Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Research Paper

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the developmental disorders, this condition refers to a condition that is characterized by difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction, delayed development of a child repetitive movements and lack of other unique social skills. In many cases, ASD symptoms vary, and they become more severe with time. Until 2013, Autism was misdiagnosed with other brain disorders such as canner's syndrome and Asperger's syndrome (World Health Organization 2019). This article research on Autism Spectrum Disorder child and adolescent.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Overview

Many research studies have been conducted on ASD condition and combined different categories of the disease into one unified subcategory of mental conditions, it is known as one of the most chronic brain diseases caused by numerous environmental and genetic factors (Mahdi et al. 2018). The progression in the classification of this condition shows a significant improvement in approaches to finding the best methods of treatment and handling symptoms. Medical background of ASD is traced back to 1911 when Eugene Bleuler, one of the most prominent physiatrists from Switzerland, used autism to describe a collection of symptoms of brain disorder, which was referred to as schizophrenia (World Health Organization 2019). World Health Organization (WHO) has significantly contributed to research on ASD. It has been found that in a group of 160 children, one has ASD across the globe (World Health Organization 2019).

ASD commonly begins in the childhood stage; it more prevalent in people of age 5, which shows that children are more susceptible to getting infected with ASD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Medical doctors, especially nurses, play an essential role in the control of the diseases. Most of the medical professionals have been involved in research studies concerning the disease. Some of the research studies also show that adults with diseases are more tolerable to it and can manage the symptoms quickly. However, it remains the fact that the disease is more prevalent in children; however, despite age disparities, all patients require professional assistance and social support from the family members and friends.

Problem Statement

Most of the research studies state that the condition is more prevalent in children, and one in 160 children across the globe have ASD. Despite these shreds of evidence containing relevant information and reflects on the real-world situation of ASD, other research materials present contradictory evidence on the prevalence of the disease. Most of the evidence from the many sources show that the number of children infected is more than the average as reported (World Health Organization 2019). All the research studies, therefore, have indicated how critical ASD is in the young population. This article, thus, attempts to provide detailed research on the facts of ASD. Different sources of evidence will be used to help in understanding the real world-situation of ASD in children and adolescents as well as identify the different information presented by different scholars.

Statement of Hypothesis

To achieve the objectives of the research, a list of hypotheses was drowned to help the audiences establish a good undressing of the ASD condition, prevalence, and the danger associated with it. the following are some of the hypothesis to consider:

• ASD patients are hard to understand and communicate less
• The most affected people are the young population
• Parental involvement is less considered as an intervention for controlling symptoms of ASD
• Third world- countries are substile to ASD

Proposed Study

Nurse involvement in controlling ASD across the globe is essential; most of the nursing practice s have helped t improve the outcomes of control strategies. Nurses, therefore, have a role to play in this research since pathophysiology is part of the process involved in establishing the research. Data collection is considered more important in this report; the data acquired is then compared based on the results. A review of scholarly sources will be conducted to ensure data integrity and help the audience understand the phenomenon. Most of the information searched is based on the prevalence since the disease is more common in children of 5 years.

Existing Knowledge

ASD is a mental condition that commonly begins at a young age (5 years). ASD handling strategies have increasingly developed; several interventions have been established to promote the ASD treatment process. ASD, as an emotional and social disorder, has been rated as one of the most saver diseases that deleteriously affect average growth and development. Humans are some of the creatures known depend on socialism with others (Loomes, Hull & Mandy 2017). ASD is a setback to healthy development from childhood to adulthood. Behavioral therapies have been found to perform best in treating ASD. The diseases have also been found hard to identify, especially at an early stage; however, its notifiable symptoms begin to show up when the diseases have developed into chronic conditions.

Epidemiology

Most of the research studies on ASD have indicated that the diseases in more prevent in low-income and middle -income countries (Hartley & Schultz 2015). in thirds world-countries, control measures are less available, and access to treatment and other professional services limited because the cost of handling the condition is high. According to most of the studies carried out worldwide, AD is increasingly spreading across the globe.

Causes of ASD

The scientific study of ASD shows that there are many factors associated with the cause of ASD, environment and genetic factors are the main elements to consider. Since the young population is the most substile to getting ASD (Rescorla et al. 2019). The epidemiological evidence confirms that the cause of ASD has no direct association with mumps and rubella vaccine. There is no current evidence associated with ASD with any childhood vaccine as the cause. Some of the search studies, however, have shown that ASD is associated application of inactivated vaccines, which may contain elements of aluminum adjuvants. Doctors and nurses are, therefore, one of the facilitators to the development of the disease.

Assessment and Management for the ASD Patients

Childhood interventions to control ASD development is one of the most important strategies used to handle the disease. Parental involvement is also a recommendation to managing ASD development; parents are advised to ensure routine assessment of the social and emotional health of their children to prevent the development of the disease (Mahdi et al. 2018). early identification of the disease is essential, once noticed on a child, parents should seek professional help. Other psychosocial treatment strategies are also applicable in treating ASD; it has been found that behavioral treatment is associated with the positive impacts of treating the disease.

Critical Review

ASD is associated with inactive vaccines introduced to children at the early stage of their lives, and most recent research studies deny this claim. Gabriels et al. 2015, identifies some of the interventions used to control ASD as well as the cause of it. The authors suggest that the is no direct link between vaccines and thee cause of ASD. ASD is a critical disease that needs more support from friends and family members of the victims, Salazar et al. 2015 reports on the needs of this support as it serves to encourage positive outcomes of ASD control interventions.

References

Gabriels, R. L., Pan, Z., Dechant, B., Agnew, J. A., Brim, N., & Mesibov, G. (2015). A randomized controlled trial of therapeutic horseback riding in children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(7), 541-549. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2015.04.007.

Rescorla, L. A., Winder-Patel, B. M., Paterson, S. J., Pandey, J., Wolff, J. J., Schultz, R. T., & Piven, J. (2019). Autism spectrum disorder screening with the CBCL/1-5: Findings for young children at high risk for autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 23(1), 29-38. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361317718482

Salazar, F., Baird, G., Chandler, S., Tseng, E., O'Sullivan, T., Howlin, P., ... & Simonoff, E. (2015). Co-occurring psychiatric disorders in preschool and elementary school-aged children with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(8), 2283-2294. DOI 10.1007/s10803-015-2361-5

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). American Psychiatric Pub. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-JivBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT18&dq=American+Psychiatric+Association.+(2013).+Diagnostic+and+statistical+manual+of+mental+disorders+(DSM-5%C2%AE).+American+Psychiatric+Pub.+&ots=ceUT24PHt6&sig=vS-U0pdJttY845enfd9Rv8kJiJM

Hartley, S. L., & Schultz, H. M. (2015). Supports the needs of fathers and mothers of children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 45(6), 1636-1648. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2318-0

Mahdi, S., Viljoen, M., Yee, T., Selb, M., Singhal, N., Almodayfer, O., ... & Bolte, S. (2018). An international qualitative study of functioning in autism spectrum disorder using the World Health Organization international classification of functioning, disability, and health framework. Autism Research, 11(3), 463-475. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1905

Loomes, R., Hull, L., & Mandy, W. P. L. (2017). What is the male-to-female ratio in autism spectrum disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(6), 466-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2017.03.013

World Health Organization. (2019). Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders