RESOURCES

Let’s talk about Autism in particular.

Is Autism a disability? If it’s not a disability, what is it? Is it a disorder? Or is it simply a way of responding to people and the world around us?

These are some of the questions that most parents ask, just like people from the spectrum themselves. Unfortunately, the answers are far from being simple.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism spectrum disorder is defined as a “developmental disability”, while the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that ASD is a “developmental disorder”.

Meanwhile, the Individuals with disabilities education Act law (IDEA), has 13 categories for the disabilities, and autism spectrum disorder is number three on the list, calling it a developmental disability that affects “social and communication skills”, but it can also have an “impact on behavior”.

(LONGO, 2021)

Currently, experts recognize 3 levels depending on the particularities of each patient. For many people, the concept of autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), can be confusing.

The brazilian journal of Psychiatry, authored by the American psychologist Ami Klin, from Emory University (United States) and the brazilian psychiatrist Marcos Tomanik Mercadante, from the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), defines ASD as a family of socialization disorders that affect personal relationships, communication, the learning and adaptability of individuals to different environments.

For its part, the brazilian ministry of health highlights among the signs of autism difficulties in communicating and socializing, poor understanding of language, and the adoption of restrictive behaviors (for example, eating only one type of food and rejecting the others) and repetitive (such as moving a part of the body without stopping).

What are the types of autism?

According to revision 11th of the international classification of diseases (ICD-11) from the world health organization (WHO), currently, autism divides into 3 different levels depending on the needs that each person presents.

Level 1 (considered milder)

• ASD without intellectual disability and with slight or no functional language impairment;
• ASD with intellectual disabilities and mild or no functional language impairment

Level 2 (Moderated)

• ASD without intellectual disability and absence of functional language
• ASD with intellectual disability and absence of functional language

Level 3 (considered more severe)

• ASD without intellectual disability and absence of functional language
• ASD with intellectual disability and absence of functional language

What is Asperger’s syndrome and why is the term no longer used?

During a long time, health authorities understood Aspenger’s syndrome as a high-functioning “form of autism.” This means that the carriers presented similar difficulties to other autistic people, but at a very reduced level.

However, the ICD-11 grouped all autism related disorders into a single diagnosis: ASD.

According to WHO, the change was made to avoid errors, simplify coding and facilitate the diagnosis. There is also a movement, among the medical community itself and people with autism, to abolish the use of the term “Aspenger”.

All children with autism deserve the opportunity to have a happy and independent life. Looking for resources where they can help families with children with autism where parents can educate themselves with everything related to autism, where they can learn how to connect to the world, in hand with professionals is the first step that families can begin with.

(nationalgeographicla.com, 2024)

Courtesy of: Caravel Autism Health

Do you know about purple crying?

The term “purple cry” is used by some professionals to describe a normal phase in the growth of babies. It is important to keep in mind that most parents experience this type of crying at some point and staying calm is essential to provide the best care for the baby.

The characteristics of purple crying are summarized by the acronym PURPLE:

• P (peak of crying): crying intensifies each week, peaking around two months of age, then tapering off
• U (Unexpected): both its start and end are completely unpredictable
• R (resist soothing): unlike other types of crying, the baby does not calm down easily
• P (pain-like face): it may look like they are in pain, even when they are not
• L (long lasting): crying may continue for extended periods
• E (evening): it is common for the baby to cry more in the afternoon and at night, especially between 5pm and 9pm.

Courtesy of Precious Moment Child Care

The PURPLE crying period is a normal phase that begins around 2 weeks of age and lasts until 3 or 4 months of age. Despite the word purple, it does not mean that the baby actually gets that color.

To calm the purple crying, it is essential to stay calm and be patient, as the baby is fine. Different strategies can be used with the baby such as holding in your arms, carrying, maintaining skin-to-skin contact, performing relaxing activities such as massages, baths or singing to the baby.

As for the cause of purple crying, it is considered the period of greatest crying in healthy babies without an identified medical cause. Although some experts suggest that it is a form of adaptation to the new environment, there is no certainty as to why crying increases during this time. It is worth mentioning that humans are not the only ones who go through this stage.

Cries that indicate signs of illness often sound like weak, tired moans, with high pitches and low intensity, sometimes accompanied by long pauses between crying sessions.

The first 365 days of a child’s life are an amazing period of growth and learning. Child development encompasses the changes or evolutions that a child experiences from birth to adolescence. Understanding this development is crucial for parents and educators to prepare to guide and encourage learning, thus establishing a solid foundation in physical areas.

Developmental change is an inherent reality of human existence. There are universally accepted assumptions or principles about human development, recognizing that each child is unique in their physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth patterns. Additionally, they vary in the way they interact and respond to their environment, as well as the impact of play and other factors. Somo children may always seem happy and energetic, while others may not show the same liking in physical development.

Physical development involves changes in size, weight and motor skills, as well as personality. Some children are more active, while others tend to be quieter. Management of these behaviors may vary, as some children are easier to manage than others.

As for physical development, this encompasses changes in the body, including changes in bones, size, weight, gross motor skills, vision and hearing development. Gross motor skills refer to movements that involve the use of large muscle groups and the coordination of large movements, such as walking, running, jumping, crawling, and climbing. An appropriate development of these skills is essential for the growth and autonomy of young children.