[Health in the 100-Year Life Era] The Path to Overcoming Autism Spectrum Disorder

We are living in an era of low birth rates where each child is incredibly precious. Perhaps because of this trend, interest in children's behavior and development is greater than ever. Parenting-related programs on TV are gaining empathy and popularity, and videos about children's behavior and development are frequently seen on the internet. Parents of young children in infancy and toddlerhood often worry most about their child's language development, particularly delayed speech. Many children with delayed speech simply have language delays. However, some of them have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Hearing and seeing such stories around them causes considerable concern for parents.

In fact, the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder is increasing and it is more common than expected. According to U.S. statistics, 1 in 36 children has ASD, and in Korea, about 2% of children are diagnosed with it. It is understandable that more people are paying attention and becoming concerned.

When people think of Autism Spectrum Disorder, they often recall the portrayal in mass media. Although mass media does not always reflect reality accurately, protagonists usually show difficulty understanding others' thoughts or emotions. ASD is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. How do these characteristics specifically appear in infancy and toddlerhood? Commonly, there is reduced eye contact and response to being called. Behaviors such as pointing or showing to share interests are often lacking. Children may not show joint attention to what others find interesting. They may be overly sensitive to certain sensory inputs or become excessively focused on a single interest.

Why does Autism Spectrum Disorder occur? There was once a term called “refrigerator mother,” suggesting that cold and unloving parenting caused autism, but scientific evidence disproved this decades ago. Currently, genetic factors are believed to explain most cases of ASD. Genetics include inherited traits from parents as well as mutations unique to the child. The remaining factors are considered environmental, referring more to biological environments such as infections during pregnancy or premature birth rather than parenting environment. Parents may easily blame themselves, thinking they raised the child poorly or failed in some way, but there is no reason for such self-blame.

When parents suspect ASD, they usually wonder and fear whether their child's condition can improve or fully recover. Early detection and intensive special education and therapy can lead to rapid improvement in developmental delays in some cases. However, in other cases, symptoms may not improve sufficiently despite treatment. Regardless, compared to typically developing children, those with ASD often experience more frequent challenges as they grow. While a cure may seem most important in the short term, in the long term, it is crucial to help the child live independently and happily as an adult. To achieve this, therapy to address deficits is important, but understanding the child's characteristics, identifying strengths, and adjusting the surrounding environment are equally vital.

Many hesitate to visit hospitals when development is slow and ASD is suspected. Some pursue unproven treatments claiming to speed up development. Although there may be various reasons for reluctance to seek medical help, it is important to remember that regularly meeting with experts and receiving consultations is the most accurate and essential approach for diagnosis and treatment.

Raising a child with developmental difficulties is challenging. Comparing with others can often lead to feelings of loneliness and frustration. However, even if progress is slow, children continue to grow and develop. A child can do more now than a year ago, and will be able to do even more a year from now. It is difficult to know the limits of development, but doing your best with the efforts you can make now is already commendable.

Professor Tae-Yeop Lee, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, Seoul

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.