TheBuzzReads.com | Explore Popular Blogs

7 early warning signs of autism in children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that usually affects a child’s ability to communicate and socialize, thus impacting their growth. Some children may show signs at the age of around 18 months to 3 years, while some symptoms may not show up until kids start attending school. Various factors like premature birth or a family history of the condition can lead to developing autism. Some common warning signs of the condition are listed below.

Early warning signs of autism
It can sometimes be challenging for parents or caregivers to detect ASD in kids. The symptoms differ from person to person, and some may not seem serious enough to warrant more attention than usual childish mischief. But it’s best to be aware of the common warning signs listed below.

Lack of joint attention
Joint attention can be defined as one’s ability to look back and forth between objects, people, or events quickly. Usually, by the age of 12 months, parents can grab the attention of their children, who react or mimic the parent’s reactions, for example, a smile. Kids can also look back and forth between the object and the parent. This skill enables people later to interact socially, exchange emotional expressions, and develop a bond with others. Children with ASD may find it difficult to follow moving objects, turn to the sounds to locate them or point at objects that fascinate them.

Language difficulty
Autistic children may repeat some phrases constantly and for a longer time or exhibit delayed language development.

Lack of eye contact
Kids with autism may find it hard to look eye-to-eye with other people. For example, if they want an object placed far away, they may lead their parents to it without making eye contact.

Highly sensitive
Some kids with autism may be hypersensitive to physical contact and not be keen on being held or cuddled, as that might overwhelm them. They may also be sensitive to loud noises. They may have sensory processing difficulties and resist the acts that stimulate them.

Inability to connect with kids their age
Most kids by the age of 18 months like to pretend-play, like caring for a toy baby or cooking with toy utensils. But kids with ASD may avoid such activities and find it hard to engage and connect with other kids their age. They may also be unable to process emotions and have limited facial expressions.

Regressing skills
Another sign of autism development is that a child may regress or stop the progress of a skill they were once well-versed with. It can include social gestures like waving, pointing, speech, or babbling.

Temper tantrums
Some autistic children may throw repeated tantrums at little changes in their routine or show an obsessive interest in something.

Parents concerned about their kid’s developmental abilities are advised to consult a professional, like a speech therapist, a child psychologist, or a pediatric neurologist. Getting timely and early treatment for autism can help the kid develop the required skills.

Popular Reads

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.

5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.

Four important steps in anemia management

Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Its richness in iron gives blood its red color. Anemia is a condition where a person has low hemoglobin or red blood cell count. From an underlying disease to nutrient deficiencies, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the onset of this condition. There are many forms of anemia. Some of them include: Iron deficiency anemia -This is caused due to low iron levels in the blood. Most common causes of this type of anemia are heavy menstruation or internal bleeding. Vitamin deficiency anemia – This type of anemia is caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, B-12 or folate Aplastic anemia – Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough red blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. Sickle cell anemia – This is a condition characterized by the development of abnormal crescent-shaped red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia – This is a blood disorder caused due to premature death of red blood cells. Thalassemia – This is caused due to low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood disorders vary in duration and severity. Prompt diagnosis, and treatment are important because anemia could also be due to an underlying condition.