Autism — or autism spectrum disorder — usually begins in early childhood. Multifactorial, this neurodevelopmental disorder is mainly manifested by a deficit in communication and social interactions. Although they are now better detected, autism spectrum disorders remain diagnosed and treated late. How to spot warning signs? What is the diagnostic process?
1. What is autism?
Described for the first time in 1943 by the American child psychiatrist Leo Kanner, autism is today integrated into a broader group called “autism spectrum disorders” in order to better reflect the heterogeneity and diversity of cases. The latter are also classified and detailed within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – the DSM-V – among neurodevelopmental disorders, in the same way as dys disorders or attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD). According to Public health France, autism has an incidence of 74 cases per 100,000 children, with a notable prevalence among boys (3.7 times more 7-year-old boys affected than girls). Contrary to popular belief, autism is not an illness. It is a social disability which is mainly characterized by an alteration of social interactions, by communication disorders or by restricted and repetitive centers of interest.
2. What are the warning signs of autism in children?
Autism in young children can be detected relatively early by observing certain characteristic clinical signs. Moreover, it is often parents who consult their doctor after noticing behaviors or delays in their child. Generally, the delay in acquiring the first words or the absence of simple interactive gestures – such as waving the hand – constitute alerts that should not be neglected. But they are not the only ones. Among the signs also constituting a potential autism spectrum disorder, we also find:
- repetitive behaviors: arm swings, rotational movements, hand flapping, etc.;
- a delay in language development: no babbling at 12 months, no word association at 2 years, repetition of words, etc.;
- absence or avoidance of eye contact;
- a greater interest in objects than in people;
- difficulty adapting to changes: refusal of new foods, difficulty accepting new things, etc.;
- intense or — on the contrary — absent reactions to smells, light, textures, colors, etc.;
- unusual handling or use of toys…;
- a delay in motor development…
3. How is the diagnosis of autism in children established?
Currently, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in children is made between 3 and 5 years of age. However, specialists agree that even earlier detection – if possible around 18 months – would offer the child better chances of development. It is in this context that treating physicians play a fundamental role, because they represent the first link in a chain leading to the affirmation of a diagnosis and appropriate care. However, the protean nature of this neurodevelopmental disorder often complicates the process.
Since 2019, however, practitioners can resort to a “long and increased” consultation allowing them to identify warning signs in a child and to evaluate their neurodevelopment based on questionnaires validated by the international scientific community, such as the M-CHAT for children aged 16 to 30 months or the SCQ social communication questionnaire after 4 years. Depending on the results obtained, the treating physician or pediatrician may decide to refer the child and his or her family to various health professionals whom he or she deems competent to establish additional assessments: speech therapist, physiotherapist, otolaryngologist, psychomotor therapist. , child psychiatrist… Ultimately, this multidisciplinary team will have to collectively confirm – or not – the diagnosis of autism.
4. What are the treatment methods for autism in children?
Autism spectrum disorder cannot be cured, but can nevertheless be the subject of personalized care in order to help the child interact better with his environment. Faced with the diversity of clinical signs, an individualized approach is essential to best meet the patient’s needs. Care logically takes on multiple dimensions: social, health, medical, etc. As the child grows, monitoring must be close enough to allow careful adjustment of care. The objective is to give the child the tools he will need to evolve in society, interact as best as possible with others and gradually become independent.
Sources
- Autism, Public Health France, March 9, 2020
- Autism – A neurodevelopmental disorder affecting interpersonal relationships, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, May 18, 2018
- Autism in children – Stay alert to detect as early as possible, High Authority of Health, June 12, 2019
- The national strategy for autism and neurodevelopmental disorders (2018-2022), Ministry of Labor, Health and Solidarity, November 14, 2023
Read also :
⋙ Autism: can you become autistic as an adult and how to diagnose it?
⋙ Autism: disentangling fact from fiction
⋙ Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD): symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, links with autism