{"id":46746,"date":"2024-09-09T11:20:07","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T18:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/?p=46746"},"modified":"2025-02-17T14:11:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T22:11:45","slug":"understand-autism-spectrum-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/understand-autism-spectrum-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Understand the Challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article\">\n\t<header class=\"header\">\n\t\t<span class=\"type\"><\/span>\t\t<h1>Understand the Challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/h1>\t\t<time>September 9, 2024<\/time>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div id=\"block_b27691c1b6b00e542ff7227155ba0390\" class=\"shs-block block-news-article entry-content\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>Chances are you may know someone with autism spectrum disorder, a condition that has become more widely recognized and diagnosed in the United States. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder in which the brain functions differently, causing challenges with social skills, communication and behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Someone diagnosed with ASD whose brain functions differently than typical is defined as \u201cneurodivergent.\u201d Someone with a more common brain function is referred to as \u201cneurotypical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the spectrum disorder part of ASD means that symptoms are different for everyone and occur in a range from mild to severe, there are common characteristics of ASD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-recognize-asd-in-children\">How to Recognize ASD in Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a developmental disorder, signs of autism spectrum disorder present early in children, often between the ages of 2 and 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Signs of ASD can include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoids eye contact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lacks facial expressions relative to the situation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unable to play interactive games like \u201cpatty-cake.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doesn\u2019t engage in pretend play common for young children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motor control issues, such as flapping hands, walking in circles, rocking in place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extra sensitivity to how clothing touches them or food textures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, children may have unusual interests, noted Psychiatrist Pallav Pareek, MD, of <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/find-a-location\/samaritan-mental-health-circle-blvd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samaritan Mental Health \u2013 Circle Blvd<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChildren with ASD may be extremely interested in not only cars, but the wheels of the car which they keep turning and playing with,\u201d he said. \u201cThey may love something at the exclusion of everything else. For example, nearly every child is interested at some point in dinosaurs, but then moves on to other things. For children with ASD, their love of dinosaurs could last much longer than most children, and sometimes forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since autism is a disorder on a spectrum, a person can be intellectually and socially low functioning or high functioning, or a range in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt the extreme end of the spectrum, a child with ASD may not have language and have high levels of impairment, which may require help with activities of daily living. At the other end of the spectrum, a child could be able to read much above grade level and have an extreme understanding of music or math, for example,\u201d Dr. Pareek said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-recognize-asd-in-adults\">How to Recognize ASD in Adults<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong condition. As a person with ASD ages, they can continue to be on a spectrum of symptoms. Some signs of ASD in adults can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Difficulty making conversation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unable to interpret body language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of empathy or ability to recognize another\u2019s emotions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Difficulty making friends.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inability to understand sarcasm, idioms or irony.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unable to deviate from routine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uncomfortable or fearful in social settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May need more time to process information, easily overloaded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that although one with ASD may care for others around them, they may not possess the capability to grasp empathy or emotional dynamics within others,\u201d said Dr. Pareek.&nbsp; \u201cIt\u2019s a different language for them.&nbsp; An example I use is this: I don\u2019t speak Mandarin, but if you place me in China, people may yell at me to do a certain thing. I\u2019m not responding as much as they would like, because I don\u2019t understand Mandarin.&nbsp; In this case, the children on the spectrum do not have the language of emotion reading, empathy or emotional expression.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-no-cure-for-autism-spectrum-disorder\">No Cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While there is no cure for ASD, treatments can help a person function better in daily living. It\u2019s important to get a child screened if you have concerns about their developmental progress. Talk with your child\u2019s health care provider about screening options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Dr. Pareek notes that there is a form of psychotherapy called <a href=\"https:\/\/health.ucdavis.edu\/mind-institute\/centers\/cedd\/adept\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">applied behavioral analysis<\/a>, or ABA, which he finds helpful in patients to improve behavior issues and life skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn working with parents and children, this form of therapy uses cause and effect principles to reward certain behaviors over others,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it work very well, but it is very time intensive that not everyone can do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-learning-over-time\">Learning Over Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, as children age, they may learn to compensate for their disability, Dr. Pareek said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf a person has certain social intelligence reserves, they will be able to learn appropriate social interactions by watching how others behave in certain situations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He uses an example from the popular television series, Big Bang Theory, in which the lead character, Sheldon, is an astrophysicist who also has autism spectrum disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSheldon is a good example I use often,\u201d he said. \u201cSheldon learns from observation. Over the years he has seen that when someone is sad or hurt, another person will offer them hot tea or coffee. So, when his friend on the show, Penny, is feeling upset by something, he responds by asking her if she wants a warm beverage. He has made that connection in his brain. You can learn by seeing what other people do and learn to mask your disability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-examples-of-differences-in-communication\">Examples of Differences in Communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Neurotypical people not only communicate verbally, but also use body language, subtle social cues and other nonverbal ways to share understanding. A neurodivergent person lacks these nonverbal skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA neurotypical child may take an interest in Grandpa\u2019s car collection because they know it\u2019s polite to do so, but someone with ASD would not be able to pretend they like something they don\u2019t. A better way to connect with them is to show interest in what interests them,\u201d Dr. Pareek explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Pareek offers another example: \u201cA neurotypical person knows that it is not nice to point to someone in public and talk about their body shape, size or disability. But a neurodivergent person lacks a social filter. He doesn\u2019t mean to hurt anyone. He just observes something and says it out loud. &nbsp;He wouldn\u2019t feel any embarrassment about it and wouldn\u2019t understand why other people are mad at him for saying it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tips-for-effective-communication\">Tips for Effective Communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To communicate effectively with someone who has ASD:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use their name to get their attention first.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be patient and listen. They may need time to process what they want to say.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speak to quietly with a calm demeanor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communicating when there are fewer people in a room is better. Processing conversation in large groups can be challenging for those with ASD.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use simple commands and be specific. Instead of saying, \u201csit down,\u201d say \u201csit on the brown couch.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Say what you mean, without euphemisms. Don\u2019t say: \u201cCan you give me a hand with the trash.\u201d Instead say, \u201cTake out the trash please.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid open-ended questions. Instead of, \u201cHow was your day?\u201d ask about something specific: \u201cDid you enjoy math class today?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minimize your use of nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, gestures, facial expressions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on their interests more than yours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople often ask me if autism is a new thing,\u201d said Dr. Pareek. \u201cIt\u2019s not, but we do have a better understanding of autism and a better language to explain what impairment a person has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA lot of us have people in our families \u2014 someone who isn\u2019t good in social settings, someone who doesn\u2019t get sarcasm \u2014 they\u2019ve always been in our lives. We\u2019re just talking more about it now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have concerns that your child has <a href=\"https:\/\/vsearch.nlm.nih.gov\/vivisimo\/cgi-bin\/query-meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&amp;v%3Asources=medlineplus-bundle&amp;query=autism+spectrum+disorder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">autism spectrum disorder<\/a>, contact your health care provider to schedule a screening.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/young-boy-on-playground-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta wp-post-image\" alt=\"A young boy alone on a playground structure looks hesitant.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/young-boy-on-playground-CO.jpg 360w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/young-boy-on-playground-CO-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/young-boy-on-playground-CO-120x100.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/man-with-autism-holding-small-dog-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta\" alt=\"A smiling man standing underneath a flowering tree and hugging a small dog in his arms.\" \/><figcaption>Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong condition. As a person with ASD ages, they can continue to be on a spectrum of symptoms.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t<\/aside>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Autism affects how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychiatrist Pallav Pareek, Samaritan Mental Health \u2013 Circle Blvd., shares effective ways to connect and foster understanding with loved ones on the autism spectrum.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":46812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_shs_workflow_notes":"Provider no longer with Samaritan.","_shs_exclude_from_navigation":false,"_shs_promote_article_on_blogs":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"news-topics":[277],"news-types":[270],"services":[248],"specialty":[75,46],"class_list":["post-46746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","news-topics-childrens-health","news-types-feature-article","services-mental-behavioral-health","specialty-neuropsychology","specialty-mental-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46746"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46746\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46746"},{"taxonomy":"news-topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topics?post=46746"},{"taxonomy":"news-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-types?post=46746"},{"taxonomy":"services","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services?post=46746"},{"taxonomy":"specialty","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/specialty?post=46746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}