Autism, a highly misdiagnosed condition in India
Patience and love along with therapy can a child and families and
children cope with this condition
New Delhi, 04 July 2017: According to a recently conducted
study, 1 in 89 Indian children between 2 and 9 years of age are diagnosed with
autism. As many as 2.2 million children and 13 million people in the country
live with this condition. It is alarming to note that while the cases of autism
are showing an upward trend in India, there is not much awareness about this
condition. There is also much stigma associated with autism in India.
The signs and symptoms of
autism can be observed in the first three years of a child itself. This
condition is the outcome of a neurological disorder which affects normal brain
function, communication, and social interaction skills in children. Although
the exact cause of this disorder is not known, research points to a combination
of genetic and environmental factors.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National
President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation
of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint
statement, "Autism
is a highly misdiagnosed condition in India. Many still treat children with
autism as abnormal and mentally deranged and therefore, diagnosis gets delayed
further. The earlier it is diagnosed, the better it is for the child. In
children with this disorder, certain information processed by the brain is sent
out in the form of signals that are just noise for him/her. Autistic children
find it difficult to distinguish vital signals from this noise. The brain
develops differently in autistic children and some are brilliant in few things
although they may be unable to communicate as effectively as others. While an
autistic child may be unable to speak clearly, he may turn out to be excellent
in something else."
The Indian government now recognizes autism as a
disability. Although autism was thought to be incurable till late, there have
been improvements and therapies such as art therapy have been found to help
this condition somewhat.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said,
"There is no single line of treatment for children with autism. A
treatment approach that encompasses addressing social, language, and behavioral
difficulties is the key. Parental and family support is highly important in
treating such children. It is a good idea for parents and other members of the
family to learn how to interact with them in ways that promote social
interaction skills, manage problem behaviors, and teach daily living skills and
communication. Certain medications are also prescribed for hyperactive
children."
Life is not very easy with an autistic child. There
may be new challenges every day. However, it is important to acknowledge the
condition and accept it. Celebrating every accomplishment of your child however
small it may be, have a lot of patience, love them unconditionally, and putt in
consistent effort. Here are some tips for parents of children with autism.
- Be
aware and focus on the positive Autistic children, just like others, respond
to positive reinforcement. Praise them for any small milestone they
achieve and for any other good behavior they exhibit.
- Give
it time Nothing
works overnight and this is true of therapy and treatment as well. Do not
get discouraged if your child does not respond to a certain line of
therapy.
- Get support Try and look around for similar
groups of parents as this will help you share advice and get support on
various aspects.
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