Autism Spectrum

Introduction
Autism is a disorder that mainly occurs on children from birth and if not diagnosed or treated early, can impede the development of the child in terms of learning and interaction with their peers. Research shows that it might be genetic since offspring often inherit some of their parents’ characteristics when born. Even though the research is not conclusive, it is believed that autism is spread through vaccinations. Autism is just but one syndrome that currently falls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorders. There were previous disorders are now classified under umbrella diagnosis of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or as a social communication disorder (Mayo Clinic, 2017). The main threat of autism is communication disorder for the child. The child will find difficulty in learning, interacting with peers and being in mood swings that are unnatural for an infant and this needs to be diagnosed and treated properly. Comprehensive treatment plans are always available since these infants are classifies as people with special needs, learning disability and unable to think for themselves thus need training on how to cope with the world.
Autism spectrum has some disorders that are encapsulated in it that make up the name. These include the autism disorder that is commonly known to be prevalent among young children. It is always in relation to social communication with children not being able to communicate well and imaginative play mostly by children under the age of 3 years. Asperger's syndrome which is associated to children with the same problems as those with autism disorder whereby they face difficulty in social situations though in terms of performance in school set up they are always said to score above average scores in tests and assignments. Pervasive developmental disorder also known as atypical autism. It is normally associated with children that show signs of autism but do not fit into the category of autism itself. A child might not be able interact properly with others but can perform basic functions like make their bed, take the plate to the sink after eating and even tie their shoe laces while going to school. Childhood disintegrative disorder in which children develop, normally for at least two years and then lose some or most of their communication and social skills (Autism, 2017). It is an extremely rare childhood disorder and its existence is as a separate condition in a matter and still there is debate among many mental health professionals if it should be classified under the autism spectrum since the signs and symptoms are similar but not clearly defined.
The diagnosis for autism always happens late for most children but with parents who are keen to spot the disorder is always imperative to visit a pediatrician once in a while with an infant to ensure that they have the ability to interact normally with other infants. There is no definite way to diagnose autism like a blood test or an x-ray so it can be very difficult to know, especially for infants under the age of 2. Many researchers shave come up with effective ways to be able to diagnose the disorder and it usually follows two steps to complete namely
· Developmental screening
· Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation
Developmental screening is a test usually carried out for children to determine if they are learning basic skills, as they should at a certain age as they develop. The need for this first step is important to be able to determine and recommend effective ways for the child to be treated. During the process of developmental screening, the specialist might ask the parent or play and talk to the child. The specialist will then observe how the child behaves, reacts and interacts with others, the parents and infants too. The test subjects are important to be able to have a conclusive report on whether the child has the disorder or not. A delay in response in any of these areas can signal a problem for the child. Children should be taken to specialists every 9 months, 18 months, 24 or 30 months to check the progress of their disorder and appropriate action be taken on how best they can be helped. Children who are as a result of preterm birth are always at risk of ASD and need to be closely monitored in the early stages of their lives to be able prevent them risk developing the disorder as they grow.
The next step is the comprehensive diagnostic evaluation whereby a thorough review is done. This can be done by looking at the child’s development from birth to the time he/she is taken to the specialist and their progress monitored. The parents are also interviewed to be able to come up with effective diagnosis based on the parents’ answers. There are tests for vision to ensure the child is able to see well (M Elsabbagh, 2012). Hearing testing to ensure the child is able to hear well. Genetic testing to be able to show if the disorder is passed down from the parent or if there is a history of the same in the family. Neurological testing to ensure that the nerves are intact and well developed for an infant child. Other medical tests will also be carried out to ensure that the child is healthy.
In rare cases, the primary care doctor can choose and refer the child and most cases family, to a specialist for some further assessment and diagnosis. Specialists who are able to carry out this type of evaluation include;
· Developmental Pediatricians who are doctors that have special training in child development and children with “special needs” as they call children who have this disorder. These are very rare and extreme cases whereby a child has gone to many specialists and a solution is yet to be found.
· Child Neurologists who are doctors that work on the brain, spine, and nerves. The disorder is normally linked o development of the child’s organs like the brain, spine and sometimes nerves. It is important in most cases for the parents to visit a child neurologist to determine if the child has healthy organs or not.
· Child Psychologists or Psychiatrists who are doctors that analyses the development of the child’s mind. The developmental process of the child is always defined by age and there is a certain age that a child has to be able to carry out certain tasks, if not the problem has to be defined to find out what the problem could be.
Many countries have put efforts and institutions to help children with autism. Governments have been at the forefront to ensure that the children are well taken care of. Informal support networks have also chipped in their support through social media, meeting and organizing of events to celebrate these children that are able to battle this disorder and pull through. In the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has come up with recommendations on the delivery of public care services to children and young people on the autism spectrum (Volkmar, 2016). The statistic shows that children most affected need special kind of care that is expensive but progressive for the good for the child and the parents. This has included recommendation that all local services should try and work with or support the families of the children and young people on the autism spectrum. It has also recommended that the local services should be coordinated by a local autism multi-agency strategy group. Some other ways to help these children is through set up special pre-schools. These schools will prepare the diagnosed child to be able to adapt, learn and interact with other normal children if they get to go to the normal schools. Funds are to be set up by the government or well-wishers to enable the cause to be realized. Activists have set up online pages whereby they collect money and help the children through donations and events that sensitize the public and inform the public and thus enabling the donations to be contributed.
In conclusion, autism spectrum has disorders that have similar symptoms, hence the diagnosis and treatment always seems similar. Children need to be diagnosed early to be able to come up with a treatment plan that will be beneficial to the child. Parents are always encouraged to be vigilant with the child’s health, especially if there were complications during child birth. In many countries, the government has put in place laws, under the ministry of health and health facilities to be able to formulate plans and effective ways to treat this disorder. The children need to be helped in order for them to live normal lives. Parents also need to be relieved of the stressed of a sick child and if not treated early can sometimes lead to devastating state of children in adulthood not being able to comprehend things.


References
Autism spectrum disorder. (2017, November 26). Retrieved from Mayo clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928
M Elsabbagh, G. D. (2012). Autism spectrum. Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, 33-40.
Services for Children and Young People on the Autism Spectrum. (2017, October 15). Retrieved from research autism: http://www.researchautism.net/autism/children-and-young-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/autism-services-children
Volkmar, F. R. (2016). autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-15.