significantly impoverished.

Children with autism typically use unusual gestures and have difficulty using gestures when interacting with others. In infancy, they rarely point to objects or, when trying to point to an object, they look not at it, but at their hand. As they get older, they are less likely to say words while gesturing (healthy children tend to gesture and speak at the same time, for example, extending their hand and saying “give”). Subsequently, it is difficult for them to play complex games, organically combine gestures and speech, and move from simpler forms of communication to more complex ones.

Another telltale sign of autism is restricted or repetitive behavior. Stereotypes are observed - repeated body swaying, head shaking, etc. It is very important for patients with autism that everything always happens in the same way: objects are placed in the right order, actions are performed in a certain sequence. A child suffering from autism may start screaming and protesting if his mother usually puts on his right sock first and then the left one, but today she did the opposite, if the salt shaker is not in the center of the table, but shifted to the right, if instead of the usual cup he was given a similar one, but with a different pattern. At the same time, unlike healthy children, he does not show a desire to actively correct the state of affairs that does not suit him (reach for his right sock, rearrange the salt shaker, ask for another cup), but in ways accessible to him signals that what is happening is wrong.

An autistic person's attention is focused on details, on repeating scenarios. Children with autism often choose non-play objects rather than toys for play; their games lack a plot basis. They do not build castles, do not roll cars around the apartment, but arrange objects in a certain sequence, aimlessly, from the point of view of an outside observer, move them from place to place and back. A child with autism may be extremely attached to a particular toy or non-play object, may watch the same television program at the same time every day without showing interest in other programs, and be extremely intensely worried if this program is not on any program. That's why I couldn't watch it.

Along with other forms of behavior, repetitive behavior includes auto-aggression (hitting, biting and other self-inflicted injuries). According to statistics, approximately a third of autistic people show self-aggression throughout their lives and the same number show aggression towards others. Aggression, as a rule, is caused by attacks of anger due to violation of habitual life rituals and stereotypes or due to the inability to convey one’s desires to others.

The opinion about the obligatory genius of autistic people and the presence of some unusual abilities is not confirmed by practice. Individual unusual abilities (for example, the ability to remember details) or talent in one narrow area with deficits in other areas are observed in only 0.5-10% of patients. Children with high-functioning autism may have average or slightly above average intelligence. With low-functioning autism, a decrease in intelligence is often detected, up to and including mental retardation. In all types of autism, generalized learning disabilities are common.

Among other optional but quite common symptoms of autism, it is worth noting seizures (detected in 5-25% of children, most often appear for the first time at puberty), hyperactivity syndrome and lack of attention, various paradoxical reactions to external stimuli: touches, sounds, changes in lighting . There is often a need for sensory self-stimulation (repetitive movements). More than half of autistic people exhibit deviations in eating behavior (refusal to eat or refusal of certain foods, preference for certain foods, etc.) and sleep disorders (difficulty falling asleep, night and early awakenings).

Autism classification

There are several classifications of autism, but in clinical practice the most widely used is Nikolskaya’s classification, compiled taking into account the severity of the disease, the main psychopathological syndrome and long-term prognosis. Despite the absence of an etiopathogenetic component and a high degree of generalization, teachers and other specialists consider this classification to be one of the most successful, since it makes it possible to draw up differentiated plans and determine treatment goals taking into account the real capabilities of a child suffering from autism.

First group. The deepest violations. Characterized by field behavior, mutism, lack of need to interact with others, lack of active negativism, autostimulation using simple repetitive movements and inability to self-care. The leading pathopsychological syndrome is detachment. The main goal of treatment is to establish contact, involve the child in interactions with adults and peers, and develop self-care skills.

Second group. Characterized by strict restrictions in the choice of forms of behavior and a pronounced desire for immutability. Any changes can provoke a breakdown, expressed in negativism, aggression or self-aggression. In a familiar environment, the child is quite open and capable of developing and reproducing everyday skills. Speech is cliched, built on the basis of echolalia. The leading psychopathological syndrome is rejection of reality. The main goal of treatment is the development of emotional contacts with loved ones and expanding the possibilities of adaptation to the environment by developing a large number of different behavioral stereotypes.

Third group. More complex behavior is observed when one is absorbed in one's own stereotypical interests and has a weak ability for dialogue. The child strives for success, but, unlike healthy children, is not ready to try, take risks and make compromises. Often, extensive encyclopedic knowledge in an abstract area is revealed in combination with fragmentary ideas about the real world. Characterized by interest in dangerous antisocial impressions. The leading psychopathological syndrome is substitution. The main goal of treatment is training in dialogue, expanding the range of ideas and developing social behavior skills.

Fourth group. Children are capable of truly voluntary behavior, but quickly get tired, suffer from difficulties when trying to concentrate attention, follow instructions, etc. Unlike children of the previous group, who give the impression of young intellectuals, they may look timid, fearful and absent-minded, but with adequate correction demonstrate better results compared to other groups. The leading psychopathological syndrome is vulnerability. The main goals of treatment are to teach spontaneity, improve social skills and develop individual abilities.

Diagnosis of autism

Parents should consult a doctor and rule out autism if the child does not respond to his own name, does not smile or make eye contact, does not notice instructions from adults, exhibits atypical play behavior (does not know what to do with toys, plays with non-play objects) and does not can communicate to adults about their wishes. At the age of 1 year, the child should walk, babble, point at objects and try to grab them, at the age of 1.5 years - pronounce individual words, at the age of 2 years - use two-word phrases. If these skills are missing, you need to be examined by a specialist.

The diagnosis of autism is made based on observations of the child's behavior and the identification of a characteristic triad, which includes lack of social interactions, lack of communication and stereotypic behavior. To exclude speech development disorders, a consultation with a speech therapist is prescribed, and to exclude hearing and vision disorders, an examination by an audiologist and an ophthalmologist. Autism may or may not be combined with mental retardation, and with the same level of intelligence, the prognosis and correction schemes for mental retardation and autistic children will differ significantly, therefore, in the diagnostic process, it is important to distinguish between these two disorders by carefully studying the characteristics of the patient’s behavior.

Treatment and prognosis for autism

The main goal of treatment is to increase the patient’s level of independence in the process of self-care, formation and maintenance of social contacts. Long-term behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy are used. Corrective work is carried out while taking psychotropic medications. The training program is chosen taking into account the child’s capabilities. Low-functioning autistic people (groups 1 and 2 in Nikolskaya’s classification) are taught at home. Children with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autistic people (groups three and four) attend a special or mainstream school.

Currently, autism is considered an incurable disease. However, after competent long-term correction, some children (3-25% of the total number of patients) go into remission, and the diagnosis of autism is eventually removed. An insufficient number of studies does not allow us to make reliable long-term predictions regarding the course of autism in adulthood. Experts note that as many patients age, the symptoms of the disease become less pronounced. However, there are reports of age-related decline in communication and self-care skills. Favorable prognostic signs are an IQ above 50 and speech development before the age of 6 years, but only 20 percent of children in this group achieve complete or almost complete independence.