Leading physicians have recently found that individuals with autism, a condition previously considered to be psychological, have many common underlying conditions involving the digestive and immune systems and metabolic pathways. These conditions have been shown to lead to the neurological symptoms of autism and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD’s). The biomedical approach addresses these underlying factors.
Diagnosis is made by observing a child’s behaviour. There are 12 symptoms, across three groups: social interaction, communication and behaviour. To be diagnosed as autistic, a child must have a minimum of six of these 12 symptoms. Two of the six symptoms must be impairments in social interaction in addition to at least one impairment in both communication and behaviour.
Symptoms are:
- impaired social interaction
- nonverbal interaction: lack of eye contact, facial expression, body postures and gestures
- failure to form peer relationships appropriate to development level.
- does not seek to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with others
- lack of social or emotional reciprocity, preferring solitary activities or involving others in activities only as tools or mechanical aids.
- impaired communication
- delay in or total lack of spoken language not accompanied by an attempt to compensate with gesture or mime
- in individuals with spoken language, marked impairment in ability to initiate or sustain a conversation
- repetitive use of spoken or idiosyncratic (peculiar) language
- lack of imaginative play or mimicking others appropriate to developmental level
- Restricted and stereotyped behaviour patterns
- preoccupation with restricted interests that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
- difficulty adjusting to change such as to routine, clothing, furniture placement etc.
- repetitive movements such as hand flapping or twisting, complex whole body movements
- Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
Click here to learn about the biomedical approach to treating Autism.
