Every April 2 marks World Autism Awareness Day. Its detection is not always fast and there are signs to take into account, which could indicate the condition.
Although Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses a wide group of neurodevelopmental conditions, they all have in common the alteration of social interactions.
Within ASD are Asperger’s Syndrome, Kanner’s Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified and Disintegrative Disorder.
The motto of the Paraguayan campaign this year is: “Autism: a journey of dreams and barriers to break.” Some of the signs that could indicate that a person suffers from this disorder are:
Altered social interaction (reciprocity).
Impaired communication (comprehensive and expressive language).
Restrictive, repetitive and stereotyped behavior patterns: routines, play patterns or restricted interests, motor stereotypies, rigid and restricted imaginative skills.
Given the suspicion, the patient’s relatives can resort to the “Niños de Acosta Ñu” Pediatric General Hospital, where neuropediatricians, psychologists, speech therapists and physiotherapists provide the required care to a patient with autism, who needs the intervention of multiple professionals from various areas of the early neurodevelopment, to enhance their abilities and improve their relationship with the people around them.