Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder described by psychiatrist Leo Kanner in 1943. Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with both genetic and environmental causes. It is generally noticed in early childhood and the first 8 months is an important period for its diagnosis, but the definitive diagnosis can be made at the age of 3, when there is a speech period. Although it can be greatly modified by both experience and education, it persists into adult life. The main feature of autism is an abnormality in social development. Children with this disorder have a lack of interest in people from the earliest stages of their lives or have difficulty in establishing relationships with people.
Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by significant problems in social behavior, difficulty in communication, interaction, and unusually limited, repetitive behaviors. Children with ASD do not initiate interactions with other people, do not use facial expressions to communicate, do not share their joy or establish an empathetic relationship. If the emotional expression on the face of the other person is not very striking, they cannot understand.
Their social maturation is slower than normal children. Parents often start to worry after their child doesn't make eye contact, don't respond to smiles or hugs after the second 6-month period; instead, the baby avoids the parent's embrace and looks into space. Children with autism do not open their arms to be picked up, and when they are separated from their parents, they do not experience the same anxiety as other children. Older children have few close friends and do not share their happiness and pain with other people. In adolescence and beyond, this can manifest as a lack of interest in sex.
They have stereotypical behaviors; These are ritual behaviors such as turning, rocking, clapping, hitting the head, standing with strange body shapes. They resist change. Their reactions to stimuli such as pain, loud noise, and extreme heat are either very weak or excessive. They may be too busy smelling or touching things, for example; They are fascinated by certain smells or sometimes afraid of certain sounds or the surfaces of certain fabrics and refuse to wear or touch clothes made of this fabric.
Behavioral and drug therapy methods are used in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
References
Morrison, J. DSM-5 Made Easy–The Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis.
Davison, G. C., Neale, J. M., & Kring, A. M. (2001). Abnormal psychology (p. 710). New York: John Wiley.
Oltmanns, T. F., Martin, M. T., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2011). Case studies in abnormal psychology. John Wiley & Sons.
I completed my undergraduate education in Psychology at Eastern Mediterranean University. Mostly, I am using CBT and Sexual Therapy. I have been conducting my therapies with adults and adolescents. .
