Autism; It is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that is congenital or emerges in the first years of life. It is a developmental disorder that can be defined as the child's inability to establish appropriate relationships with others, verbally or non-verbally. The cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder is still not fully known even today. It is thought to be caused by some nervous system problems that affect the structure and functioning of the brain and mostly has a genetic aspect, and some postnatal and prenatal causes also cause autism. It is diagnosed 4 times more frequently in boys than in girls.
People with Autism Spectrum Disorder basically have two main characteristics;
The first of these; deficiency in social interaction and communication; Being indifferent to the surroundings, not reacting to sounds, walking on tiptoe, hesitation in speech, regression and repetition.
Secondly; They arerepetitive movements (spinning, rocking, clapping) and limited interest areas.
-Children with autism are very attached to their routines and become uneasy about and react to changes. They are very sensitive to sound, smell and taste. Their developmental differences cause them to communicate with the world in different ways. Individuals with autism often experience anxiety and have difficulty distinguishing sounds from each other.
Autism can be seen at different levels in each individual. Some may be more shy and introverted, while others may be active and extroverted. Since the majority of them cannot talk to others at all, they only communicate with gestures, facial expressions and symbols.
Corner of Misconceptions: 'Autism to understand 'Mish-mish dialogues:
So-and-so's neighbor's son is autistic.
-Oh, get well soon, I hope he gets better.
There is someone in our class who is autistic.
-How can it happen? Doesn't a child with a mental illness affect others badly?
Doesn't autism occur in those gifted and talented people? My uncle's youngest daughter is like that.
- Then he should go to a school for gifted people.
So-and-so's child got autism because he had a consanguineous marriage. -Yes, that's definitely why it happened.
Isn't autism the same as Down Syndrome?
Yes, they look the same anyway. This is officially a disease, it should be treated with medication immediately.
The newborn child of a friend at work has autism.
-Hmm, he won't live long.
Being in the same environment as someone with autism is dangerous, it can be contagious. -Then we shouldn't approach them.
My brother is not autistic, his nature is like this, his behavior is like this... - It will get better when he grows up.
So-and-so's child got autism because his mother died. .
-It's very difficult when you're not a mother, of course she got sick right away..
They had a traffic accident as a family. That's why he had autism. -He definitely has trauma.
People with autism are dangerous, you never know what they will do. -Let's move away when we see it..
My child is constantly looking at cars turning at the intersection, he definitely has autism.
-So and so's child was like that, he developed autism. Surely your child is the same way. There is no need to even go to the doctor, it is obvious what is happening.
Isn't this child autistic?
-Then he definitely can't speak..
Now let's look at the facts:
Autism is not a disease, It is a developmental difference. There is no cure for autism, but their development can be supported with early diagnosis and intensive and correct education. Not all individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder are gifted; in fact, many of them have different percentages of mental retardation. Down Syndrome and Autism are two types of differences with very different characteristics. Consanguineous marriage cannot be shown as a cause for autism in itself, but today the cause is still not fully known, although it may have genetic basis, but it is also associated with environmental factors.
There are no metabolic health problems in children with autism. are not available and lifespans vary. Children with autism need support to express their emotions and are at greater risk of being subjected to violence rather than being prone to violence. Children with autism may want to communicate, but it is a very difficult process for them to make sense of the other person's facial expressions and to separate external sounds from speech.
Autism is not a disease or a habit that needs to be corrected, it does not get better when they grow up and it does not go away on its own. With early diagnosis and correct education, their development can be well supported and the same level of development can be achieved in most of them as children without autism. Autism Spectrum disorder does not occur after a loss or trauma, autism is a congenital disability. Autism is not contagious and does not pass from person to person, and children with autism have difficulty communicating rather than being dangerous. Some children with autism can talk. Speaking skills can be improved with early diagnosis and intensive training.
Just having a repetitive behavior is not enough to say that the child has autism. A doctor's examination is required.
Autism 'Blue Planet'
Living is a journey spent in search of meaning, and trying to make sense of the world is difficult for every person. Communicating, sharing, expressing an opinion, in short, asserting one's existence is a difficult task. For autistic people, it is much more difficult to understand the world, communicate and prove their existence.
But with a little attention, it is possible to make it easier for individuals with autism to interact with the world. For this, the first step is to be aware of what Autism is and what it is not. Anyone who is open to learning and listening can reach this awareness. Of course, it is easier to marginalize and label, but it is much more difficult to understand. However, as members of society, we must all take our responsibility, and we must not leave the many autistic children and families among us alone.
There are more than half a million people with autism in Turkey alone. To support their struggle We should live with the awareness of this not just one day, but every day, and when we see an individual with autism at home, at school, on the street or on the bus, we should make them more visible instead of ignoring them. Instead of running away, we should greet them, instead of remaining silent, we should try to understand their world, instead of ignoring them, we should show Autistic children and their families the patience, attention and understanding they need.
Depriving and preventing autistic children from the social interaction that they perhaps need most for their development is proof of a lack of conscience, compassion and empathy, which are the essence of being human. Providing the psychological and social support that both they and their families need most is the most effective way to make them visible and support them. Individuals with autism do not need to try to keep up with the world, they need us to understand their world.
'Conscious adults raise conscious children. Conscious children heal society.' In a healing society, happiness is not expensive, everyone can reach it.
Psychologist İrem Bal
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