One in 44 8-year-olds live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States, according to the country’s most recent 2018 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey.
The index represents an increase compared to previous years, which indicated 1 case for every 68 children.
O CNN Vital Signs this week presents the different nuances of living with autism spectrum disorder. The program, presented by cardiologist Roberto Kalil, will air this Sunday (12), at 7:30 pm, reinforcing the diversified content with the brand CNN Soft .
In Brazil, there is no conclusive study on the prevalence in the population. Nonetheless, experts point to an increase in the identification of cases in the country .
“This is the result of the destigmatization of ASD and the improvement of diagnoses that are being made earlier and earlier”, explains psychiatrist Helena Brentani, founder of the Protea outpatient clinic, at the Institute of Psychiatry at Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo (see interview in the video above ).
Autism spectrum disorder is a disorder characterized by atypical development, deficits in communication and social interaction, in addition to repetitive and stereotyped behavior patterns. The person may also have a restricted repertoire of interests and activities.
According to experts, the manifestations of the spectrum are diverse. While some people live independently, other individuals may have more severe conditions that need permanent attention and support throughout their lives.
technology support
One of the technological tools adopted in recent years by professionals at the Protea outpatient clinic to aid in diagnosis is the so-called eye-tracking, a computerized technique for tracking by gaze.
“The equipment will capture where the child is looking, what their preference is. A neurotypical child, already very small, has a preference for biological, human and interaction scenes while children with ASD, for example, have a preference for geometric frames, fractals and clear and repetitive movements “, explains Helena.
According to psychiatrist Daniela Bordini, coordinator of the autism clinic at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), the clinical presentation of ASD is diverse.
“Each individual has their own peculiarities, both in terms of difficulties and potential, and neurodevelopmental changes occur very early,” he explains. “Today specialists in the field are able to identify more classic conditions in around a year to a year and a half, with enough signs and symptoms to make a diagnosis”, he adds.
Quality of life
The episode shows how evidence-based psychosocial interventions, such as behavioral therapy and complementary methods offered by the Association of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional (APAE), in Bauru, contribute to reducing communication difficulties.
The methods bring benefits to social behavior and have a significant impact on the well-being and quality of life of people with ASD.
“It is very important that we ensure that this child, in the first months and years of life, has a multidisciplinary follow-up”, says Cristiane Silvestre de Paula, professor of the postgraduate program in Developmental Disorder at Mackenzie University.
“Drug treatment is to treat comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, irritability and not autism specifically,” he adds.
The program also addresses the importance of integrating health services with basic education. Experts point out that school is the main means of development for a person on the autism spectrum.
the team of CNN shows the results of a project that brought together health specialists from Universidade Mackenzie to train teachers in a teaching network in São Paulo.
“We have numerous studies carried out in school units of municipal education systems, one of them, which began in 2017, in force until today, in a partnership that Mackenzie maintained with the City Hall of Embu das Artes”, says geneticist Decio Brunoni, professor of the postgraduate program in Developmental Disorders at the Center for Biological and Health Sciences at Universidade Mackenzie.
Source: CNN Brasil
