Autism is a developmental disorder of the central nervous system, which is characterized by difficulties in communication, narrow interests and sensory integration disorders. The first symptoms appear in infants, but become more pronounced after the age of one. Curing autism is not possible, but well-conducted therapy improves the quality of life and functioning in society.
Symptoms of autism
In a child up to the age of three, autism may be evidenced by:
- No reaction to one’s own name in the 12. one month of age,
- not paying attention to objects shown by the caregiver,
- negligible interest in other people,
- lack of smile and facial reactions,
- lack of ability to pretend while playing,
- hypersensitivity to sounds, light and touch.
At preschool age, children with autism may be observed to be disinterested in contact with peers, reluctance to group activities, lack of affection, preference for solitary play, and lack of facial expressions and gestures. These problems persist into school age.
Autism therapy in children and adults
Therapy for people with autism is aimed at minimizing the difficulties resulting from the disorder. This is possible by modifying undesirable behaviors, learning to cope with emotions, improving concentration and developing social skills. When working with patients with autism, various methods are used, adapted to the age of the person, the degree of severity of autism symptoms and possible concomitant disorders. Good results are brought, m.in, by cognitive-behavioral therapy and the relationship development method (RDI). An auxiliary role is played by art therapy, which allows you to express thoughts and feelings, and relaxation techniques, which make it easier to cope with tension caused by, for example, sensory overload.