Autism in children
Over 1 per cent of the Dutch population (around 200,000 people) has autism. The number of people affected by autism, such as parents, brothers, sisters and teachers, is much higher.
What is autism?
Autism is a collective term for behavioural characteristics that indicate difficulties in the following areas: social interaction, communication, flexibility in thinking and acting, and filtering and integrating information.
Information processing in children with autism works differently to that in people without autism. This mainly concerns information received through the senses. Many children experience sensory hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity.
During a transition period, such as from primary to secondary school, children can become very stuck if they do not receive appropriate support at an early stage.
What causes autism?
Autism is 80% genetically determined, but environmental factors can also play a role. This involves the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Someone may therefore have a genetic predisposition to autism, but whether they actually develop it depends, among other things, on environmental factors.
A number of other factors may include:
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- Premature birth
- The father’s age at the time of conception
- Maternal diabetes
- Vitamin D deficiency
- (Highly) elevated activity of the mother’s immune system.
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It is, of course, also possible that autism has ‘suddenly’ arisen in the child’s DNA. This is known as a de novo mutation.
Characteristics of autism in children
You cannot see autism from a person’s outward appearance, but you can tell by their behaviour. Below are the characteristics of autistic children:
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- Difficulty with change
- Little sense of what others expect of them in a given situation
- Difficulty making contact
- These children are often preoccupied with one particular subject or hobby
- Little understanding or empathy for others
- Always doing everything the same way
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Developmental age
Children diagnosed with autism may develop differently from their peers, but development does take place. For example, your child may be celebrating their 10th birthday but function like a 2-year-old. It is important to get a clear picture of this. This provides insight into what your child does and does not understand.
Symptoms in a child with autism
Children up to 6 years old
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- Your child will start speaking later
- Does not wave or point after 12 months
- Does not respond to his/her name
- Doesn’t want to cuddle much, play together or go to a busy environment
- Takes longer to become house-trained
- Always wants to wear the same clothes
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Children aged 6 to 12
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- Struggles with change
- Does not fully understand what others expect
- Prefers to focus on one particular subject or hobby
- Anxious in unfamiliar situations
- Doesn’t cope well with crowds
- Always seeks support from one particular person
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Children aged 12 and over
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- Struggles with homework and planning
- Reacts strongly to changes during puberty (physically)
- Difficulty getting on with peers
- Is anxious or gloomy for long periods
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Spotter GPS watch
Children with autism may be non-verbal and might find it difficult to interact with people. If your child wanders off, it is helpful for you as a parent or carer to know where they are. So, give them a Spotter GPS Children’s Watch and you will always know where your child is and be able to get in touch with them. Great for you and for your child. The watch works online and via the Spotter app. Thanks to its unique design, small size and lightweight construction, it is a comfortable and attractive watch that children enjoy wearing. In addition to the track and trace function, you can also call each other, set up zones and more.
