Living with autism

Two-year-old Minal hardly spoke for her age. She is fond of symmetry, babbles few words, which her mother can comprehend and is a stickler for symmetry. Most of her waking hours are spent in stacking her toys in a specific fashion. When she is not stacking her toys, she is flapping her arms like a bird, and if she hears her name, she avoids eye contact. Minal is autistic.

Autism is greatly misunderstood. “It is a developmental disorder in young children that affects three important aspects--development skills,social skills, communication skills and these children have repetitive or restrictive activities”, says Dr. Raghuram Mallaiah, neonatolgoist at Fortis La Femme hospital, New Delhi. The symptoms of autism are present in the child from birth, but they become apparent between 18 months to 3 years—a time when social development begins to occur and language skills are learnt. “Diagnosing autism is difficult”, mentions Dr. Mallaiah. Not only, is it a complex condition to diagnose, but also there exists low awareness levels on this disorder. A number of children with autism may have normal IQ and the only problem that is apparent is their poor social skills and language development skills or repetitive and obsessive behaviour. Since genetic and blood screening is incapable in divulging autism, investigations by a trained psychologist only could offer clues on it.


Causes
“Autism is multifactorial, but a larger number of evidences have begun to nudge towards the genetic link, as more than one child is born with autism in one family”, informs Dr. Mallaiah. There has been a good deal of debate if autism is linked to MMR vaccine. Dr. Mallaiah says, “ The evidence to support the link is very weak and the most likely explanation was the fact that MMR is given at 15 – 18 months, round about the time when autistic behaviour starts becoming apparent to parents. There have been large studies that have denied these associations. The medical fraternity on the whole would recommend all children to be vaccinated.”

Spectrum
Incidence of autism in developed countries where there is better awareness of the condition is said to be about 1-2/1000 children. These numbers include milder forms of autism too, says Dr. Mallaiah.

Earlier autism was dismissed in India. "From one in 10,000 children ten years ago, the prevalence is 3-4 per 1,000 live births now," says Mythili Chari, Founder-Director of the Institute for Remedial Intervention Service (IRIS) and member of the Expert Committee (Mental Retardation) under the Rehabilitation Council of India. Mythili adds wryly. "Those who dismissed it as a low-incidence disorder are now being forced to sit up and take notice.”

In India concrete steps towards autism happened with the Action of Autism—a society set up by Merry Barua in 1991. Parents can detect traits of autism in their children, if the child shows two or more of the following symptoms, says she.

1. Absence of warm and joyful expression
2. Does not respond to his/her name
3. Refrains from making eye contact
4. Babbles incoherent phrases, has unusual voice quality, tone and pitch.
5. Does not show and tell.
6. Indulges in repetitive behaviour.
7. Has a special fondness for symmetry

“Autism can’t be treated with medicines”, says Mythili. Dr. Malliah agrees, but, behavioural and speech therapy help moderate the severity of symptoms. “Children with autism do not benefit with learning by rote method. They need instructions based on applied behaviour analysis with a strong focus on structured teaching and experiential learning”, says Barua. Caring for a child with autism is resource intensive and often these children need to work upon the skills they possess. “However, these children might need special care and attention through out their lives”, says Dr. Mallaiah.

Societies for autism in New Delhi

Open Door
url: http://www.autism-india.org/afa_opendoor.html

School of Hope
CPWD Complex
Near Chinmay School
Vasant Vihar
New Delhi 110 057
tel: 26143853, 26151572
e-mail:tamana@mantramail.com

Action For Autism
Pocket 7 & 8
Jasola Vihar
New Delhi-110025
Tel: 91-11-65347422
Tel: 91-11-40540991, 40540992
Email: actionforautism@gmail.com
url: http://www.autism-india.org/index.html