Early Detection Of Autism Helps Improve Children's Life Quality

The Austism Spectrum Disorder (ADS) can be detected from an early age, including through a child's response when invited to communicate. (Freepic)

JAKARTA Low public awareness regarding autism is still a big homework. The ability of parents to detect early is very important to be able to handle it early, so that developmental disorders experienced by children can be minimized.

Children with autism are often seen as different from others. This assumption is not wrong, because generally children with autism have difficulty communicating with others so it is difficult to socialize.

But please note, autism symptoms are very diverse and can vary between one individual and another, although there are some common signs, such as late speech, difficulty understanding social gestures, and interest in certain routines.

Pediatrician Hanna Dyahferi Anomsari, Sp.A, Subsp.T.K.P.S(K) said the level of parental education is one of the important factors in detecting developmental disorders in children.

A child with special needs (autism) gets sensory integration therapy from a therapist at the Autistic Service Center (PLA). (ANTARA/Mohammad Ayudha/am)

For early symptoms, Hanna explained that it can be started by identifying minimal responses when the child's name is called up to 12 months old, until the failure to point to an object or person at the age of 14 months. With early identification, it can pave the way for intervention on time.

"Limited eye interactions and seemingly loose responses when communicating with children may be an initial indication," Hanna said in a media seminar on Autism Criticism and Therapy in Children organized by the Executive Board of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association, Tuesday (15/4/2025).

The World Health Organization or WHO in 2020 said 1 in 58 children had autism. This prevalence tends to increase in the last 50 years.

However, there is currently no special research that can present autism data on children in Indonesia. It can be assumed that the prevalence of autism in children in Hong Kong, where the number of children aged 5-19 years in Indonesia reaches 66,000,905 people, is estimated to have more than 112 thousand children with autism in the 5-19 year age range.

Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD is a behavioral disorder experienced by a person related to three main domains, namely social, communication, and repetitive behavior.

The word autism itself was first put forward by psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911. He used the term to describe a group of symptoms that were considered a simple symptom of scheme, namely extreme social withdrawal.

It was only in 1943 that a psychiatrist at John Hopkins University, Leo Kanner, for the first time published the results of a study on autism. He made a statement that autism is a social and emotional disorder in his study entitled Autistic Disturbances of Effective Contact.

Kanner believes children with autism have a normal level of intelligence and function well, but there are other things that make him fall wrong. Later, Kanner's hypothesis proved to be true.

Many studies show children with autism tend to have a high level of intelligence or IQ. Quotient Inteligence (IQ) is a measure of an intellectual ability, analysis, logic, and a person's ratio.

Until now, autism diagnosis is still easy because the symptoms shown between one individual and another can be different and very diverse. For example, in A's children, they have difficulty speaking, have limited vocabulary, and tend to repeat one word when communicating.

While other children, although they seem to have a more normal way of communicating, they don't. This child shows a lot of dialogue, but actually not in the same frequency of conversation with his friends.

An example is when he doesn't laugh when his friends make jokes, or laugh at themselves even though his friends feel there is no humor that triggers laughter. This happens because people with autism have their own 'frequency' in looking at several things in the world.

Doctor Amanda Soebadi, Sp.A, Subsp.Neuro.(K), M.Med said the cause of autism is not yet known clearly.

"There are a thousand children with autism, we will get a thousand different symptoms. None of them, even though there are signs of diagnosis criteria, none of them are exactly the same," said Amanda.

He continued, a number of studies show that genetic factors and the environment play a major role in the development of this disorder. However, it is important to understand that autism is not a static or permanent condition. Children with autism can develop and function properly if they get the right support.

Although awareness about autism continues to develop, not a few people think autism is something strange. Amanda admits, even though there are now autism screening tools that can be used, many parents are still trapped in the myth about autism.

Not infrequently parents take their children to traditional medicine because they believe their children are being manipulated. Whereas with proper medical treatment, children with autism can develop very well.

"So I asked some of my patients who came at the age of 8-9 years, how come it's only now? Why only now? Oh yes, sir, because the shaman said or the parents of the elders said this was being used, so they treated it traditionally like that," he explained.

Whereas early detection can help improve the quality of life of children. Amanda also emphasized that children with autism not only need the support of their parents and medical personnel, but also from schools and society.

They need to be given space to develop, learn, and interact without fear or judgment. With the right support, children with ASD can develop and function in society.