Are you worried about your child? Let's talk about autism.

Does your little one play alone in his own world without joining other children? Or does he not even look back when you call his name? Have you noticed that he sometimes repeats the same thing? When you see things like this, it is normal for you, as a mother or father, to feel a little scared and suspicious. Today we are talking about a topic that many parents want to be aware of, but are not exactly sure about. That is a condition called autism.

First, let's understand that autism is not a disease!

This is the first thing we all need to remember. Autism is not a disease. It is not something that needs to be cured. So what is this?

Simply put, autism is a change in the way your child's brain works. This can affect the way they see the world, interact with others, and behave. We call this neurodivergent . This means that their brain works differently than most people's brains (neurotypical).

And autism is not a single condition. It is as diverse as the colors of a rainbow. We call it a spectrum . That means that one child with autism can be very different from another. The talents and challenges that one child has are not the same as another. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each child needs to be helped in a way that is right for them.

If I suspect my child has autism, what symptoms should I look for?

The symptoms that can be seen in a child with autism can be divided into two main categories. These symptoms can change with the child's age. Let's see what they are.

1. Difficulties in social relationships and communication: Changes in the way people talk and interact with others.

2. Restricted and repetitive behavior patterns: Things like doing the same thing over and over again, obsessing over the same thing.

Let's see how these things look according to age levels in the table below.

Now let's see what changes can be seen in behavioral patterns.

Not everything is a challenge! Autistic children also have special talents

Just as we've talked about challenges, we also need to talk about the special strengths and talents that children and adults with autism have. Your child may have talents like these:

• Honesty and directness: The ability to express one's thoughts directly and honestly.
• Excellent memory: The ability to remember certain things and information in an amazing way.
• Deep Focus: The ability to focus on a subject or task of your choice for hours on end and become an expert at it.
• Attention to detail: The ability to notice even the smallest details that others miss.
• The power to do what is right: Having a strong sense of right and wrong and the ability to do what is right even when no one is looking.
• Thinking differently: The ability to look at problems from a new angle and find new solutions.

Why does autism occur?

No single cause has been identified. It is currently believed to be a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors related to pregnancy . This means that these factors work together to affect the development of the child's brain, causing these changes.

Some factors that slightly increase the likelihood of autism are:

• Mother's age over 35.
• Getting pregnant again within a year of having one child.
• Diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
• Use of certain medications (e.g. valproate) during pregnancy.
• The baby was born prematurely.

Important: Having these factors does not mean that your child will definitely develop autism. And understand that none of this is your fault.

How to accurately diagnose this condition?

If you have any concerns about your child, the first thing you should do is talk to your family doctor . This can be done especially at child development clinics.

The process for diagnosing autism typically goes like this:

1. Screening: When your pediatrician checks your child's development, he or she will ask you questions about your child's behavior and speech. If there is any doubt, he or she will refer you to a specialist.

2. Specialist evaluation: A specially trained developmental pediatrician, psychiatrist, or other specialist will examine the child. This will include:

• We will talk to you at length about your child's behavior and development.
• Talk to the child, play with him, and observe his behavior.
• Using internationally accepted criteria like the DSM-5-TR, the child's symptoms are assessed to see if they fit the autism spectrum.

There is no such thing as a blood or urine test for this. This is a diagnosis made entirely by observing the child's behavior and development.

What treatments and support can help the child?

Remember how we said at the beginning that this is not a disease, so there is no "cure" for it? But there are many therapies that can help a child manage the challenges they face in everyday life and develop their skills.

It is very important to start these as early as possible.

Some children may have other conditions along with autism. For example:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Sleep disorders
• Epilepsy

If there are such conditions, the doctor will provide the necessary treatment and advice for them. They can also talk to the school and develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that suits the child's educational needs.

Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, child behavior, children's mental health, neurodivergent, social relationships, pediatrics, developmental problems