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Posted by Sylvia on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 (18:18:13)
Deccan Herald
By L. Subramani
A mother would find it strange if a child remains unresponsive to her affectionate cuddles. Its inability to participate in human interactions, preference to be alone or unusual muteness (especially when it should be showing signs of picking up language skills) would even disappoint her.
But all she needs to know is that a child with these symptoms could have autism and requires more of her help and support. A neuro-developmental condition, autism can be diagnosed from the age of three (nowadays even much earlier) and its impact differs with each individual child.
“A classic autistic condition would be a significant lack of development in language and social behaviour,†explains Dr Shekhar Seshadri, a professor with NIMHANS. “Inability to be responsive; having a limited repertoire of activities (tending to be more repetitive) are largely indicative of a child’s autistic condition.â€Â
Dr Seshadri also reveals that children with autism have problems in using pronouns (always referring to themselves in the third person) and can’t understand the other person’s perspective, called ‘Theory of the mind’. “They can’t interpret the other person’s knowledge, feelings or intentions from cues like facial expressions and gestures,†Dr Seshadri says.
Autism can be a result of several factors; chromosomal, genetic or damage to the part of the brain where information is processed. Dr Seshadri says the condition could overlap with mental retardation or with other co-morbid conditions like epilepsy.
“There can even be a possible manifestation of autistic spectrum - a combination of different autistic traits - which may determine how far a person is affected by the condition,†he explains.
Though it is hard to attempt a cure with the technology currently available, Dr Seshadri insists that treatment is important as doctors need to determine the overlapping conditions and ways of containing the person, especially if he/she shows violent behaviour (self-injurious behaviour like banging the head in most cases).
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In addition, doctors also counsel parents in dealing with the emotional repercussions of managing the autistic child, helping them give a vent to their despair and teaching them to be more engaging towards the child in order to stop him/her from withdrawing totally.
He adds that training those with autism in life-skills and stimulating their senses (especially in the case of low functioning autistics) is vital, as their sensory systems lack co-ordination and can be either overly sensitive, less or not sensitive at all.
Dr Seshadri also believes that long years of training, creating a friendly environment around the children and lending the best possible support would help in normalization of autistic individuals.
"We can’t always expect them to be 'normal’ in the way we understand the term. In their case, normalization (or mainstreaming) would mean making them independent, self-sufficient and capable of taking charge of their own lives," Dr Seshadri points out. He agrees that awareness about the condition has increased, thanks to the tireless activities of advocacy groups across the country.
“We have been training pediatricians and staff at special schools in different states so that people across the country can have better access to autism-related services. We must, however, admit that the need to extend services to different regions keeps increasing," Dr Seshadri acknowledges.
Autism support in B’lore
KPAMRC - Karnataka Parents Association Parents Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens, AMH Compound, Off Hosur Road, Near Kidwai Hospital, Bangalore – 560 029. Tel: 26564608, 26563267. Email: jpkpamrc@vsnl.net. Teacher training courses – Diploma in Special Education- 1) Autism, 2) Learning Disabilities3) Mental Retardation; Library, Referral.
Mothers Support Group - Autism, #60, Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore – 560 001. Tel: 22213670. Email: vmathias@vsnl.com. Support, referral, information.
NIMHANS - National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore – 560 029. Tel: 26995000. Out-patient and in-patient, diagnostic assessment including medical and psychosocial investigations, treatment, counseling and home based management training.
Rainbow Centre for Autism, Spastics Society of Karnataka, Diagnostic and Research Centre, #31, 5th Cross, 5th Main, Indiranagar, 1st Stage, Bangalore – 560 038. Tel: 25280935, 25281831. Therapeutic assessment, individual and group therapy, program guidelines, sensory integration therapy, parent guidance.
Bangalore Children’s Hospital and Research Centre (City Centre), #6, Chitrapur Complex, 8th Main, 15th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore - 560 055.
Parijma Neuro-diagnostic and Rehabilitation Centre, BTS Depot Road, off Double Road, Wilson Gardens, Bangalore - 560 027.
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