Autism FAQ: Diagnosis, Education & Support
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a wide range of difficulties that affect children's social interactions, communication, and limited behaviors and interests. Understanding and implementing different supports are crucial for supporting the wellbeing of kids with ASD. If you are the parent of an autistic child, or you have been diagnosed with autism yourself, you probably have many questions about Autism and the best way to support yourself or your child.
This article goes over the most common FAQ about the diagnosis of autism and ways to support autistic people. We’re going to explore various support strategies, including behavioral therapy, mental health support, and supporting gut health with probiotics, and how these strategies can effectively improve the quality of life for autistic children (under professional guidance).
Is There a Cause For Autism?
Potential Causes of Autism
Autism is a complex disorder that affects each child differently. Autistic people are neurodivergent - which means that their brains function differently to neurotypical people. There are a range of ways autism can present, therefore, the exact ‘causes’ of autism are still unclear; however, researches indicate that autism could be the result of genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors.
Are There Genetic Links to Autism?
Autism is likely to run in families, with recent research showing that if one family member has autism, other family members are at a higher risk of having it. Nearly 20% of autistic individuals’ family members have related characteristics.
As for the way genes are affected in autism, it is quite complex. Autistic children are more likely to exhibit some changes known as gene tandem duplication and amplification, and according to research, parents who have these traits also have an additional 2.6% chance of passing them on to the next generation.
However, there is no specific ‘genetic test’ for autism, as traits of autism are not just simply linked to genetics, but also with interactions with environmental and other factors. Testing can be done to see if any linked genetic abnormalities are present, but professionals will not use a genetic test to diagnose autism.
Does The Environment Play A Role?
While genetic factors could play a role in Autism, environmental factors can also potentially affect neurodevelopment. Some research suggests that complications during pregnancy, such as infections, may affect neurodevelopment and potentially increase the risk of autism for their children. Birth-related complications, including malnutrition, preterm birth, and obstructed labor can also influence fetal brain development, which could contribute to the risk of autism.
Are Autistic Brains Different?
Autistic people are neurodivergent, meaning that their brains function differently from those of neurotypical people. Research in neuroscience, anatomy, molecular biology has found that autistic people may have functional differences in some areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, the amygdala or the prefrontal cortex, and these differences could have existed as early as fetal development.
As you can see, the potential causes of autism are complex and diverse, whether through genetic, environmental, or neurobiological factors. Research into autistic brains is still burgeoning, and regardless of the causes of autism or differences in autistic brains, support can still be provided to achieve health and wellbeing.
How is Autism Diagnosed?
What is The Diagnostic Criteria for Autism?
The diagnosis of autism is based on the criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 is a reference manual that outlines the symptoms, presentation and necessary diagnostic criteria for a variety of mental health conditions. The DSM-5 is the official manual used by psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose their patients. The DSM-5 mainly diagnoses autism through two aspects: difficulties in social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviors. The specific criteria include:
- Difficulties in social communication and interaction: for example, impairments in social-emotional reciprocity and the inability to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships.
- Restricted and repetitive behaviors: such as persistent or repetitive speech, movements, or use of objects, and resist to change the existing habits.
As Autism presents differently for every autistic person, it is important to note that symptoms and presentations may vary between individuals. However, the first symptoms of Autism present during early childhood and notably impact daily functioning.
Is There an Autism Self Assessment?
Parents are often the first people to notice the signs of autism in their children. If you notice signs related to autism in your child at an early stage, you can use the following two autism checklists to determine whether to seek professional diagnosis:
- Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q CHAT) - for toddlers aged 18-24 months.
- Autism Spectrum Quotient Child Version (AQ 10) - for children 4-11 years old
Parents who have assessed their children for autism should meet with a health professional for a proper diagnosis. Professionals like a pediatrician or psychiatrist can further investigate your child’s symptoms and presentation, and come up with a plan to support your child.
How Do Medical Professionals Diagnose Autism?
Doctors or specialists will observe your child and assess them for autism based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD). Autism is usually diagnosed by a pediatrician, psychiatrist, neurologist or clinical psychologist.
However, these two assessment criteria are not standardized methods, which often leaves parents and children with inconsistent results from different clinicians. Therefore, if you want to know more about your child's situation, consider meeting with different therapists to do more detailed evaluations, known as multidisciplinary treatment.
What is a Multidisciplinary Assessment for Autism?
You might need to meet with a variety of health professionals to properly evaluate your child for ASD. Collaboration among multidisciplinary professionals provides a comprehensive assessment of autism for your child, understanding their unique needs and abilities. THis also allows parents and professionals to set individualized support plans for their child. Below are the key medical or health professionals who often assist with Autism; however, according to your child’s needs, other disciplinaries may also be involved.
Clinical Psychologists: Clinical psychologists are trained to use evidence-based methods to evaluate your child’s emotional, behavioral and psychological traits. Clinical psychologists can work with your child and explore ways to support and manage behavioral, social or emotional issues.
Speech Therapists: Speech therapists can work with your child to evaluate their language and communication skills. Speech therapy builds skills to improve your child’s ability to communicate at a level which they are confident in.
Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists can assess your child’s daily living skills and motor abilities, such as eating, brushing teeth, and play skills. They can work with your child to improve their confidence, fine motor skills and independence.
Play Therapy & Physiotherapy: Play therapy can allow children to improve their social interaction and motor coordination through play and exercise, whilst physiotherapy can help strengthen movements.
What Ways Do Autistic Children Differ?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents differently in each child, and involves a diverse and complex variety of characteristics that can affect various aspects of your child's life. This section will discuss three common features of autism: social difficulties, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors and interests.
Social Difficulties
Autistic people often struggle with interacting with others - autistic people may appear indifferent, uninterested, passive, or sometimes overly enthusiastic and eccentric. Many autistic people tend to avoid direct eye contact in social situations and may lack facial expressions when communicating. These traits make it difficult for autistics to establish and maintain close friendships, or they can sometimes be misinterpreted by neurotypical people as being standoffish or rude. Likewise, many autistic people often do not share as much about their personal interests or feelings, which can make it difficult to socialize with others.
Communication Difficulties
Autistic children frequently face difficulties in both verbal and non-verbal communication. They may struggle to use gestures, expressions, or tone to convey their needs and emotions, which makes it more difficult to interact with others. For example some autistic children might use a high-pitched tone or a rigid manner of speaking, and sometimes may not understand the implied meanings in conversations. This can cause frustration, stress or isolation for autistic children.
Older autistic children may also have difficulties understanding the body language and tone of voice of others, further affecting their social life and ability to form relationships.
Repetitive Behaviors and Interests
Autistic children often show an intense focus on specific activities or topics, or also complete repetitive behaviors and rituals, such as obsessively arranging objects, repeatedly opening and closing doors, rewatching the same movie, or reading the same picture book. Autistic children may experience significant distress with changes in environment and insist on the same routines. These repetitive behaviors and narrow interests not only limit your child’s daily life but can also lead to psychological distress and emotional issues.
Overall, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face significant challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavioral expression. These characteristics require support from parents and professionals to identify early, so that accommodations are made to improve their quality of life.
How Can I Support My Autistic Child?
Whilst there are no ‘treatment’ methods for autism, there are ways you can support your child and allow them to thrive. SupNport methods should be comprehensive and reflect the assessments given by medical professionals, adjusting them according to your child's individual needs. It’s important to note that autism cannot be ‘cured’, but instead, professionals can assist an autistic child in finding ways to better manage challenges, improve skills and ensure healthy neurodevelopment.
Behavioral Therapy for Autism
Behavioral Therapy mainly helps autistic children manage behavior, increase understanding of the environment, and eliminate self-stimulation and other negative behaviors by positive reinforcement and prompting, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH).
Aside from Behavioral Therapy, mental health support is another crucial aspect for autistic children and their families. You can consider meeting with a child psychologist if your child requires psychological support. Some common psychological methods that support autistic children include Play Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, with approaches providing emotional outlets, helping to reduce anxiety and stress.
Medication for Autism
Whilst there is no specific medicine for autism, it’s not uncommon for autistic people to also have other mental health conditions, such as ADHD, anxiety, or depression. Medication can alleviate the severity of these conditions, which might or central nervous system stimulants may be prescribed by doctors based on individual conditions.
Nutritional Support for Autism
AS many autistic people struggle with eating due to taste and texture sensitivities, diet also plays an important role in supporting your autistic child. Restricted taste preferences could result in deficits for specific nutrients, such as vitamin B6 and magnesium, and appropriate supplementation may help alleviate any nutritional-related symptoms like tiredness. Additionally, as many autistic children experience gut issues, some families use special diets to alleviate any gut issues, such as gluten-free or casein-free diets.
Probiotics For Autism
Autism is linked to neuroinflammation, particularly in the early stages of a child's development. Neuroinflammation is like a “fire” in the brain, and our immune system is acting as the “firefighter” responsible for addressing this problem. Reducing this inflammation can support a child's mental health and improve wellbeing for autistic people.
One safe and effective way to reduce inflammation is through probiotics, which can support a healthy and diverse gut microbiome. Our gut health is also linked to our mental health, as our gut and brain communicate to each other through the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA).
One probiotic which is clinically proven to act on the GBA and has been shown to support the wellbeing of autistic people is the PS128™ probiotic. PS128 has been proven in clinical trials to enhance social communication, improve mood, and reduce repetitive behaviors in autistic children. PS128™ works by regulating the neural, immune, and endocrine systems through the GBA.
PS128™ is available as Neuralli MP and can be used to support your child’s wellbeing and strengthen the gut-brain connection. PS128 is proven to boost your “happy hormones” dopamine and serotonin, improving mental health and wellbeing for autistic people.
If you want to learn more about the science behind PS128, click here.
Autistic children can be supported with a variety of strategies, including behavioral therapy, medication, nutritional support and mental health support, based on your child’s needs. If you are looking to support their Gut-Brain axis, you can consider a probiotic like PS128. A tailored support plan can significantly improve your child’s behavior, social and communication skills. Always make sure you consult a professional if you require an assessment or advice for your child.
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