XV Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2023

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a collection of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by difficulties in social interactions and interests causing a wide variety of disabilities. They commonly include speech disturbances, repetitive and compulsive behaviours, hyperactivity, anxiety and difficulty of adaptation to new environments, with or without cognitive impairment.

Autism was first described by Leo Kanner, an Austrian-American psychiatrist and physician, and Hans Asperger, an Austrian physician in the 1940s. This syndrome usually appears before 2 years and a half of age. Autistic infants appear indifferent to affection and physical contact. They may be slow in learning to speak and suffer episodes of rage or panic. They may also appear deaf and display hypnotized fascination with certain objects. They are initially detected in early development of children.

The term “autism” was first used in 1943 to describe a small group of children whose behaviours was noticeably different from the behaviour of those who were mentally retarded or schizophrenic (Kanner, 1943). At that time the prevailing theory of what autism was caused by seemed to be obvious: emotionally neglectful parents.

However, in 1964 Bernard Rimland, an American psychologist, writer, lecturer, published his first book “Infantile Autism: the Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behaviour” in which he convincingly declared that to blame parents for autistic children was anti-scientific and autism was the result of one or more biological impairments involving genetics and neurology. Actually, his book, sparked by the birth of a son who had autism, played an important role in changing the attitude towards the disorder and saving many families from social isolation. The revolutionary concept of autism promoted research in biology and medicine in search of the origin of autism. Rimland founded the Autism Society of America (ASA) and Autism Research Institute. A few years after the publication of “Infantile Autism”, Dr. Kanner is said to have apologized to parents at a conference for implying that they were responsible for their children’s autism.

PREVALENCE

The prevalence rate of autism began to increase in the late 1980s. Prior to this time, the reported rate was approximately 1 in 2000 children. By 2002 that number had skyrocketed to 1 in 150. By 2012, 1 in 68.

A question often posed is “Is there really an increase in autism, or is there a better awareness resulting in more children diagnosed with autism?” Research is mixed regarding this important issue. However, one can argue that autism today is prevalent worldwide.

Another important issue is the relatively high number of males with autism spectrum: three to four times more common in males.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

The causes of this mental disorder have not been found out yet – a child with autism can be born in any family regardless of the parents’ lifestyle before. Nevertheless, specialists agree that genetics is the main cause. For many years researchers have examined specific genes with the goal of finding the autism gene or set of genes. Approximately 100 genes, which were thought to contribute to autism, were examined in 85 families with two or more children with ASD. Unfortunately, shared genetic mutations were found only in 31% of the siblings whereas 69% carried different autism – associated mutations. It means that the underlying genetics of autism are much more complex that it was initially believed.

Over the years researchers have suggested a relationship between virus infection during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism, as it can cause damage to the developing brain of the embryo. It concerns congenital rubella, mumps, measles, herpes simplex virus. Other environmental factors taken into consideration include maternal use of certain antidepressants, chemical intoxication during pregnancy and the age of parents. Mothers 40 years older have the highest risk of giving birth to a baby who may later develop autism. In contrast, older paternal age can be a risk factor only when maternal age is 30 or younger. However, the reasons for these associations are not so clear.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

There are so many autistic children in the world. They seem to be locked in small room, which is their own inner world and it is quite difficult to find the key to it. Autists do not feel bad in the confined space and the outside world seems to them frightening and aggressive. Frequently, it is possible not to distinguish them from normal children. Nonetheless, autism is a disease with many signs and symptoms.

The first signs can be noticed at an early age when infants are 1 year and a half - 2 years old. By the age of 5-6 or 7-8 the signs become obvious and more difficult to be corrected. Autism can be diagnosed only by a doctor, but parents can detect strange behaviour, facial expression, the way their child interacts in community. The most common signs are:

preference for solitude, poor contact with peers, social avoidance;

no eye contact while speaking to adults, no focus on the interlocutor;

sensitive to physical contact, getting nervous and hysterical;

not talkative, having difficulty with clear explaining what they want;

getting hysterical without a reason;

being either too passive or hyperactive;

repeating the same action in a fear of everything new;

unable to determine the degree of danger in any situation, able to cross the street not paying attention to the cars on the road or to play with a knife or matches.

In general, autistic children are antisocial. They hardly pay attention to the outside world separating themselves from it with a wall, which they are not going to destroy. It makes their perception of the world peculiar, different from the right one.

As for intellectual development, it is usually revealed later. Autists can display the highest level of intelligence in some field and at the same time be backward in others. At school, as a rule, their grades are low due to peculiarities of their brain work and inability to focus on the new material and memorize it. Anyway, it does not mean that children with autism will not succeed in their adult life. They will.

Most autistic people are talented and gifted. For example, Bill Gates, an American business magnate and philanthropist, the founder of Microsoft. Since 1987 Gates has been included in the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people. He is the fifth richest person in the world. Meanwhile, in the USA a family in which there is a child with autism receives ten thousand dollars a year from Microsoft Company for treatment. Almost 45 per cent of Microsoft leading programmers are autistic people.

Most famous and world-known people suffered from different forms of autism: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Herbert Wells, Mozart, Kant, Socrates, Charles Darwin, Louis Carol, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso and other outstanding personalities.

As you see, autism does not prevent Rain men, as they are called in the film “Rain Man” directed by Barry Levinson, from being successful and happy.

TREATMENT

Autism is called the disease of the 21^st century. There is no cure for autism. The most effective way of treatment is psychotherapy and social adaptation. A treatment programme can be developed only after a preliminary diagnosis of autism is made. Diagnosis of autism is based on information derived from the patient’s medical card, from observations of his or her behaviour and screening. Also medical evaluation includes examination of vision and hearing, testing for genetic defects, neurological and psychological evaluation.

Autistic children are intervened in individual and group psychotherapy programmes determined to apply their strengths and interests to the process of skill building. Various methods and technologies are used, for instance, educational software and animation technologies, lego therapy and horse-riding, dolphin and art therapy, sports exercises and games. Different specialists such as psychologists and defectologists, artists and actors, musicians and trainers work hard with autistic children to develop their social skills, regulate their behaviour, promote language and creative skills.

Everyone who takes care of children with ASD, teaches them, works with them should remember that autism will always remain autism. That is why it is important to follow some interesting advice given by Temple Grandin, American professor of livestock farming in Colorado University, a world-known auitist, the author of some popular books:

You should pay attention to what a child can do but not to what he cannot do.

Try to expand those skills he or she is good at.

It is important to encourage him or her to use them.

Autistic children often focus on one certain object.

It is advisable to use it in his or her interests. For example, if a child likes motor cars, they can be used as a tool in teaching reading and mathematics.

Never stop a gifted child.

If he or she is good at mathematics, let him do any sums of a higher level. You can develop his personality if you encourage him or her to help with teaching other children who have problems with mathematics.

Try to promote the abilities of a child while completing some task.If he or she has a talent for music, let him or her sing the answer.

FAMILY AND AUTISTIC CHILDREN

No doubt, much depends on the family. Parents should be responsible for what they should do and must not do. First of all, they must not get into panic. It is reasonable to realize that they have a special child who should also be given a chance to love, think, study, dream and be happy. Autistic children have the right to it. So it is parents’ responsibility to help them.

It is important to learn together starting an effective programme of help as early as possible. It is not so easy when you are tired or stressed but possible.

Dos	Don’ts
Provide the child with safety Search for like-minded people Search for an opportunity to give inclusive education Search for true and modern information Share your experience and results with those who need help Be patient	Don’t hide from people Don’t hide your child’s diagnosis from him or her Don’t agree to home education Don’t refuse to practise additional ways of communication Don’t concentrate on academic skills Don’t punish your child

NEVER CRY AT AN AUTISTIC CHILD!!!

We should all remember that autistic children depend on our help and we can help them to become independent in life. In a way, they are better than we are: their minuses can be called positive traits in our society.

Autistic people hardly tell lies.

Autistic people live in the present, here and today.

Autistic people hardly judge anyone.

Autistic people devote themselves to what they do. They give their time, energy, imagination to what they are keen on.

Autistic people are indifferent to social expectations. They do not try to be like others. They value sincerity, common interests, kindness and a wish to spend time together.

Autistic people have phenomenal memory. They never forget even small details.

Autistic people do not care about anything material, etc.

And the list of extraordinary abilities of autistic people is not complete.

CONCLUSION

I would like to conclude with the words of one of autistic people, Bill Summers, who said, “I’m an autistic man and I’m tired. I’m tired being rejected. I’m tired being ignored. I’m tired of being excluded. I’m tired of being treated as if I were outcast. I’m tired of people who don’t understand what autism is, of people who refuse to accept us as we are. I’m tired of expectations of others that I will try and start to behave myself “normally”. I’m not “normal”. I’m an autistic man. Do you want to help us? Listen to autistic people. Make more efforts to know about autism. Accept that we are different but not worse. Don’t try to turn us into a bad copy of your idea of “norm”. Accept that it’s normal for us to be ourselves. Accept that we have the same feelings like others. Please, be kind and support us. Please, start communicating with us first. I’m an autistic man and I want to be respected and accepted for who I am”.

Autistic people have the right to be heard, to be understood and helped. It is not late. Though there is much work to do, I am confident that people with disabilities will have greater opportunities to lead meaningful lives in our society.

I believe that we will have bright future as autism is not a verdict but life for happiness.

List of used literature:

Casanova M. F. The neuropathology of autism. Brain Pathology, vol.17 pp. 422-433

Rimland B. Infantile autism: The Syndrome and its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behaviour New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1964

Edelson S. M., Johnson J. B. (eds.) Understanding and treating self-injurious behaviour in autism. – London: Jessica Kingsley Press, 2016. 302 p.

Scientific and practical journal “Autism and developmental disorders”, Russia. The special issue on the VI International Research and Practical Conference “Autism. Challenges and Solutions”, 2019

Nikolskaya O. C. “Children and adolescents with autism”, Moscow, 2005

Communication problems in autism/Eds.: E. Schopler, G. B. Mesibov – New York etc.: Plenum Press, 1985. – 333 p.

Early childhood autism/Ed.: L. Wing, - 2^nd ed. – Oxford: Perganon Press, 1976. – 342 p.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Oxford University Press

Electronic resources:

https://embryo.asu.edu/

https://archive.org/

https://kniga-online.org/

https://portalpeso4nica.ru/

https://www.wikipedia.org/

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