UC San Francisco researchers may have discovered a ground-breaking technique for identifying autism by observing children’s head turns and their eye movements. Children with SCN2A, a gene mutation linked to severe autism, were the subject of the study. The cerebellum, which controls movement, is one of the brain’s locations where this gene creates an ion channel. In addition, severe epilepsy and intellectual impairment are associated with variations of this gene.
Children with these variants showed an atypical type of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), which is a response that helps to maintain eye contact when moving the head. This reflex seemed hypersensitive in autistic youngsters, a characteristic that could be assessed using an inexpensive eye-tracking gadget. With the use of a non-invasive technique that just requires kids to sit in a chair and wear a helmet, this discovery could greatly increase our understanding of autism and help with earlier and faster diagnosis.
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Transformative Breakthrough
A co-senior author of the study and a professor at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, said, “We are able to assess it in kids with autism that are unable to speak or can’t or don’t want to follow instructions.” “This has the potential to transform both the laboratory and the clinic.”A possible avenue for future therapeutics targeting early childhood is suggested by the study’s discovery that mice with the SCN2A gene mutation may be able to regain normal eye reflexes through the use of CRISPR-based technologies.”
The eye reflex test has the potential to expedite the diagnosis of autism and offer hope to families negotiating the diagnostic process, but further study is required to discover whether treating autism directly with this approach is possible.
There is optimism that if this kind of testing is effective in our hands with children who have severe nonverbal autism, it may be more widely used.
Autism Treatments, Interventions, and Therapy Options
Numerous therapies are available to support children with ASD in learning new skills and overcoming a range of developmental obstacles. The goal of these therapies is not to treat ASD. Rather, they enhance your child’s capacity for play and socialization, academic performance, and daily life mobility through adaptive skills.
Also Read: Frequently Asked Questions About Autism Spectrum Disorder
With so many options, it’s critical to do your homework, consult with professionals in autism treatment, and ask questions. However, remember that you are not limited to choosing a single kind of therapy. Treating your child’s distinct set of symptoms and requirements should be the aim of autism treatment. This frequently calls for a multimodal treatment strategy that combines many forms of therapy.
Behavior therapy
Behavior therapy is a commonly used ASD treatment that aims to encourage desired behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors. Most behavior therapies follow techniques set out by applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA aims to help a child with ASD understand the connection between behaviors and consequences.
In ABA-based therapy, attempts at desired behavior are positively reinforced. For example, a therapist might offer praise when a child tries to politely ask for help. Because a reward follows the behavior, the child is more likely to repeat the action. On the other hand, if the child has an angry outburst, no reward is given.
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
ESDM is an ABA-based method that is most effective with children aged 12 to 48 months. The main focus of the sessions is on cooperative activities and spontaneous play between parents and therapists. An imitation game might be used to educate a kid with ASD on how to recognize body parts, or singing could be utilized to encourage the youngster to vocalize. The goal of ESDM is to foster constructive social connections while improving cognitive and communicative abilities.
Also Read: Changing Severity of Autism Symptoms Linked to Mental Health Problems: Study
1) Speech-language therapy
Speech-language therapy can help your child who has trouble communicating by helping them become more proficient both verbally and nonverbally. A speech-language pathologist can help your child with activities that require them to recognize objects and people and describe their feelings to enhance their linguistic abilities. The child’s vocabulary, sentence structure, and speech rhythm all get better with more workouts. For instance, your child may be told to clap along with their speech during an exercise to draw attention to their speech rate and syllable count.
A speech-language pathologist can instruct your youngster in hand signals, sign language, or communication through visuals especially when it comes to nonverbal communication abilities. Speech-language therapy can also help with nonverbal indicators like maintaining eye contact.
2) Nutritional therapy
In addition to digestive problems, some autistic children also experience problems with bone density. Furthermore, certain children could exhibit dislike to particular tastes or textures, such as the lumpy texture of oats or the soft, squishiness of tomatoes. Therefore, providing for their nutritional needs is essential, but it can also be challenging.
Nutritional therapy can help make sure your picky-eating youngster is still eating a healthy diet. Together, you and your child can work with a nutritionist to develop a food plan that suits their individual requirements and interests.
References+
- https://www.aninews.in/news/science/researchers-discover-new-way-to-test-autism-in-children20240228234445/
- https://www.newsx.com/top-news/scientists-uncover-novel-method-for-assessing-autism-in-children/
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism-learning-disabilities/autism-treatments-therapies-interventions.htm
