autism

autism spectrum disorder (asd) is a blanket term used to describe a range of conditions that cause a person to experience challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech, and non-verbal communication. roughly 1 to 2 per cent of canadians have autism. males are more likely to have autism, but it can occur in anyone regardless of sex, age, race, or ethnicity.

the experience of living with autism is different for everyone, as each person with the condition faces unique challenges and possesses different strengths. for example, some people living with autism may require support in daily living whereas others can live entirely independently without the need for assistance.

there are various signs and symptoms associated with autism, all of which vary depending on the age a person is. for example, people with autism under one year of age will show signs of the condition through little or no eye contact or babbling, being more interested in objects than people, engaging in unusual or limited play with toys, and appearing as though they don’t hear when they’re spoken to.

those under the age of two will develop a specific area of interest in one thing, have no interest or a limited interest in other children, engage in behaviours such as self-isolation or self-injury, repeat words and phrases with little to no understanding of what they mean, and have difficulty in game play that requires reciprocation, such as playing peek-a-boo. they may also like to have things in a very specific way, such as watching the same tv show over and over again or only eating one type of food.

for people over the age of 2 and into adulthood, there are some general signs of autism, which can include:
• very little eye contact
• distinct reactions to lights, tastes, smells, sounds, colours, or textures
• have very specific interests that don’t wane
• repeating words or phrases, or engaging in repetitive behaviours, such as spinning
• experiencing delayed language development or nonverbal communication
• having intense reactions to minor changes in their routine or surroundings

when someone is suspected to have autism, they can get an assessment and go through diagnostic processes to reach a definitive diagnosis. healthcare providers will assess levels of autism based on a person’s cognitive, communication, and development patterns and rates as well as through watching how a person regulates behaviour and emotions, how they relate to others, and how they behave in relation to their interests.

several types of healthcare professionals are involved in this process to cover all basis. to be diagnosed with autism, a medical team may include:
• family doctor
• audiologist
• pediatrician
• psychiatrists or psychologists
• nurse practitioners
• occupational therapists
• development pediatricians
• speech and language pathologists

those living with autism are often referred to as being “on the spectrum.” the spectrum is used to describe people living with the key characteristics of autism while acknowledging the unique and complex experience of autism as it relates to each individual person.

because there are varying degrees of autism, there is no one treatment approach to all people with the condition. their experiences are as unique as they are, and thus, medical therapies and interventions are highly tailored to address the challenges each person with autism faces.

for example, if a person has autism that challenges their ability to socialize, their treatment may involve social immersion and training. the various types of treatment for autism include:
• behavioural management
• cbt
• educational and school-based therapies
• medications
• nutritional, occupational, or physical therapy
• speech-language therapy
• social skills training
• parent-mediated therapy

the main goal of treatment is to help minimize symptoms that make day-to-day life challenging, while maximizing a person’s abilities across all aspects of their life.

research continues to investigate autism, what it means for people living with the condition, and ways to assess and intervene early to help reduce symptoms and skills as people with autism age into adulthood.