How to know if u have autism
Do I Have Symptoms of ASD or Aspergers?
Do I Have ASD? Autism Test for Adults
Awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has grown dramatically in recent years, which reflects an increase in autism tests and diagnoses — and in the public’s understanding that, even late in life, an autism diagnosis can offer major benefits and relief. Still, symptoms of autism — particularly those previously associated with Aspergers — are still frequently misdiagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and other related conditions — leading to poor treatment and lifelong challenges.
Adults with autism may have a history of delayed language language and/or movement skills, delayed cognitive or learning skills, unusual eating or sleeping habits, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, stress, and/or fear. If you recognize yourself or a loved one in the following descriptions of autism spectrum disorder, make an appointment with a health care professional to discuss an evaluation test for autism.
This free autism test was adapted from the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) designed to screen the possibility of ASD, and is for personal use only. This is not a diagnostic tool. An accurate diagnosis can only be made through clinical evaluation. This autism test is for personal use only.
Think about your daily routine. Would you say you follow the same schedule every day of the week, and don’t like unexpected events?
Very Often
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Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Do your family members lovingly refer to you as the “eccentric professor” of the family?
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Even when you’re in a quiet place, like the library, do you find yourself making involuntary noises, like clearing your throat over and over?
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Did bullies target you in grade school?
Very Often
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Are you always the first one to notice when a friend has gotten a haircut or made a small change to their appearance?
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Is your memory like a steel trap, even for facts that you don’t fully understand?
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Do you have trouble understanding what people mean when they say they feel embarrassed for someone else?
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Do you talk to friends at a party the same way you would talk to co-workers in the office?
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Are expressions like “Curiosity killed the cat” or “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” odd to you?
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Do you enjoy inventing your own words and expressions that might seem quirky to others?
Very Often
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Never
Have you always wanted a best friend, but never found one?
Very Often
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Are you really (really) good at a skill like math or music, but struggle to succeed in other areas?
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Do you prefer to read non-fiction over fiction books?
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Are you always bumping into things, or tripping over your own feet?
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When you’re having a conversation with someone, do you prefer to look at the wall, their shoes, or anywhere but directly into their eyes?
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Do you prefer to play individual games and sports like golf, where everyone works for themselves, instead of team sports and games where everyone works toward a common goal?
Very Often
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Never
Do people say that you speak like a robot?
Very Often
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Autism Test Next Steps: Autism Spectrum Disorder In Adults
1. Take: The ADHD Test for Adults
2. Read: What Does Autism Look Like in Adults?
3. Find: Specialists or Clinics Near You
4. Read: How to Get Evaluated for Autism as an Adult
5. Take This Test: OCD in Adults
6. Get the eBook “The Truth About Autism in Adults”
7. Listen to the Webinar: “Could I Be on the Autism Spectrum?”
8. Take This Test The Autism Test from WebMD
9. Read: Say Goodbye to Aspergers Syndrome
10. Find: Specialists or Clinics Near You
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How to Get Tested for Autism: Adult Autism Diagnosis Advice
Q: “Where can I go to get evaluated for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis as an adult? What type of professional or specialist performs an adult autism diagnosis, and what does the process typically look like? What credentials and qualifications matter most?”
Finding a qualified provider to evaluate, diagnose, and treat adult autism is difficult, as many autisticindividuals know far too well.
That said, the first step toward seeking an adult autism diagnosis is to find an expert – a psychologist or a psychiatrist – who specializes in diagnosing ASD. Consider focusing first on finding adult psychologists as they, contrary to adult psychiatrists, receive more clinical training and exposure to conditions with early childhood onsets. (To merit an ASD diagnosis, the patient must have experienced symptoms during their development.)
You may be able to find a specialist near you by pursuing:
- A referral from your family doctor
- An Internet search or online medical directory look-up
- Your insurance provider
- Autism organizations you trust
- Local medical centers and universities (major institutions tend to have autism centers and resources – the Center for Autism Research, part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, for example, has an autism “roadmap” to help visitors of all ages)
[Take This Self-Test for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults]
While there is no “certificate” that qualifies experts to diagnose adult autism, the expert you choose should certainly have some form of training in how to diagnose ASD.
They need not have research-level reliability for ASD diagnostic tests, but they do need clinical training with other autism experts.
It is likewise important that the clinician use reliable diagnostic tools that research supports as being effective in making an autism diagnosis. Apart from essentials like the clinical interview, an adult autism assessment is best completed using these tools:
- Detailed developmental histories, which help track how symptoms unfolded over development and whether external factors influenced them. Psychologists are experts at teasing apart and examining these histories. There may be other people in your life, like a parent, a spouse or a sibling, who can contribute to the process by describing your symptoms over time.
- The Social Communication Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Adaptive Behavior Questionnaire, Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS) are commonly used. The latter two are the most comprehensive measures available.
The ADI-R is a clinical interview with a caregiver or other family member that has known you very well from early childhood. The ADOS includes a clinical interview and observation of your social communication skills and presence of repetitive behaviors that are implicated in ASD. - Psychiatric assessments for other conditions are commonly used to rule out, confirm, or even uncover other conditions existing alongside ASD.
- Free Download: The Guide to Autism in Adults
- Read: Professional Guidelines for Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Read: ADHD and Adult Autism — Symptoms, Diagnosis & Interventions for Both
- Find: Specialists or Clinics Near You
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90,000 signs and diagnosis. How to recognize autism
Autism in adults - symptoms, causes and classification of the disease. How is autism different from autism spectrum disorder. External signs of an autist, the possibility of rehabilitation and social adaptation, the main directions of treatment. The importance of the Internet for adults with autism as a means of communication and virtual socialization. Everything related to autism in adults, we decided to find out in an interview with the Chief Physician of the Health Harmony Medical Center, a psychiatrist, psychiatrist-narcologist and psychotherapist Vladislav Sipovich.
What is autism and autism spectrum disorder, what is the difference?
Autism has many synonyms. It is also called infantile, childhood, early infantile autism, as well as Kanner's syndrome or autism, in the American DSM-IV classification it is called autistic disorder.
All these are the names of a disorder associated with impaired development of the brain (GM) and manifested by such main symptoms, the so-called triad:
• Difficulty or complete impossibility of establishing social ties and communication.
• Restrictions on areas of interest.
• Repetitive compulsions. Learn more about obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome.
Other symptoms are characteristic, but not decisive in the diagnosis of autism. They can manifest as:
• Inadequate response to stimuli, when a strong stimulus is ignored, and the reaction to a weak one is excessive. For example, the slightest noise can cause crying and screaming, and loud speech does not attract attention.
• Selectivity in food.
• Perfectionism, etc.
True autism develops in early childhood, the first pronounced signs appear before the age of 3 years. It is simply impossible not to notice them, unlike autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which has milder symptoms and therefore can go undiagnosed.
There is a theory that autism in adults is an autism spectrum disorder not noticed in childhood.
What causes autism and how common is it?
The etiology of autism has not been fully elucidated. The genetic theory of the origin of autism is generally accepted, which is confirmed by cases of multiple development of autism or ASD in families. For example, when a mother and two out of three children suffer from ASD. It is believed that this process involves the genes responsible for the maturation of connections in the GM synapses. But how this happens - whether due to a mutation in a single gene, or due to multiple mutations - is not clear. The most reliable is the assumption that during meiosis (the process of formation of germ cells with a half set of chromosomes), when they diverge, deletions are observed (loss of one of the genes) or the entry into the genome of two identical genes - duplications. As a result of such chromosomal aberrations, germ cells undergo mutations, which are later inherited, more often through the maternal line.
Factors leading to an increased risk of mutations can be almost all teratogens, ie. substances that cause birth defects. They have the strongest effect on the fetus in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy.
Other factors that increase the risk of developing autistic disorders or complicate them are:
1. Infectious diseases.
2. Disorders of metabolism and development of bone tissue.
3. Ingestion of harmful substances, namely:
• Exhaust gases from diesel engines
• Heavy metals.
• Phthalates and phenols in plastics.
• Pesticides.
• Bromine-containing substances.
• GMO-containing foods.
4. The triad of vices - smoking, alcohol, drugs.
The risk of having children with autism is significantly increased by stressful conditions during pregnancy, intrauterine infections of the fetus, certain medications taken by pregnant women, as well as asthma, fever, obesity or malnutrition in a pregnant woman.
In addition, it is generally recognized that autism progresses rapidly in an unfavorable psychological environment, as well as severe physical and mental overwork.
For some time, there was an assumption that the development of autism in children was associated with their vaccination against measles, and specifically with the mercury-containing substance thiomersal in the composition of the vaccine. But scientific studies have not confirmed this assumption.
Some experts associate the development of autism with hyperactivity of the immune system in the direction of enhancing autoimmune processes in relation to one's own neurons and their synapses.
Currently, the scientific medical community is inclined to the idea that autism is a complex disorder caused by separate etiological factors, often acting simultaneously.
The incidence of autism is 1-2 people per 1000, and ASD - 6 people per 1000. With the growth of diagnostic efficiency, these figures have begun to grow, but there is no reason to talk about a specific increase in the incidence. By the way, ASD is 4 times more common in boys than in girls.
What are the most common signs of autism in adults?
ASD, especially in mild autism in adults, is often confused with depression, bad mood, stressful conditions, etc.
Therefore, the question of how to recognize autism in adults is quite relevant. Establishing the correct diagnosis will allow you to understand in a timely manner what is happening to the person and help him. Indeed, suffering from autism in adulthood, a person does not understand why it is difficult for him to communicate with other people, why he reacts to certain circumstances differently than others, why he does not find it funny when everyone laughs at a good joke, why he does not know at all that this is a joke. This further reinforces autism “involuntarily”, when a person feels isolated from society and is burdened by this. In severe forms of congenital autism, a person does not feel the need for communication at all, which is not interesting to him and even annoying.
By the way, autism in adult men occurs 5 times more often than in the fairer sex, and the overall prevalence, according to statistics from British scientists, is 1 autistic per 100 healthy people.
It is possible to suspect autism in adults, the signs of which can be rather mild and, as it were, erased, on the basis of the following symptoms: When meeting acquaintances, an autistic person pretends not to notice them and tries to pass by without saying hello.
Communication with even likeable people is painful for a person with ASD.
• Unwillingness to look into the eyes of the interlocutor, or vice versa, too close, unblinking gaze.
• Ignoring former hobbies, narrowing the circle of interests.
• A person does not perceive and does not react to events in the life of loved ones and his own.
• Loss of guilt, duty, responsibility, emotional impoverishment. A person does not experience any feelings at all, except for anger, anger and irritation.
• Feeling of unreality of what is happening, lack of orientation in time.
• Appearance of stereotyped movements, repetition of phrases from films, songs, etc.
• Perfectionism - the desire to do everything and arrange in a certain order. Hence the conservatism in dress, habits, skills, food, and so on. Some autistics, through constant repetition, hone certain skills to perfection, but this is by no means a sign of genius, as some believe. The slightest deviation from the rituals for an autist is simply unacceptable and causes extreme irritation.
• The constancy of the inner world. Any change in the course of life is perceived dramatically and can cause a negative reaction.
• Complete lack of sense of humor.
• Misunderstanding and ignoring the elementary rules of behavior, emotions, feelings and intentions of another person. Autistic people simply do not realize that their behavior or words can offend another person, associating him with an inanimate object. Only an autistic person, after listening to unflattering remarks in the team, can approach the boss and ask: “Are you really a fool?”.
• Inability to form romantic or friendly relationships due to lack of knowledge and communication skills.
• They hear about love, but they cannot feel this feeling, because they do not feel affection even for their relatives.
• Autistic people do not understand romantic gestures, kissing is considered meaningless, and hugging is perceived as a constraint on freedom of movement.
• Sexual feelings are familiar to them, but they cannot discuss them with others.
All knowledge about sex is drawn from serials and films, often with pornographic content.
Even if a person has only a few of the above symptoms, an urgent consultation with a neurologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist is necessary.
Outwardly, an autistic adult is given out by meager facial expressions, aversion of the eyes, a meager vocabulary and speech devoid of emotional coloring (like a cyborg).
What are the types of autism, what is its classification based on?
Autism, as a concept, combines several pathological conditions, namely:
• Autism proper, known as Kanner's syndrome/autism. This is the most severe form of the disease with a full range of symptoms. Patients are completely asocial, speech is undeveloped or absent altogether, the speech apparatus is atrophied. Cognitive abilities at the lowest level.
Moderate or severe mental retardation is noted, important nerve centers are not developed, therefore independent existence is impossible, constant supervision is necessary.
In especially severe cases - hospitalization in specialized medical facilities.
• Asperger's syndrome/autism, which is a mild form of autism in which there are problems with socialization and communication, but without impairment of cognitive-verbal functions. Closure, strange behavior and some stiffness do not prevent them from being absolutely independent and full-fledged members of society.
• Rett syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder in women. It manifests itself after a year of life and is accompanied by a rapid regression of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, which cannot be stopped with medication. Usually, only rare women with this syndrome reach the age of thirty, so it is quite difficult to meet adult women with Rett syndrome.
• Atypical autism, which includes ASDs not identifiable by the first three forms, ie. all those that have atypical symptoms.
Asperger's syndrome and atypical autism are the most common in adults. However, they may be distinguished by high intelligence or other outstanding abilities, such as photographic memory.
They can even make discoveries and achieve significant career growth. For example, the prominent artist Van Gogh had signs of autism, although the exact diagnosis of his mental disorder is still a mystery.
Through the differential diagnosis of autism in adults, it was possible to classify 5 groups of autistic people with different intensity of symptoms:
1. Patients with little to no interaction with the outside world. These are incurable patients who need daily care.
2. Closed people who rarely strive for communication, and then only on their own initiative. It is almost impossible to impose communication on them from outside. They like to be alone and spend hours doing one thing without sleep, food and rest. They also require daily supervision and organization of life.
3. People who do not understand and do not perceive the rules of conduct and social norms.
4. Autistic people who tend to be offended easily and do not know how to confront problems on their own.
They are quite difficult to distinguish from healthy ones, which can only be done by a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.
5. Autistic adults with above-average intelligence who have mutations not only for mild autism, but also for "genius" genes, which confirms the Van Gogh example.
By the way, studies have found that only 33% of people with autism are able to live independently or need help only occasionally.
What is autism in adults, we have already found out. But is it possible to get rid of it, or at least socially adapt the patient?
As for the possibility of a cure for autism, then, unfortunately, I will answer in the negative. Autism is forever, but it's not a death sentence yet. It all depends on how severe and how autism is manifested in adults, as well as the type of autistic disorder. It is practically impossible to help patients with autism proper, which manifested itself in early childhood. The complete lack of interaction with the outside world cannot be cured by either psychotherapy or medication.
All that remains is the care of the sick in the family or in a specialized hospital institution.
Asperger's syndrome and atypical autism, the most common in adults, have a fairly large opportunity for social adaptation. People with a mild form of autism often come to a psychotherapist already sufficiently adapted in society, engaged in professional activities, and even having a family. They turn when the symptoms of the disease intensify, transform and begin to interfere with their implementation in society, i.e. when the problem escalates and others begin to notice it. It becomes more and more difficult for a person to imitate feelings that he does not experience, not to sleep at night from the inability to solve insignificant problems, to suffer from the consciousness that he is different from others and not understanding the reasons for his “exclusivity”. Fortunately, there are encouraging statistics that with early diagnosis and timely rehabilitation, more than 50% of autistic people begin to lead an independent lifestyle and do without the care of relatives.
Of course, it will not be possible to completely cure autism, but it is possible to teach the patient the basic skills of independent existence and communication, designating “what is good and what is bad” and thus correcting his behavior. In practice, treatment comes down to rehabilitation and social adaptation. The main direction is psychotherapeutic, in particular cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sometimes it is possible to prescribe antidepressants, antipsychotics, psychotropic and anticonvulsants to relieve symptoms, stabilize the condition, and when autism is associated with other mental disorders.
Can modern information technologies contribute to the social adaptation of people with autism?
Very interesting question. It has long been noted that autistic people have difficulty making direct verbal contact, but they are quite willing to communicate in various social networks. Special forums have even begun to appear on the Internet, where an autistic person can find a partner with the same disease.
Correspondence allows you to establish friendly or personal relations with a similar person, as well as organize various communities to protect your rights. Many autistic adults believe that autism is not a disease, but a unique way of thinking and relating to the world around them. To protect such a life concept at 19In 1996, the NJAS network community was created, which stands for Independent Living on the Autism Spectrum. In addition, all over the world April 2 is celebrated as the day of the dissemination of knowledge about autism, which clearly emphasizes the relevance of this problem for the world community.
In addition, computer technology expands the ability of a person with ASD to find a remote job and thus realize themselves professionally. Moreover, the high intellectual abilities of some autistic people allow them to perform tasks of increased complexity, especially those that require taking into account the smallest details. At the same time, they do not experience psychological discomfort from live communication with colleagues and can fully concentrate on the work that they do with the meticulousness of a perfectionist.
Signs of autism in adults. Symptoms and what is autism in an adult in simple words.
Signs of autism in adults. Symptoms and what is autism in an adult in simple words. Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich
Neurologist, neurophysiologist, experience - 33 years;
Professor of Neurology, MD;
Clinic for Rehabilitation Neurology. About the author
Publication date: September 26, 2020
Updated: March 6, 2023
Autism is a genetically determined disease inherent in a person from birth. However, in childhood, the symptoms are not so pronounced that others notice deviations, and doctors can diagnose the disease. Already in adulthood, in men and women, signs of the development of autism may appear, behavior may change.
As a rule, the progression of the disorder is associated with nervous shocks, depression, the influence of society, the team. Sometimes the cause of the exacerbation cannot be established.
Such adults more often keep in touch with society, continue to live in society, keep in touch with their families, and work. In character, one can notice a craving for isolation.
In the case of a pronounced problem, a person changes his worldview, chooses a solitary life. Consciously limits communication with the outside world and plunges into activities that interest him.
Since people with autism spectrum disorders are often talented in some area, such a life is not a problem for them. There are plenty of examples of great people with autism.
In some patients, the deviation is so strong that the person loses the ability to serve himself. Here you can't do without the intervention of doctors
It is impossible to determine what adults, men and women, autistics are like from a photo: you need to monitor how they show signs of autism in order to start treatment on time.
Contents of the article:
- 1 Signs and symptoms
- 1.
1 Signs suspicious of autism
Signs suspicious in terms of autism
- Minimal number of interests, hobbies, difficult development of new directions. Lack of interest in the unusual, beyond the familiar world.
- Lack of emotions in conversation, monotonous speech. Sentences can be short and out of context.
- Disinterest in the interlocutor. Due to the unwillingness to comply with the accepted rules of communication, dialogue with other people does not last long.
- When communicating, the person is restless, makes erratic movements, fiddling with clothes, small objects. Unconsciously touches the face or other part of the body.
- There are speech therapy defects. Vocabulary can be sparse and specific.
- Panic attacks with sudden changes in the surrounding world: sharp sounds, the appearance of bright lights.
- Indifference to the surrounding world. Such people do not know how to react even to serious grief or joy among loved ones.
Most "experientially" follow the rules of the moment, but don't actually experience anything.
- Autistic adults have problems with tact, do not limit themselves in asking questions or speaking. Shamelessly violate personal space when communicating without the desire of the interlocutor.
- Dislikes touching things that belong to them, may react aggressively.
- Autism spectrum disorders manifest as illogical cyclical behaviors. The nature of which resembles the observance of rituals.
- Do not make social contacts on their own, at will. They prefer to dissociate themselves from society, transfer communication from reality to electronic space.
- May be afraid of strangers, places.
Mild disorder does not affect ordinary life, the person just looks more withdrawn. With severe forms, the situation is not so good
Signs and symptoms of mild autism in adult men and women cannot be determined from the photo, the causes of the condition and why it is dangerous, also cannot be accurately predicted.
Forms
It is impossible to understand how to recognize an autistic adult, male or female, by describing external signs.
It is necessary to collect information about the character traits, behavioral characteristics of the person of interest.
Keep in mind that disturbing character traits can be part of a normal but accentuated personality. Or to signal about mental deviations of various types.
Explaining in simple terms what autism is in an adult male is not always easy because of the variety of forms of the disease.
High-functioning autism
Most common and in most cases not even diagnosed. People do not consider the peculiarities in the perception of the world by an individual as something related to the disease.
An adult with this variant of the disorder adapts to society, creates a family and strong social ties. He has high IQs (70 and above). A somewhat limited range of interests, periodic outbursts of aggression are noteworthy.
Socialization is difficult, but no more than any timid person. There are behavioral stereotypes.
From the point of view of the physical condition, this type of patient is characterized by reduced immunity, disorders in the work of the pancreas, attacks of muscle spasms during a period of psychological stress. This form of autism is easily corrected in adults, and sometimes does not even need it.
Asperger's Syndrome
Characterized by severe damage to the cerebral cortex that leads to communication problems. It flows in a complex and easy form. In the second type, an autist successfully socializes, masters a profession. Copes with daily duties and work, but has a very narrow range of interests.
Kanner's syndrome
Severe form, accompanied by mental disability, aggressiveness, speech disorders. Patients are not actually socialized, they need psychiatric treatment.
Rett syndrome
The majority of patients are women. This is a slowly developing disease, almost not manifested in childhood.
Associated with non-sociality, lack of inclination to communicate, speech deviations. Behavioral features are stopped by medication. The life span is short, without treatment, many patients do not live past the age of 30. The therapy prolongs life with sufficient quality up to 60 years and more.
If you suspect this type of deviation, you need to contact a specialist to make an accurate diagnosis and choose the appropriate method of rehabilitation.
Treatment and rehabilitation
Most people who notice specific behavior in loved ones are concerned about the question: “Can autism manifest itself in adulthood, is a person capable of getting it?”.
Autistic spectrum disorders are a congenital feature that may not manifest itself for decades and then develops under the influence of external circumstances, depression. In such cases, it seems that a previously healthy person has fallen ill.
The debate over whether acquired autism is treatable in adults has been determined for many years: this disorder stays with a person for life.
But, as a rule, it is corrected with the help of medical and psychological therapy.
For the treatment of adults with autism use:
- drugs that disinhibit nervous activity, making a person more active;
- medicines that improve blood circulation in the brain area;
- consultations and regular sessions with a psychologist;
- massages and exercise therapy;
- antidepressants;
- immune enhancing agents;
- sessions with a speech therapist;
- dancing;
- pet therapy - communication with animals;
- work with plastic materials for the development of motor skills.
Thoughtful, regular treatment, gives the expected results, allowing the autistic to adapt to society.
References
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