Autistic babies need friendly family environment for normal

by Md. Sazedul Islam

The autistic child Jarif Mahadi could not think that their child could show improvement despite affected by autism. His parents were happy with his birth, but their joy soon evaporated when he developed the symptom of autism.

Mamtaj .Jasim, mother of the boy said, we the parents were worried as he started inconsistent behaviour at the age of two years and a hall' He spent all the time watching music on TV. He used to move like any other boy but lacked energy in movement that worried his parents. At last his eye power lost capacity.

Jarif, aged about 10 years, is now a student of junior-6 at a SWAC' run school at Lalmatia in Dhaka. He is the only son of his parent.

His parents, both of them service holders, used to give time to their son. after return from offices daily.

Seeing the unnatural condition of their only child, both the parents came lo Dhaka after taking transfer of their service in Chittagong.

His patents took their son to a physician in Dhaka, but his problem could mil be solved. Again the boy was taken to India where the physicians also failed to cure him.

In a bid to heal his problem, at first the boy was admitted to a normal school and later readmitted to a SWAC run school in Lalmatia of Dhaka where he showed improvement one year after admission.

Jarifs relatives told his mother that his condition improved than earlier. Jarif's mother attributed her son's success to the sincere effort made by the SWAC run school.

Janr's mother requested all those mothers, whose children are autistic, not to worry or frustrate with their autistic children. She observed that an autistic child could also improve if a mother tries her best. An autistic child can improve if the school's pragramme has consistency with that of house.

Jarifs mother think that an autistic child can also contribute to our society if they are imparted proper training. For this, we need hard patience and self-confidence.

Jarif is not alone who have fell victim to autism. There are other children who were affected by autism in our country.

Psychologists said autism is n very complex disorder. It is a lifelong developmental disability, which affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around him/her.

Children and adults with autism are unable to relate to other in a meaningful way.

Autism is neuro developmental disorder, which usually appears in a child by the aye of three, although some characteristic features may be present even on first birthday.

Autism is a brain based developmental disorder and not a result of poor parenting. Family income, life style and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence. Autism is not a mental disease.

Autistic children may also exhibit attention problems, repeated body movement, unusual attachment to objects, resistance to change, disruptive, aggressive or self-injurious behaviour apparent insensitivity to danger or pain.

Children with autism have difficulties with imaginative play, making friends and comprehending other's feelings and thoughts. They may also have sensitivities in the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.

In the first few years of life, some autistic toddlers reach developmental milestones, such as talking, crawling, and walking, much earlier than the average child; whereas others are considerably delayed. Approximately one-half of autistic children develop normally until somewhere between 1 1/2 to 3 years of age; then autistic symptoms begin to emerge.

During childhood, autistic children may fall behind their same-aged peers in the areas of communication, social skills, and cognition.

No surveys have been done in Bangladesh to collect data about the exact number of autistic children in the country.

Dr Laila Zaman Khan, Professor of Neurology department of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, said till now there are no cause of autism known to us. She identified three main features of autism. These are: impairments in verbal and non-verbal communication, impairments in socialization, restrictive and repetitive patterns of behaviours or interests.

She said study is being done to know its causes. She claimed that proper training could help improve the autistic children.

Laila said autistic child might be intelligent. They however do not voluntarily talk to others. She said emotion does not touch them. She said the exact cause is still not known.

Eighty per cent of autistic people are male, meaning the risk is five times greater for boys. Scientists have yet to explain the disparity.

Monowara Parveen, child psychologist of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, said there are no precautions or preventative measures that can be adopted by parents to prevent autism.

There is no miracle cure for autism but it is treatable. Early diagnosis and intensive intervention in optimal educational settings can have a significant, positive, and lasting impact on autistic children. With early intensive intervention many autistic children can go on to attend normal schools.

Proper evaluation of each child's strengths and limitations, appropriate training and autism friendly environment can help them to perform to their maximum potential.

Dhaka Shishu Hospital provides various services to the autistic children. Monoara Parveen said many autistic children who came at the hospital got benefited. At the hospital, psychologists checked the victim children and briefed their parents on how to bring up their children so that their conditions get improved further.

Autism is not curable, but preventable. Attention should be given to an autistic child for making him/her self-dependent. An autistic child has also right to love, affection, care and security like any other children. Not only that, arrangement should be taken so that they could lead their life well.

There are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. An accurate diagnosis must be based on observation of the individual's communication, behaviour and developmental levels.

The earlier a diagnosis of autism is made, the better chance of receiving appropriate help and support and better will be the prognosis.

Early diagnosis and intensive behavioural intervention can have a significant and lasting positive impact on autistic children. Autistic children can be benefited from placement in a good educational programme.

Everyone, including Guardians, parents, caregivers, teachers, all family members and relatives, should have positive outlook for helping improve the autistic child. Extending helping hands all the times to an autistic child should be deemed everyone's duty and responsibility.

An awareness should be created to turn it as a social responsibility. We should bear in mind that the autistic children can become self-dependent if they get suitable environment as well as training.

Source: http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/200...5/news0433.htm

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