Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism refers to developmental disorders of the central nervous system. ASD can be noticed at an early age because its symptoms are quite specific.
Autism etiology
Until now, the exact nature of the appearance of ASD has not been fully elucidated. Some experts believe that genetic predisposition plays a large role in the occurrence. It has been proven that the chemical reactions in the brain of autistics proceed somewhat differently than in others. Various negative effects in the prenatal period can provoke the development of ASD, but this has not been scientifically proven.
Symptoms of ASD
Some experts believe that the first signs of autism can be seen in a child under one year old, but there is no consensus on whether these can be considered symptoms of an autistic disorder. The most noticeable features of children with ASD become after a year. The following are signs that you can already notice in your baby so that parents can contact a specialist in time:
- the child does not react in any way to the appearance of his mother, does not recognize people he knows, does not smile;
- difficulty breastfeeding;
- it is very difficult to make eye contact with a baby: he looks as if "through" people;
- Children with ASD are afraid of any noisy electrical appliances, such as a vacuum cleaner;
- babies often have sleep problems: they are awake, their eyes are open, but they do not sleep and do not act up;
- when trying to pick up these babies, the babies begin to arch their backs so that it becomes difficult to press them to the chest.
All these signs can appear in a baby at the age of 3 months, but no doctor will diagnose "autism" at this age, because the process of forming a daily routine, cognitive activity, is still going on. At an older age, the baby shows more characteristic and obvious signs of ASD:
- monotonous movements;
- lack of interest in other people, unwillingness to contact others;
- if there is a change of scenery, the child gets scared and very nervous;
- toddlers struggle with self-care skills;
- child does not play role-playing games;
- long periods of silence are replaced by monotonous repetition of one sound or word.
It should be noted that for little autistic children this behavior is absolutely normal, they do not feel any discomfort. Parents often mistake autism for hearing problems becausethe reason for going to a specialist is a complaint of reduced hearing or suspicion of deafness. What is the relationship between sound perception and autism?
Parents suspect hearing loss because the child does not respond when called, does not react to loud sounds. In fact, children do not have any hearing problems, they just live in their own world and do not consider it necessary to respond to external stimuli until they begin to cause discomfort to the baby.
Preschool manifestations of ASD
The development of children with ASD is different from other children. They have violations in the following areas:
- Communications. Children are very unsociable, there is no attachment to relatives and friends. Does not play with other children, does not like it when others want to take part in his game. They do not react in any way when they are approached with a request or simply called. Games are of a monotonous nature, in which stereotypical actions predominate, preference is given to non-game objects (stones, sticks, buttons), and their favorite actions in the game may be pouring sand, pouring water. Yes, they can take part in games with children, but they hardly understand the rules, do not react emotionally and do not understand the emotions of other kids. Of course, others do not like this behavior, as a result of which self-doubt appears. Therefore, these children prefer to be alone.
- Speech sphere. Interaction with society cannot but affectchild's speech development. In addition to the fact that little autistic people do not pay attention to the speech of adults, they develop phrasal speech in the period from 1 to 3 years, but it resembles commenting. The presence of echolalia (involuntary repetitions after people) is characteristic. A frequent reason for consulting a speech therapist is mutism in a child - refusal to communicate. A characteristic speech feature is that babies do not use the pronoun "I": they talk about themselves in the second and third person.
- Motor skills - movement disorders are not indicative signs of ASD, because some movements can be perfectly developed, while others will noticeably lag behind the norm. Children may misjudge the distance to an object, which can cause motor clumsiness. They can walk on tiptoe, because of possible problems with coordination, the guys have difficulty learning to walk up the stairs. There are difficulties in manipulating small objects, the inability to ride a bicycle. But such motor clumsiness and lack of coordination can be combined with amazing balance. Due to problems in the muscle tone of the mouth and jaw, salivation (increased and uncontrolled salivation) appears.
- Absolutely, what specialists always pay attention to in order to make a diagnosis, these are behavioral disorders. Children can look at one point for a long time or look at an object, admire ordinary things and not be interested in toys. They love it when everything is in their usual places, they get very upset when somethingIt doesn't go the way they're used to. There may be sudden outbursts of aggression if something does not work out for the baby or he feels uncomfortable because he cannot express his emotions in another way.
- There is a good development of mechanical memory, but a poor understanding of the content of fairy tales, poems. With regard to intellectual activity, some autistic children may have a very high intelligence for their age, even be gifted in some area. Usually they say about such children that they are "indigo". And some may have reduced intellectual activity. In any case, their learning process is not purposeful, it is marked by a violation of concentration.
Accompanying children with ASD
If, according to the results of the examination, the child is diagnosed with autism, then he has the opportunity to attend a preschool institution of a compensating type or an inclusive group in a kindergarten or a group located at a psychological and pedagogical medical and social center or in short-stay groups. Due to the fact that it is difficult for a child with ASD to establish contact with others, he is lost in an unfamiliar environment, it is necessary that he has a tutor with him to help him socialize.
Stay of children with ASD in kindergarten
The main goal of developing programs for children with ASD in preschool educational institutions is their integration into society so that they have equal rights with other children. Toddlers who attended a preschool institution then adapt much more easily tonew conditions and find contact with others.
When building corrective work with such children, it is necessary to use an integrated approach - this is pedagogical, psychological and medical assistance to little "autyats". For the successful implementation of the program, it is necessary to establish emotional contact with the baby. A comfortable environment is created for the child, excluding ways of interacting with the world that are inaccessible to him.
Also, preschool workers organize socially correct ways of interacting with children. The subject-developing environment of a kindergarten should take into account the developmental features of a small autistic child, his interests and compensate for his violations. It is desirable that the institution has a sensory room, because it allows you to relax the nervous system, affects the sensory organs, the child has a sense of security and calmness.
Children with ASD at school
Probably one of the most important and difficult questions that parents of a special child face is their further education. As such, there are no specialized school institutions for children with autism, everything will depend on what the PMPK decides: if a child has intellectual disabilities, they may recommend studying at a school of the 8th type. If there are severe speech disorders, then speech schools. But often such children are allowed to study in a regular public school.
Many parents want their child to study in a mass institution for successful socialization in the future. Now that the whole society is tryingto integrate special children into society, special classes are being created in ordinary schools, but still not in all. Why is it difficult for a child to adapt to school conditions?
- Insufficient competence of teachers. Most teachers simply don't know how to deal with such children because they don't know all the specifics of ASD. This problem is solved by improving the skills of personnel.
- Great class size. It is very difficult for an autistic child who avoids communication in every possible way to study in such conditions.
- The daily routine and school rules - children will have to get used to new conditions, which is not easy for such children.
As in kindergarten, the main tasks of teaching children with ASD is to integrate them into society as much as possible and develop an adequate attitude towards them from their peers. The teacher should get to know the special child and their family before the start of the school year to get to know their characteristics and build rapport.
At school, it will be necessary not only to implement the curriculum, but also to educate a certain behavior in a student with ASD: in the classroom, he must have a permanent place and a place where he can rest. The teacher should form in the children's team an adequate perception of a peer with special developmental needs through various conversations in which the theme of individuality would be revealed.
AOP for children with ASD
Of course, the recommendation to attend mass kindergartens and schools does not mean that there is nothe characteristics of these children will be taken into account. For them, an individual educational route is compiled, an adapted educational program (AEP) is written, which reveals the content of remedial classes. The teaching staff must have a speech therapist, defectologist and psychologist, because the main approach to correctional work is complex.
Adapted programs for children with ASD include:
- gradual inclusion of children in the learning process;
- creating special conditions;
- provision of psychological and pedagogical support to the family;
- formation of social and cultural values;
- protecting the physical and mental he alth of the child;
- ensure the variability of educational programs and content of classes;
- Maximum integration of pupils with ASD into society.
The development of such a program greatly facilitates the process of teaching a child with ASD, because when it is drawn up, the developmental features of such children are taken into account, and an individual training program is created. It is impossible to demand the same quick assimilation of the material from autistic pupils as from others, the psychological situation plays an important role, since it is very important for them to feel comfortable in new conditions. AOP allows autistic children to acquire the necessary knowledge and integrate into society.
Working with Special Children
Correctional work with children with ASD implies the joint work of a speech therapist, defectologist, psychologist, educators and teachers, as well as active interaction with parents. Of course, it is impossible to leave such children alone in a new place for the whole day - you need to gradually increase their time spent in the institution and reduce the time the parents are present.
Best of all, if the teacher starts the lesson or ends it with a certain ritual, it is necessary to exclude all bright objects that can cause a negative reaction of the child. Teachers should wear clothes of calm colors, it is desirable to exclude the use of perfume. The child should have a permanent personal workplace, all things should always be in their places. Participants in the educational process must follow a certain routine. The slightest disruption to a schedule or change in environment can stress autistic children.
Such little things are very important for the successful correction of the defect, therefore they create a positive emotional background for the child. In the classroom, it is very important to create a situation of success, constant encouragement, stimulation, because the assimilation of knowledge from them is closely interconnected with personal interest. The child needs to be helped in case of difficulties, during classes it is necessary to use various visual aids.
Children with autism benefit from working together in pairs. This is done not at the initial stage of training, but when the child is already accustomed to the new environment. This type of work allows you to more effectively introduce the child into society. The psychologist corrects the negative attitudes of the child, works with the affective side of the defect, helps the child and his parents to adapt. Speech therapistdeals with overcoming mutism, logophobia, creates motivation for communication and corrects speech defects. The defectologist is engaged in the correction of the emotional-volitional sphere and the development of higher mental functions.
If a child is diagnosed with autism, this does not mean that he cannot attend an educational institution. With the right approach, an individually selected program, the baby will be able to get all the knowledge, like other children.
Advice for parents of children with ASD
Parents of children with ASD do not always know what to do, whom to contact, and it is difficult for them to realize and accept that their child has autism. For effective work to overcome ASD, it is necessary that the relatives of the child follow the following recommendations:
- Compliance with the regime of the day. It is necessary to say what you will do now and accompany all actions with photographs. So the child will already be prepared for action.
- You need to try as much as possible to play games together with your child.
- At the very beginning, you need to choose games and activities based on the interests of the baby, later supplement them with new activities.
- Play activities should include people from the child's immediate environment.
- A good solution would be to keep a diary, which will record all the successes and difficulties that a child may have. This is done in order to visually show the specialist the development of the baby.
- Attend classes with experts.
- A child should be encouraged for any success.
- Selectiontasks are built according to the principle from simple to complex.
Prospects for children with ASD
What's next for a child with autism? It is impossible to completely overcome this defect, you can try to smooth it out as much as possible so that it is as less noticeable as possible. No one can give an accurate forecast. It all depends on the severity of the autistic disorder and on how early the correctional work began.
The behavior of children with ASD is quite specific, and even with successful integration into society, autistic traits will still remain, they will simply not be pronounced. It may not be possible to fully introduce the child into society, and correctional work may progress rather slowly. There are no exact predictions, so you should always keep a positive attitude, because a child with ASD is in great need of support.
