The fastest-growing disability: Health experts call for measures to save children from autism

Our correspondent

Health experts are in consensus that autism is the fastest-growing disability- measures are required to save children.

According to the Pakistan Autism Society, around 40,000 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Pakistan. However, the number could be much higher because presently there is no standardized assessment and support available in the country.

Around 40,000 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Pakistan: Pakistan Autism Society

Professor Dr Ghaffar Billo, the renowned child specialist, shared that Pakistan is amongst those developing countries which still do not have population-based data on autism. In 2019, it was estimated that out of every 120 children, one is diagnosed with autism. Dr Billo stated that 35 percent of young adults (ages 19-23) with autism have not progressed to the post graduate education or have had an employment after leaving high school.

He talked about the neglect in autism care and stressed that national and international awareness conferences should be held every year but not only in Karachi or other major cities but across the country.

Dr Billo highlighted the growing social disconnection in society negatively impacting on the desired bonding between parents and their children. It is a growing dilemma for society that for example mothers are frequently resorting to electronic gadgets in order to create space for themselves even, for example, so that they can eat in peace.

Pakistan is amongst those developing countries which still do not have population-based data on autism: Professor Dr Ghaffar Billo

An autistic child shows only 15 percent improvement after being diagnosed , however, with family bonding these results can be significantly be improved advised Dr Billo.

University of Oklahoma USA Dr Mansur Chaudhry in discussing the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) , informed that about one in 160 children has an ASD. This is only estimated averaged out figure. The prevalence varies substantially across studies. Some well-controlled studies have, however, reported substantially higher figures.

Dr Mansur further stated that the prevalence of ASD in many low and middle-income countries is unknown. According to the survey done by the Center for Disease Control in USA in 2014, 1 in 59 children have been identified with ASD.

There is a need to increase awareness of autism and to speak about the stigma attached to disability in society: Department of Psychology chairpersons Dr QudsiaTariq

He further added that Hong Kong is at the top position where one out of every 27 children has been diagnosed with autism. In South Korea, one out of 38 children is being diagnosed with autism.

Dr Iqbal Afridi discussed the history of autism. He said that medications are suggested after examining the symptoms and behavior of an ASD child. He mentioned that besides medicines, diet and therapy are recommended for ASD children to maximise their functionality and reduce dependability.

Dr Anjum Bano Kazmi of Iqra University and Dr Shazia Maqbool of Dean College of Paeds observed that prevalence of neurodevelopment conditions among children of the entire world is continuously increasing.

According to the health experts, these autism conditions include ASD, ADHD, CP intellectual disability, and developmental disorders. The challenges they face are closely related to the awareness of their conditions in their respective societies.

Covid-19 epidemic brought forth new challenges, in particular, communication gap between the parents and children often as a result of high expectations attached to the children. Experts

Dr QudsiaTariq , the Chairperson of the Department of Psychology, briefed that the limitations of autism impact on developmental learning, for example, motor skills, social skills and mental and physical well-being. Covid-19 epidemic brought forth new challenges, in particular, communication gap between the parents and children often as a result of high expectations attached to the children.

Dr Tariq added that there is a need to increase awareness of autism and to speak about the stigma attached to disability in society. We all need to work collectively to this debilitating stigma.