On the World Autism Awareness Day April 2, Dr Anjana Thadhani,  consulting developmental paediatrician at Niramay Guidance Clinic and Learning Disability Centre KEM Hospital has deeply observed the problem of autism and said that it is difficult to estimate the numbers in India as there is no mandatory reporting of autism as for diseases like malaria, tuberculosis. However there is an alarming increase in the number of cases of autism seen in past few years.

Dr Thadhani said, autism is a neurodevelopmental condition which mainly affects areas of social interaction and communication. These children also may have some motor movements like hand flapping, rocking which are repeated over and over again. The manner in these children behave is quite different and represent a spectrum of symptoms from mild ones which are considered as shy to the real aggressive ones.

The younger children with autism are referred to me with complains of speech delay or hyperactivity while older children lag behind in studies at an early stage because of inability to follow classroom instructions.

The parents notice the soft subtle signs of autism like poor eye contact of the child while talking, most of the children were late to start talking and have inadequate speech. Usually stay in a world of their own, these children are happy alone and find it difficult to play and interact with other children. Inability to focus and hyperactivity with unpredictable aggression also is noted in the children.

Doctors, school teachers and parents have become increasing aware of this condition in the last decade. The statistics across the world are mind boggling with the latest reported prevalence of autism being one in 50 school going children reported to have autism in United States recently.

Children with autism have difficulty at an early stage but come for treatment late. Most of the mothers report noticing something wrong with the way child behaves much before they come for help but find it difficult to point out.

It is important for parents not to ignore atypical behaviour in the child. Dr Thadhani feels that early detection of this condition with proper treatment can go a long way in normalizing the behaviour. Closing your eyes is not going to take the problem away but you lose on the benefits of early treatment.