Autistic thinking is a complex mental disorder that is characterized by the highest degree of self-isolation. Its main features include avoiding contact with reality and the poverty of the emotional spectrum. People who suffer from this disease are characterized by incorrect reactions and a lack of interaction with society.
Communication problems
What is autistic thinking? It is not difficult to recognize him. It has a number of characteristic symptoms, among which experts highlight the following.
Speech of patients is poorly developed. They have difficulty both understanding and reproducing words. Often such people repeat sounds and phrases heard from others or on TV. They do not understand complex syntactic constructions well.
It is much easier for them to respond to monosyllabic sentences ("eat", "go", "get up", etc.). Abstract thinking of autistic people is also inhibited. Most often this is manifested in the fact that patients do not understand such parts of speech,like, for example, pronouns (your, his, ours, etc.). Most often, at the initial examination, parents complain that their child cannot fully communicate. This problem begins to appear in the second year of a baby's life.
Non-contact
A person whose consciousness has absorbed autistic thinking behaves as if he has a disturbed perception of the world around him. From the outside it looks like he is deaf and blind. It is difficult for others to attract the attention of the patient. He does not look into the eyes of the interlocutor and does not even turn around when his name is called. Careful examination shows no problems at the physiological level.
Autistics do not form close relationships even with family members. This deviation can be noticed already in the first months of life. During this period, the child does not cling to the mother when she holds him in her arms. He may even resist physical contact by tensing his back and trying to slip out of the embrace.
Such babies do not like toys like ordinary children. They have fun using their own methods: spin the wheels of cars, twist the rope, put dolls in their mouths. These deviations can be noticed in the second year of life.
Games with others are severely limited or non-existent. The child may not be interested in such fun or simply do not have the necessary skills. Usually he does not pay attention to others. The exception is primitive games like "give-take".
Autistic thinking erases the ability to self-care. It is difficult for patients to dress, go to the toilet. They react slowly to danger. In this regard, these babies need constant supervision. Parents have an obligation to protect them from serious injury, which can be received even during the most ordinary walk on the street.
Angry attacks
Autistic people are characterized by aggressive behavior and unpredictable outbursts of rage. Often they can direct this cruelty on themselves. Patients bite their hands, beat their heads against walls, floors, or furniture, and punch their faces. Sometimes inappropriate behavior is directed at others. Most parents complain about the rudeness of such children, emotional outbursts, a sharp reaction to refusals and prohibitions.
Autistic patients can perform peculiar ritual actions. For example, they rock from side to side, clap their hands, twist objects in their hands, stare at bright lights or fan blades, stack things in a row, squat or spin for a long time.
Exceptions to the rule
In many patients, autistic thinking is not completely, because there is a concept of so-called splinter skills. These are a kind of “islands” of adequate behavior that have been preserved in their minds. This phenomenon manifests itself in various situations.
Such people can develop without delay and learn to walk as early as the age of fifteen months. It is not uncommon for babies to have a high level of motor development, walk without problems and do not lose balance.
Memory, hobbies, fears
When the doctor diagnosesautism, he looks for signs of normal memory. So, the child can repeat sounds after others or imitate what he heard on TV. He is also able to remember the details of what he sees.
He develops some interests: playing with various objects, wind-up toys or household items. Some are interested in music and dancing. Some are good at jigsaw puzzles, like numbers and letters, etc.
Autistics have small but specific fears that exist for less time than he althy people. For example, the patient may be frightened by the loud sound of a vacuum cleaner or a car horn.
Advice to loved ones
Autistic thinking is a serious medical diagnosis that only a neuropsychiatrist can make. In order for the treatment to be carried out according to the correct scheme, a person needs to undergo a complete examination. After that, doctors, together with psychologists, are developing an individual plan to combat the disease. The key to success in confronting the problem is to be patient, kind and believe in the success of the treatment.
Parents are required to create maximum emotional comfort for the baby. They must instill in their child a sense of security. The next stage of work is teaching the child new forms of behavior and vital skills for adapting to the environment.
Relatives should understand that it is extremely difficult for him to interact with the outside world. Autistic and realistic thinking are two polar concepts. Relatives shouldconstantly monitor the patient, explain to him everything they do or say. By doing this, they will help the autistic person expand their views on reality and push them to express their feelings in words.
Special treatment
Even patients who cannot speak happily perform various non-verbal tasks. They need to be taught how to play lotto, how to put together puzzles, and how to solve puzzles. It is very important at the same time to develop the ability of a person to contact others and do something with them.
When an autistic person pays attention to an object, you need to say its name, let them hold it with their hands. Thus, it will be possible to use a large number of analyzers - touch, sight, hearing at the same time and attack autistic thinking. Human psychology says that patients need to repeat the names of things many times, explain their purpose until they make them part of their perception of the world.
Game therapy
If the child is completely absorbed in some activity, you can carefully supplement his action with your own explanation. It is very important that at the same time he touches the object in question (for example, a mirror). This will help a non-speaking baby overcome the inner barrier of silence and learn a new word.
When a little patient is immersed in the manipulation of objects, it is necessary to bring meaning to this action. For example, laying out cubes in a row can be called building a train. This is done in order to reduce thinking disorders, autistic behavior of the baby.
In play therapy, you need to apply settings that have specific simple rules. Do not turn to role-playing entertainment that requires conversations. Any fun must be repeated over and over again, explaining each step in it. In this way, this game can become one of the rituals that autistics adore.
The problems that autistic thinking causes need to be addressed slowly. You need to set specific goals for yourself: getting rid of fears, controlling aggression, learning to interact with others.
It is very important that kids watch cartoons whose characters have bright, expressive facial expressions. They have difficulty identifying facial expressions, and this method will help to cope with this problem.
Cartoons about Tom the Tank Engine, Shrek, etc. are best suited. Invite the child to guess what mood this or that character is in by taking a freeze frame. Let him try to portray this emotion on his own.
If the baby withdraws into himself, distract him, play facial expressions. Your face should work very expressively, so that it is easier for him to guess what you are showing.
Performances
Autistic thinking in adults can be treated by participating in theatrical performances. At first, they vigorously resist attempts to introduce them into the play. But with perseverance and encouragement, the patient will not only decide to do this, but will also get a lot of pleasure from what is happening.
It is also useful to tell different stories with good and bad characters. So the patient will learn to subconsciously understand what is good and what is bad. You can act out such tales with the participation of people or use puppets. At the same time, it is necessary to explain that everyone has their own role in this representation. These performances must be performed repeatedly, while each time adding something new to them.
