World Autism Day..Facts, Myths about Kids’ Disorder

By Salma Yassin

CAIRO, April 1 (SEE)- Since 2007, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2nd of April to be World Autism Awareness Day.

Hesham Soliman, a speech therapist revealed to (SEE) all types, symptoms and correct ways to deal with kids who suffer from this kind of disorder.

[caption id="attachment_43432" align="aligncenter" width="279"] Hesham Soliman, a speech therapist[/caption]

He stated that autism is not a disease but a growth and nerve disorder resulting in a lack of cognition, speech difficulties beside a clear deficiency in emotional feelings and reactions.

Kids who suffer from this disorder usually have visual communication difficulties, isolation tendencies and more likely to be hypersensitive.

Furthermore, autistic kids tend to repeat specific words or movements several times; which is known as “Echolalia”, like those who stay rotating around themselves dozens of times.

[caption id="attachment_43421" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Baby laying on the floor doing the same movements[/caption]

"They can also suffer from one of the two extremes either hyperactivity or inactivity," Soliman added.

Another catastrophic point is that kids with this disorder are slower to realize danger unlike normal kids.

Soliman confirmed that all disorder symptoms revealed in the first three years of a kid’s life and the infection ratio of boys to girls is 4:1.

“There are 3 degrees of this mental disorder; either simple, moderate or severe one, and they can all be detected by "CARS" and "Gilliam" measurements,” he added.

Main reasons behind autism are yet uncovered but doctors have come up with some driving factors.

“Genetic factors, complications of pregnancy and childbirth, father’s old age are the top factors,” Soliman clarified.

He denied that spending too much time watching TV can lead to autism, saying that this might increase symptoms’ severity only if they already exist.

[caption id="attachment_43422" align="aligncenter" width="538"] Child watching TV[/caption]

The speech therapist advised parents to watch out their kids’ behavior and in case of noticing any of the above symptoms, they have to follow up with a neurologist or a child psychologist.

“If a child is confirmed to have autism disorder, parents should go directly to special education centers,” he stressed.

Specialists in these centers implement comprehensive treatment plans for kids and focus on rehabilitation processes which lead to very positive and impressive results.

[caption id="attachment_43424" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Boy exercises putting fingers with therapist[/caption]

Finally, Soliman warned parents from following myths and fake therapies like herbal treatments, oxygen and stem cell therapies, or taking any unauthorized drugs.