Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is unique as there are multiple factors causing the disorder. According to The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), 1 out of 68 newborns in Malaysia is estimated to have autism. Autism is not the same as being shy or do not know what to say to others instead people with ASD are unable to understand the basic social conventions that others take for granted such as making eye contact, holding a conversation, or recognising gestures (Autism Society, n.d.). Over one-third of people with ASD are nonverbal and like to follow certain patterns or repeated behaviours. Although might have disabilities, most of the autistics acquire great long-term memory in minor details, excel in music, art,
mathematics or science.

According Autism Support of West Shore (2014), there are three types of disorders in the Autism Spectrum Disorders which are Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
People with Autistic Disorder have language delays, social and communication challenges, unusual behaviours and interest and most of the autistics have intellectual disability. People with Asperger Syndrome have some symptoms of Autistic Disorder such as facing social challenges and having unusual behaviours and interests but do not have problems with language or intellectual disability. People with Pervasive Developmental Disorder typically have difficulties to face social and communication challenges. Prof Stephen Shore once said, ‘If you’ve met one person on the autism spectrum, you’ve met one person on the spectrum.’ (amaze, n.d.). This indicates that everyone on the autism spectrum are impossible to be alike. All people on the autism spectrum are different and will experience autism in different
ways.

All causes of ASD have not been found but the 3 factors that make a person more likely to have ASD are due to environmental, biological and genetic factors (mychildwithoutlimits.org, n.d.). ‘Most scientists agree that genes play a role as this often run in families as scientists look at the concordance of that trait which is the percentage chance that if one twin has autism, the other twin will also have autism. If the concordance is higher for identical twins than fraternal twins, then we can say the difference is due to the increased amount of genetic material shared by the identical twins, and that autism is influenced by genetics.’ (Andrew Whitehouse, 2016). Autism are more common in male than female (Amanda Woerner, 2014). The other reason might cause autism is that having older parents where a mother who was 35 or older, and/or a father who was 40 or older when the baby was born (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). Vaccines do not cause autism as there are no scientific explanation on how vaccination will causes autism. ASD is being diagnosed at a higher rate every year but this does not mean that autism has becoming more common. This indicates that more people are aware about the condition and this is important for early therapy.

Autism have no cure but there are therapies and medication that can help to adjust.
According Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are several types of therapies used to treat autistics such as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and medication. ABA which is a treatment that encourages positive behaviours and discourages negative behaviours in order to improve variety of skills. Occupational Therapy where autistics are educated with skills that enable them to live independently. Speech therapy helps to improve autistics’ communication skills. This will enable autistics to communicate verbally or by using gestures. There are some medications that can help autistics to manage high energy levels, inability to focus, depression, and
seizures. Accept difference, not indifference, autistics may be different from the society, but as a part of the humanity, more love and respect should be given from the society.