1) To begin with, a case history including developmental, medical and family history should be prepared. Physical and neurological examination should be carried out by laboratory and other screening test such as EEG.
2) Symptoms associated with behavior disturbances should be noted down and compared with checklist or behavior rating scales. Although autistic children appear physically normal but unusual repetitive movement distinguishes them from normal children.
3) Personal meeting with the child helps greatly in collecting information. A health care professional can arrange a meeting with the child along with parents, caregivers and other members of the family. This face-to-face interaction will help to understand the behavior patterns of the child in a more reliable way. This interaction will also help to assess the communication skill of the child.
4) A child’s learning ability may be assessed on the basis of classroom tests, his/her behavior in the classroom, behavior with other children, behavior in the playground and other learning abilities. A child can be assessed for basic academic skills, daily living skills, motor skills and functioning of other organs.
- No specific cause has discovered yet for autism. Therefore, any specific treatment for autism is not available. If autism is diagnosed early, intensive therapy can help an autistic child to lead a normal and independent life. Different treatments are being adopted for autistic children.
- One of the basic treatment therapies includes dietary intervention. In dietary intervention foods are eliminated from the diet of autistic children to which they are sensitive.
- To improve communication skill in an autistic child parents can take help from support groups. A facilitator can be employed to help the autistic child in providing assistance in his/her daily living skills, basic academic skills etc.
- Another method of treatment is based on the modification in the environment of autistic children. It is based on one-to-one treatment. Environment of every autistic child may be modified according to his/her special needs. Things that disturb the behavior of a child are modified according to the special needs of the child.
Thus, by adopting various techniques and measures, sufficient change can be brought in the behavior of autistic children and we can help them to lead a normal and an independent living.
The National Autistic Society, London, England. "Do children with autism spectrum disorders have a special relationship with Thomas the Tank Engine and, if so, why?" Research undertaken by Aidan Prior Communications. February, 2002.
National Institute of Mental Health, Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) A detailed booklet that describes symptoms, causes, and treatments, with information on getting help and coping. 2004.
www.AmericanAutismSociety.org
http://www.disability-resource.com/Autism/asperger-syndrome.html