Angela Onwuzoo
As Nigeria joins the global community today to mark the 2024 World Autism Awareness Day, child health experts have asked parents to take their children showing signs of autism for proper medical evaluation for early diagnosis and intervention.
The paediatricians said early intervention is crucial to managing children with autism, especially behavioural and communication interventions.
The physicians who spoke with PUNCH Healthwise on this year’s commemoration said parents should worry when their one-year-old child is unable to respond to his or her name, noting that the child’s inability to do so is a sign of autism and requires medical attention.
World Autism Awareness Day is marked every year on April 2.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is ‘Empowering Autistic Voices’ which aims at providing more support and power to individuals with this condition, to ensure they lead a meaningful life and even pursue successful careers.
The World Health Organisation estimates that about one in 160 children worldwide is on the autism spectrum.
In Nigeria, the prevalence is estimated to be one in 88 children, according to the WHO.
However, the WHO said due to a lack of awareness and understanding of autism, many cases go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that manifests during early childhood, irrespective of gender, race, or socio-economic status. The disorder affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour.
The range and severity of autism can vary widely, but common symptoms include difficulty with communication, difficulty with social interactions, obsessive interests, and repetitive behaviours. It could show self-harm, learning disability in children, delayed cognitive skills, or hyperactivity.
Speaking with our correspondent, a Lagos-based Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Ayodele Renner, said it was crucial parents become aware of signs of autism for early identification and intervention.
Renner also said although early intervention remains critical; finding an intervention for them has to be multidisciplinary.
The paediatrician said there are autism screening tools available that parents can use to detect autism in children at the age of eighteen months.
Harping on the importance of knowing the signs of autism, the physician said, “One of the earliest signs of autism is a child who does not maintain eye contact.
“And you expect that the child should be interested in the advances. So if by six months, a child is not maintaining direct eye contact with the parent who is trying to get the child’s attention, that’s one of the earliest signs that a child might have autism.
“Another one is if a child is not responding to his or her name by one year of age, then that’s a red flag.”
Renner called for advocacy to the government and increased awareness to support children living with autism so they can live a productive life and contribute significantly to the economy.
Also, a Neurodevelopmental/Community Paediatrician Dr. Gbemisola Boyede, said individuals with autism have challenges in two major areas: communication and social interactions.
Boyede said there is a need for stronger advocacy to make therapies readily available and affordable to affected families.
‘Autism can be challenging but with determination and access to therapies, the individuals with autism can overcome it. Many individuals with autism in recent years now go to colleges and have meaningful relationships. The key is early diagnosis and evidence-based therapies/interventions. We can all be a voice for children living with autism”, he said.
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