World Autism Awareness Dayis on April 2nd every year. It aims to raise awareness and support for people with autism. Thethemefor 2024 is “Empowering Autistic Voices.” A report says around18 millionpeople in India have autism. Between 1-1.5% of children aged 2-9 years old are diagnosed with autism.Boysare more commonly affected than girls.
World Autism Awareness Day, History
TheUnited Nationsestablished World Autism Awareness Day in 2007. The goal is to increase public awareness, accept and empower individuals with autism, and recognize their contributions to society.
Key Points:
- Autism affects social interaction, communication, and behaviour
- Causes can include premature birth, pollution, genetics
- Early signs include lack of response, avoiding eye contact, repeated movements
- Therapies and medications can help manage symptoms
- World Autism Awareness Day raises global awareness and support
What is Autism?
Autismis a disorder that makes it hard for people to interact with others and communicate. People withautismmay also have unusual behaviors and have trouble switching between activities. They may focus a lot on details and react strongly to sensations like sounds or textures.
Causes of Autism
Some possiblecausesof autism include:
- Being born very premature or with low birth weight
- The mother being exposed toair pollutionor being obese during pregnancy
- Diabetes or immune system problems in the mother
- Genetics
Risk Factors
Things that increase theriskof autism include:
- Having a sibling with autism
- Having certain genetic conditions
- Complications during birth
- Being born to older parents
Symptoms of Autism
Signs ofautismin young children:
- Not responding to their name
- Avoidingeye contact
- Repeating movements over and over
- Delayedspeechdevelopment
Signs in older children:
- Trouble understanding others’ thoughts and feelings
- Unusual speech patterns
- Sticking to strictroutines
- Difficulty making friends
Treatment
Treatmentfor autism aims to reduce symptoms and improve learning and skills. It may include:
- Differenttherapiesto help with speech and behaviour
- Medications for related medical conditions
