Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a group of neuro-developmental disorder characterized by core deficits in three domains: social interaction, communication and repetitive or stereotypic behaviour. ASD also refers to Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) as part of ASD rather than as separate disorders (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5, 2013). Recently, it has become a major concerning issue worldwide in general and Bangladesh in particular as 1 in every 160 children has been suffering from ASD in the Southeast Asia region, while the figure for Bangladesh is 2 in 1000 children and the urban prevalence is higher than the rural areas (Hasan, 2021: Autism spectrum disorder and its care in Bangladesh).

Characteristics of Autism

1. 1. Atypical speech patterns and tone of voice.
2. 2. Late development of speech skills.
3. 3. Difficulty maintaining or responding to conversation.
4. 4. Limited eye contact.
5. 5. Limited response to social interaction.
6. 6. Repetitive speech and behavior patterns.
7. 7. Difficulty in understanding other people's feelings and expressing their own.

Causes of Autism

here is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to in neurotypical children.