Regarding this issue, Dr. Nguyen The Dung, Head of the Department of Treatment and Care for Autistic Children (Central Acupuncture Hospital), said that there are three signs that can help detect autism in children:

The first manifestation is a lack of social interaction skills; children with autism do not participate in group games, often seeking secluded corners and playing alone. Children with autism often lack focus, do not interact with those they are communicating with, do not make eye contact, and have almost no facial expressions.

The second manifestation is that autistic children have abnormalities in language and communication. For example, a child who is 1 year old can usually say a few simple words, but autistic children at 2-3 years old may not have said any words at all. They may have unusual ways of speaking such as making meaningless sounds, talking to themselves, mimicking words, imitating advertisements, or have passive language, only speaking when necessary, such as asking for food or to go out to play.

Intervention for autistic children at the Speech Therapy Unit - Multidisciplinary Clinic, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, through games. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

The third manifestation is behavioral disorder. Most children with autism exhibit behavioral disorders such as hyperactivity, head turning, running in circles, walking on tiptoes, looking at their hands, moving their fingers, tilting their heads, putting their hands in their mouths, and not knowing how to avoid danger. In addition, children may have other disorders such as irritability, tantrums, head banging, biting, or hitting others.

Children with autism often have a history of obstetric complications, with parental age being a primary factor, especially maternal age, which increases the likelihood of the child developing autism. Other contributing factors include premature birth, birth asphyxia, or trauma during infancy. While the exact cause of autism remains unknown, changes in certain genes increase the risk of a child developing the condition. If a parent carries one or more of these gene changes, they may be passed on to the child. Additionally, factors that increase the risk of autism include excessive television, computer use, and smartphone use.

If parents suspect their child has autism, the first thing they should do is seek advice from a doctor or specialist. Early diagnosis and treatment of autism will help the child's future activities and development. Depending on the severity and condition of the disease, each doctor will prescribe different treatment protocols. Because children with autism have brain defects, doctors will first treat the brain. Traditional Chinese medicine mainly uses acupuncture and hydroacupuncture to "open the orifices and awaken the mind" (allowing them to speak and maintain mental alertness), combined with language intervention, which is highly effective. To treat the brain, doctors administer hydroacupuncture with brain-boosting herbs and vitamins to specific acupuncture points; results are seen after only 1-2 treatment courses (3 weeks/course). Depending on the patient, the doctor will select acupuncture points that open the orifices and awaken the mind. After receiving acupuncture, hydro-acupuncture, and acupressure, children receive education , language intervention, and motor skills training for 30-60 minutes per day, depending on their individual cognitive abilities, in order to regulate their behavior, language, and senses.

Treatment for autistic children before the age of 3 is best. If detected and intervened early, it will be easier for children to develop the missing skills, improving their ability to integrate into society. The complex functional disorders of autism manifest in the first three years of life; therefore, detecting abnormal signs during this period is entirely within the parents' capabilities, simply by observing their child. Late detection and intervention will result in missed opportunities for integration into life.

Please send your health-related questions to the "Your Doctor" section, Economic -Social-Internal Affairs Editorial Department, People's Army Newspaper, 8 Ly Nam De Street, Hang Ma Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Email: kinhte@qdnd.vn, kinhtebqd@gmail.com. Telephone: 0243.8456735.